Tracing as comparative method

Astrid Wood

Urban Studies, 2022, vol. 59, issue 8, 1749-1753

Abstract: Urban scholarship is bursting with comparison. We use comparison as an explicit and implicit tool to frame our urban analysis. But how do we actually do comparison? This commentary presents a fine-tuned analysis of ‘tracing’ as both a conceptual framework and a methodological process for doing comparative urbanism. It draws on the many excellent contributions in this special issue to argue for three methodological approaches to tracing – following the trace, the people doing the tracing and the pathways of tracing – adding reflections that are not only theoretically valuable but also practically useful. In concluding, I argue that this approach of tracing highlights the endless possibilities for thoughtful and productive comparison starting from everywhere and ending up anywhere.

Keywords: comparative urbanism; tracing; urban studies; æ¯”è¾ƒåŸŽå¸‚ç ”ç©¶; 追踪; åŸŽå¸‚ç ”ç©¶ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:59:y:2022:i:8:p:1749-1753

DOI: 10.1177/00420980221086124

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