Old and New Problems after Covid-19: Having a Look at the US cities. A Talk with Ray Hutchison

This journal issue ends with an interview with Ray Hutchison, Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Several aspects of urban sociology and the impacts of Covid-19 on cities are considered, bringing about the fact that anticipated changes often do not materialize, drawing a parallel with the post-9/11. In this sense, for example, opportunities for rural areas remain to be seen in terms of significance and lasting trends. Vulnerabilities and increased inequalities in urban areas are highlighted, and the exacerbation of political polarization, especially in the US, is a critical factor in understanding the lack of consensus on the impacts of this crisis. The interviewer also explores the persistent relevance of the conceptual tools of the Chicago School and New Urban Sociology for interpreting recent urban changes.