The biogeopolitics of cities: a critical enquiry across Jerusalem, Phnom Penh, Toronto

Dwelling on a disciplinary threshold between urban planning and health, we take comparative historical perspective the development of three cities – Jerusalem, Phnom Penh Toronto highlighting how evolution their socio-spatial fabrics has been shaped by decisively biopolitical approaches. In line with current studies, remark will to control cities’ territories populations intertwined policy concerns over discourses need isolate environments artificially or rhetorically constructed as unhealthy. We propose, however, shift toward concept biogeopolitics noticing present-day Covid-19 outbreak exposed limits analyses, dichotomic understanding inner vs. outer forms power control. Biogeopolitics becomes therefore powerful conceptual lens explain past crises one have transcended boundaries what are accustomed understand realm. How do biogeopolitical technologies become instrumental in populations? How, other words, health affected regional trans-local forces?