A unique and provocative history of the development of the idea of the city in recent years. Key public spaces and buildings in England, Europe and the USA are discussed in relation to their socio-political context.

In the Western world, cities have arguably never been more anxious: practical anxieties about personal safety and metaphysical anxieties about the uncertain place of the city in culture are the small change of journalism and political debate. Cities have long been regarded as problems, in need of drastic solutions. In this context, the contemporary revival of city centres is remarkable. But in a culture that largely fears the urban, how can the contemporary city be imagined? How is it supposed to be used or inhabited? What does it mean? Taking England since WWII as its principal focus, this provocative and original book considers the Western city at a critical moment in its history.

'In this stimulating and perceptive study of modern cities, Williams argues that anxiety has been the defining characteristic of architectural debate and practice...With a few well-aimed barbs at Richard Rogers, a remarkabl defence of Milton Keynes and an astute comparison with Barcelona, this is highly interesting.' - Scotland on Sunday: The Review, December 2004 'Williams is impressive on the way that architects have articulated a culture informed by fear.' - David Clements, Culture Wars.org.uk, January 2005 'This is a very well researched, incredibly detailed and thoroughly insightful critique of the apprehensive period in which we live represented in a critique of a number of British cities.' -Austin Williams, Futurecities.org.uk