Synopses & Reviews
How did a small French missionary colony become a major pivot of the North American economy and the leading industrial and financial metropolis of Canada in the nineteenth century, dominated by a Victorian bourgeoisie, only to see its role retrenched, by the later twentieth century, to one of a - contested- metropolis of the French-speaking province of Qu?bec? How does the city today reconcile the many facets of its identity: as French window on North America, but also as a bilingual, and increasingly multicultural, metropolis? How has a city seemingly allergic to urban planning managed to sustain, even revitalize, an animated and liveable urban core? How can its economy exhibit an excellent performance in terms of conversion to high technology and knowledge-based industries, yet suffer from persistent high unemployment? How can a city with such an extreme climate and long cold winter, and that remains significantly divided between two cultural and linguistic majorities, be so frequently ranked one of the world's most liveable cities?
The list of paradoxes characterizing Montr?al is a long one. The portrait that Annick Germain and Damaris Rose strive to paint of the intriguing city, caught in the ma?lstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the "National Question", addressing Qu?bec's place vis-?-vis the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves forming a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of Montr?al, explore the twists and turns of Montr?al's perennial quest for an identity and a mission worthy of a metropolis.
Review
"a thorough book written in very clear language" (Urban Geography, 2001)
"..an excellent resource for anyone wanting to learn about a major city (Urban Studies, Vol.38, No.13, 2001)
"...informative and thought-provoking book (Canadian Journal of Urban Research, Vol.10 No.1, 2001)
"..I strongly recommend this volume to scholars, planners, politicians and concerned citizens interested in the future of the great city.." (Quebec Studies, No.24.)
Synopsis
Montr al - einst eine gro e Metropole im Norden des amerikanischen Kontinents - sieht sich mehr und mehr an den Rand der kontinentalen Wirtschaft gedr ngt, w hrend es weiterhin das Zentrum der Provinz Qu bec bleibt. Ehemals ber hmt f r seine Lebendigkeit und kulturelle Dynamik, k mpft Montr al mittlerweile mit einer ernsthaften Identit tskrise. Wie konnte es zu dieser Krise - sowohl kulturell als auch politisch und wirtschaftlich kommen? Wie kann Montr al seinen Status als Metropole wiederbeleben?
Montr al: The Quest for a Metropolis ist ein Buch ber Entstehung, Wachstum und zeitgen ssisches Leben dieser Metropole in Nordamerika. Es diskutiert den wirtschaftlichen Verfall der Stadt aufgrund der Abwanderung der Unternehmens- und Finanzmacht nach Toronto sowie eine Reihe anderer Themen, wie z.B. die Verlagerung des demographischen und sozialen Gleichgewichts zwischen franz sisch- und englischsprachigen Einwohnern Montr als. (y05/00)
Synopsis
Part of the World Cities series, Montreal provides a guide to the birth, growth and contemporary life of this unique North American metropolis. The authors address some of the fundamental paradoxes at the core of the city's dilemma: How does the city reconcile its identity as a French window on North America and a bilingual, increasingly multicultural metropolis? How can its economy, currently undergoing a successful transformation into a high-tech hotbed, still suffer from high unemployment? How can a city that is seemingly allergic to urban planning, that has such a long and cold winter and that remains divided between two cultural and linguistic majorities be so frequently ranked one of the world's most livable cities?
The portrait that the authors strive to paint of this intriguing city, caught in the maelstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the "National Question", addressing Quebec's place in relation to the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of Montreal, explore the twists and turns of Montreal's ever-changing identity.
Synopsis
The portrait that the authors strive to paint of this intriguing city, caught in the maelstrom of political debate that permeates most of its urban issues, is both wide-ranging and fine-grained. At the heart of this debate lies the National Question, addressing Quebec's place in relation to the Canadian federation. Building on a vast array of recent research, the authors, themselves a team that reflects the bilingual, bicultural character of Montreal, explore the twists and turns of Montreal's ever-changing identity.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [259]-286) and index.
Table of Contents
A Metropolis in Transition.
Montr?al's Built Form: French Heritage, Victorian Legacy and Modernist Ambitions.
The Shifting Boundaries of the Metropolis: The Struggle to Govern a Moving Target.
Montr?al's Economy: Decline, Conversion -
Polarization?
Repopulating the Inner City.
Language, Ethnic Groups and the Shaping of Social Space.
Epilogue.
Bibliography.
List of Figures.
List of Tables.
Index.