The book Urban Theories and Practices: Paths, organized by UFMG professors Geraldo Costa and Heloisa Costa, from the Institute of Geosciences, Roberto Monte-Mór, from the Faculty, will be launched on September 13th at 6:30 pm at Quixote Livraria e Café. of Economic Sciences, and Rita Velloso, from the School of Architecture.

The book presents the results of the activities of the IEAT Research Groups: “The laws of science and nature and (un)sustainable development”, “Cosmópolis – meta-method” and “From alternative economies to alternatives to the economy: exploring practices and socio-spatial and cultural concepts beyond economic rationality” and research projects coordinated by the organizers, with funding from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Bringing together texts from guest researchers, students and graduates of UFMG postgraduate programs in Geography, Economics, Architecture and Engineering, the work consolidates the reflection carried out in the seminar “Urban Theories and Practices: Paths”, promoted, in 2023, by the organizers of the collection and by the IEAT. According to its creators, the theoretical line of the seminar and published works has as its guiding thread the recovery of the seminal work of Henri Lefebvre and his disciples or followers. The collection, in two volumes, is divided into four blocks: Emancipation, Reproduction, Nature and Utopia.

The book “Urban Theories and Practices: Paths” starts from an analysis of the characteristics of urbanization processes, discussing the social challenges of our time. It evaluates the possible and most appropriate alternatives for material and human reproduction and identifies concrete, possible and necessary utopias, in the search for paths to transformation and the construction of an emancipatory urban environment. Continuing, it analyzes the characteristics of the appropriation of nature and the effects of its destruction and unsustainability. At the same time, it points out the necessary and possible paths and actions in the search for a combination between environmental sustainability and human emancipation.

The launch of the book Urban Theories and Practices is open to the general public, but subject to space capacity. Quixote Livraria e Café is located at Rua Fernandes Tourinho, 274, in Savassi, in Belo Horizonte.