Centring urban studies among institutional regimes

Abstract

This commentary responds to Bas Van Heur's paper 'What, where and who is urban studies?' which assesses the structuring of global urban research by investigating the work of named university centres for urban research. The commentary offers observations and reflections on the historical development of urban studies beyond Van Heur's account and considers this through a discussion of Australian urban research groupings. In doing so the commentary notes the definitional challenges that apply to urban research formations in the context of wider institutional imperatives and dynamics that complicate their intellectual programs. The commentary notes the value of further narrative historical reflection on the discipline and particular historical experiences.