Capitalising Culture: Liverpool 2008

Paul Jones and Stuart Wilks-Heeg
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Paul Jones: Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work Studies, University of Liverpool, UK
Stuart Wilks-Heeg: Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work Studies, University of Liverpool, UK

Local Economy, 2004, vol. 19, issue 4, 341-360

Abstract: This article analyses the political, economic and social contexts of Liverpool's successful bid to become European Capital of Culture, 2008. It highlights the juxtaposition in the Liverpool 2008 process of discourses of urban entrepreneurialism and a strong emphasis on community involvement. While the bid is part of a wider shift in governance in the city that has helped reverse local economic decline, it is argued that the increasingly ‘boosterist’ character of cultural policy in the city raises a number of concerns. In particular, the article highlights the tensions arising from the re-branding of Liverpool as ‘The World in One City’ and the threat that the emphasis on culture as economic development poses to ‘alternative’ culture in the city.

Keywords: European Capital of Culture; Liverpool; regeneration; cultural policy; inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:loceco:v:19:y:2004:i:4:p:341-360

DOI: 10.1080/0269094042000286846

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