Dracula urbanism and smart cities in style and substance

Abstract

Dialogues in Urban Research was established to create critical yet constructive conversations about cities and urbanization at a perilous but fascinating historical-geographical conjuncture. In this vein, we thank our four interlocuters, Emma Colven, Renee Tapp, Delik Hudalah, Dallas Rogers, and Christopher Silver, for their provocative comments on our manuscript. There is much food for thought in their ideas. In response to their comments, we initially expound on three core themes in the article that address their concerns about our conceptual apparatus. Here we offer clarity to dispel any misunderstandings of what our paper is about. The discussion's cornerstone: Dracula urbanism as an important situated theorising; Dracula's complicated features, and the reality of smart city building as the leading edge of Dracula urbanism. Then, we illuminate the contributions of our critics as a collection of nuanced modifications and extensions of our work. We are heartened that these fellow urbanists, in this special journal issue, have critically appraised the Dracula urbanist concept and move it forward in meaningful ways.