Ruderal City: Ecologies of Migration, Race, and Urban Nature in Berlin.

The article is a book review of "Ruderal City: Ecologies of Migration, Race, and Urban Nature in Berlin" by Bettina Stoetzer. The book explores the legacies of racism and colonial extractivism in Berlin and examines how urban life can be understood as ruderal, meaning it thrives in poor soil and disturbed landscapes. The book discusses the reproduction of racial inequality through everyday practices and environments, and highlights the interconnectedness of people, flora, and ecologies in the city. While the book is well-researched and conceptually ambitious, it is noted that the treatment of whiteness and migration could be more nuanced, and there is a missed opportunity to address the economic relations that contribute to racialized exploitation in Germany and Europe. Overall, the book offers inspiration for those interested in studying contemporary cities and their ecological connectedness. [Extracted from the article]