Social infrastructure and the public life of cities: Studying urban sociality and public spaces
October 29, 2025Why Public Space Matters
October 29, 2025Research Article
Palaces for the people: How social infrastructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life
By Klinenberg, E.
Full Citation
Klinenberg, E. (2018). Palaces for the people: How social infrastructure can help fight inequality, polarization, and the decline of civic life. New York: Crown.
Key Findings
Sociologist Eric Klinenberg argues that the future of democratic societies rests not simply on shared values but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, churches, parks, and other connective elements where crucial connections are formed. Interweaving his own research with examples from around the globe, Klinenberg shows how “social infrastructure” is helping to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges.
