The gift : spaces of global socialism and their afterlives / Łukasz Stanek (ed.).

Berlin : Jovis, [2026]
©2026

285 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), plans ; 24 cm

"The gifting of architecture during the Cold War was a spectacular means for socialist countries to manifest a new vision of international relations for the decolonizing world. Soviet, Eastern European, Chinese, and Cuban institutions donated factories, schools, hospitals, and housing to newly independent states in Africa and Asia, transforming cities and landscapes in Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Mongolia, Vietnam, and elsewhere. This book shows how the moral, temporal, and racial dynamics of gift-giving conditioned the design, construction, and afterlives of these buildings. It debates how the generosity and violence specific to gift exchange, and the social bonds that it creates, shaped and continue to shape everyday urbanism across Africa and Asia. By rereading these encounters, The Gift offers a uniquely differentiated genealogy of global urbanization and its architecture."-- Page 4 of cover.

9783986122461 (softcover)
398612246X (softcover)
(e-book)
9783986122492
3986122494

Communism and architecture.
Gifts Political aspects.
Ceremonial exchange.
Urbanization Africa.
Urbanization Asia.
International relations and culture.
Communisme et architecture.
Relations internationales et culture.
Cadeaux Aspect politique.
Échange cérémoniel.
Communist countries Relations Developing countries.
Developing countries Relations Communist countries.
Communist countries
Developing countries

Stanek, Łukasz, editor.

Spaces of global socialism and their afterlives

Location: Library study room new acquisitions 327964
Call No.: 327964
Copy: 1
Status: Available