Ben Bradlow, assistant professor at Princeton, dives into urban politics and inequality, drawing from his book on São Paulo and Johannesburg. He discusses the contrasting realities of slum conditions in rapidly urbanizing cities and reflects on the tension between democratic ideals and neoliberal outcomes since the 1990s. The role of social movements in shaping housing policies is explored, along with the global implications of China’s industrial influence and the rise of the radical right in both the Global North and South. A thought-provoking look at the future of urban living!