Gentrification is one of the most striking developments of our time, radically impacting residential, consumption and investment patterns, and urban culture more broadly. Yet despite its significance, little is known about gentrification processes predating the repopulation of Western cities from the 1980s onwards. While geographers are more inclined to focus on contemporary developments, historians seem wary of using the term when examining the social transformation of bygone eras. This leaves us with a remarkable gap on the historical understanding of gentrification. Tracing the history of the phenomenon will enable us to challenge common definitions, perceptions and stereotypes. This in turn will inform contemporary debates about whether or not a concept such as gentrification, rooted in the specific historical-institutional context of mostly Anglo-Saxon cities, can be transferred across global contexts and considered a “planetary” phenomenon.
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