Магистратура
2026/2027
Историческая урбанистика
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Глобальная и региональная история / Global and Regional History)
Кто читает:
Департамент истории
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа гуманитарных наук и искусств
Когда читается:
2-й курс, 1, 2 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ
Преподаватели:
Бекасова Александра Викторовна
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
6
Контактные часы:
40
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The aim of this course is to introduce interdisciplinary trends of urban studies and focus on the functioning of these processes through historical perspective. Special attention will be given to research studies focusing on urbanization in the context of social, ecological, and technological history as well as history of science. This is a graduate course that examines the major topics of urban history from a transnational perspective. Moving through the modern period to the late 20th century, this course will focus on the analytic trends, major questions and issues shaping urban history studies today. Themes will include urban migration, mobility and governance, the city as an artefact of technology and environment, cities as the loci of various practices and places for production of knowledge and identities. This class is reading and discussion intensive.
Learning Objectives
- To give an idea of the directions and approaches in contemporary research in Urban History.
- To develop intellectual skills to discuss and provide arguments for defending their point of view, formulate questions for general discussion and moderate it.
- To develop research skills, including the preparation of a collective research project proposal.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Able to perform research with modern research methods and techniques, using knowledge of the humanities and social sciences and close scientific fields of knowledge
- Students would be able to perform professional activities, including research and development activities in the international environment
- Students will be able to analyze critically the literature they have read, use their knowledge in seminar discussions
- Students will master the conceptual framework of Urban history, methods and techniques of historical research and be able to use them in the preparation of collective research projects proposals
- Is able to postulate topical scientific problems, the study of which can enrich historical science, and to solve promising research and application problems
- Is able to perform a professional or business activity, and make choices based on the principles of social responsibility
- Is able to search, analyze and present information, to work with humanities' databases
Course Contents
- What is urban history? Urban History as interdisciplinary field or research.
- ‘Urban machinery’: cities and technologies in historical perspective
- The challenge of Modernity. From Ideal City to World Metropolis
- City and Industry
- City and Trade
- City and Port
- City and its past. The problem of urban heritage
- The Growth of Cities in the Modern Era: Migration and Urban Change. Displaying History of Migration in the Museums
- Knowledge and Urbanization. The City as Space of Knowledge
- Historicizing Sustainable Urban Mobility: Transnational Perspective
- Cities and environment. Resources of the city. Urban metabolism as historical phenomenon
- Presentation of collective projects proposals. Reviews. General discussion
- Сities as the loci of scientific practice
- Growth and development of cities in the modern era: migration and urban change
- Historicizing sustainable urban mobility: transnational perspective
- What is the City? What is Urban History?
- ‘Urban Machinery’: Cities and Technologies in Historical Perspective
- Concluding seminar. Presentations of collective projects and discussion
- What is the City? What is Urban History? How Сities Matter?
- Thinking Spatially: Urban Space as a Site of Planning and Governance
- Migration, Mobilities and Urban Change in Historical Perspective
- Concluding seminar. Presentations of essays and discussion
- Situating and Approaching Urban Natures and Tackling the “Urban Agency” Issue
- Urban Futures in the Making
- Infrastructural Imaginaries and Regimes of Urban Expertise
- Cultural Politics of Urban Mobility. Pedestrians in Transnational Perspective. The Gender of Walking
- Urban Everyday Cultures: Food, Consumption, Social Rhythms
- Urban Cultural Heritage, Collective Memories and Identities
Assessment Elements
- Attendance +Participation (thoughtful contributions in the class)
- Moderation one of the seminars discussion (list of questions and discussion-leading)
- Presentation of results at the concluding seminar and participation in the discussion.
- Essay
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.2 * Presentation of results at the concluding seminar and participation in the discussion. + 0.25 * Moderation one of the seminars discussion (list of questions and discussion-leading) + 0.25 * Attendance +Participation (thoughtful contributions in the class) + 0.3 * Essay
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- What is Urban History?, Ewen, S., 2018
- World Bank. (2013). A National Framework for Sustainable Urban Transport Systems : Proposals for Improving Urban Transportation in Russian Cities. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.7D9A6349
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Crisis and order in English towns, 1500-1700 : essays in urban history, , 2013
- Jooste, A. F., de Kock, I. H., & Musango, J. K. (2019). A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Urban Planning Challenges Associated with Developing Countries. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, (3), 253. https://doi.org/10.7166/30-3-2247