Jennifer Robinson, in her work Ordinary Cities: Between Modernity and Development, offers a critique of dominant urban theories that focus primarily on global cities, arguing that these should not be the sole lens through which urban processes are understood. According to Robinson, all cities—regardless of their level of economic or political development—are important for urban research. Rather than dividing cities into “global” or “third world” categories, Robinson proposes that all cities should be treated as “ordinary,” meaning places where complex and diverse urban dynamics take place. One of Robinson’s key arguments is that urban thought has been excessively centered on cities in the Global North, such as London, New York City, or Tokyo, while cities in the Global South, such as Lagos or Mumbai, have often been treated merely as recipients of ideas about modernity and development.
This perspective, Robinson argues, creates hierarchies that reinforce a colonial and unequal vision of urban development. Rather than viewing southern cities as imitators, Robinson emphasizes the need to recognize their capacity for innovation and their own urbanization processes, which do not necessarily follow Western models. Robinson’s approach seeks to decentralize urban theory and democratize the way cities are studied. For her, all cities matter and should be understood on their own terms, not only in comparison with dominant northern models.
This postcolonial perspective critiques hierarchical categorizations of cities and highlights the importance of studying ordinary cities as spaces of creativity, resistance, and transformation. In doing so, it opens the door to new ways of thinking about urbanism that are not tied to traditional notions of modernity and development. Another crucial point in Robinson’s work is her call to rethink the concept of “development.” For her, cities should not simply be seen as starting points on a linear path toward economic progress.
Instead, she suggests analyzing how cities in different geographic and economic contexts experience and manage their own challenges and opportunities. This perspective enables a more inclusive understanding of urban dynamics, where every city—no matter how small or seemingly “underdeveloped”—can offer valuable lessons for global urban studies. Robinson also addresses the concept of “urban citizenship,” highlighting how people in ordinary cities experience and exercise their rights in urban spaces that are often overlooked by traditional urban theory. In this sense, her work promotes a more inclusive and equitable approach that considers the everyday experiences of urban residents and how these shape urban policies and the development of cities themselves.
In summary, Ordinary Cities: Between Modernity and Development by Jennifer Robinson is a call to rethink hierarchies in the study of cities. By treating all cities as “ordinary,” Robinson invites us to recognize the diversity and complexity of urban processes around the world, without imposing the exclusionary categories that have long dominated urban research. Her work proposes a more inclusive, postcolonial, and democratic framework for understanding how cities in all contexts confront contemporary challenges.
