Occupy All Streets

Book excerpt: Occupy All Streets: Olympic Urbanism and Contested Futures in Rio de Janeiro analyzes the implications of the various mega-projects that form part of the comprehensive transformation of Rio de Janeiro, connected to the 2016 Olympic Games. Contributions from literary critics, historians, anthropologists, architects, media theorists, geographers and urban planners explore the array of interventions proposed and built in anticipation of recent mega-events. Collectively, the essays tell the story of how these changes to the cityscape have kindled Rio's citizens? hopes and aspirations for their ?right to the future,? and also chronicle the various ways they have contested the futures being imposed on them. Anticipating the city yet to come, these essays also point to the potential for activism and protest to transform the Olympic legacy into different futures. While focused on Rio, Occupy All Streets is full of lessons for other cities experiencing wide-ranging challenges and facing far-reaching reforms.