Knowing through Fragments: Universalism and Urban Inequality?

This article critically engages with the urban theory workshop delivered by Professor Colin McFarlane in his keynote address, ‘Knowing through Fragments: Universalism and Urban Inequality?’, at the University of Manchester on 6 June 2025. The article is organised in two parts. The first part offers a concise exposition of McFarlane’s insights and seminal contributions to global urbanism, transversal urbanism, and the theorisation of fragments, demonstrating how these concepts reconfigure theoretical and epistemological debates between universalist and transversal approaches in urban studies. The second part presents an edited transcript of the post-keynote dialogue between the audience and McFarlane, mapping the questions, critiques, and exchanges on the meaning, causes, and implications of urban fragments. By juxtaposing the keynote with the ensuing discussion, the article highlights McFarlane’s insights on theorising fragments for understanding the relationalities between universalism and particularism, contributing to future urban theorising and research on urban inequality. Mae'r erthygl hon yn mynd i'r afael yn feirniadol â'r gweithdy theori drefol a gyflwynwyd gan yr Athro Colin McFarlane yn ei brif anerchiad, ‘Knowing through Fragments: Universalism and Urban Inequality?’, ym Mhrifysgol Manceinion ar 6 Mehefin 2025. Mae'r erthygl wedi'i threfnu'n ddwy ran. Mae'r rhan gyntaf yn cynnig esboniad cryno o wybodaeth a chyfraniadau arloesol McFarlane at drefolaeth fyd-eang, trefolaeth drawsgyfeiriol, a theorïau darnau, gan ddangos sut mae'r cysyniadau hyn yn ail-lunio dadleuon theoretig ac epistemolegol rhwng dulliau cyffredinol a thrawsgyfeiriol mewn astudiaethau trefol. Mae'r ail ran yn cyflwyno trawsysgrifiad wedi’i olygu o'r ddeialog ar ôl y prif anerchiad rhwng y gynulleidfa a McFarlane, gan osod yn glir y cwestiynau, y beirniadaethau a'r cyfnewidiadau ar ystyr, achosion a goblygiadau darnau trefol. Drwy gyfosod y prif anerchiad a'r drafodaeth ddilynol, mae'r erthygl yn tynnu sylw at ddealltwriaeth McFarlane o lunio theorïau am ddarnau er mwyn deall y berthynas rhwng cyffredinoliaeth a neilltuoldeb, gan gyfrannu at lunio theorïau trefol yn y dyfodol a chyfrannu at ymchwil i anghydraddoldeb trefol.