Introduction: the nature of urban studies.

The disciplines subsumed within the field of interest known as 'urban studies' have neglected a unifying conceptual base, the absence of theory being more acute in geography and planning. This, coupled with the 'developing crises of late capitalism', has led to a greater need for the search for Marxian and other critical alternative perspectives. Much urban research has been contaminated by its reliance on state sponsorship and the development of a truly transdisciplinary approach has been slow. Harvey's 'Social justice and the city' and Castells 'The urban question', were, from their origins in geography and sociology respectively, seminal contributions. The current political and economic stage of Britian makes all the more important the provision of 'theoretical support and empirical ammunition for political action'.-K.A.Cowlard