Ideas out of context and the contextualization of ideas: The transference of Jane Jacobs to São Paulo

- The translation of seminal urban planning theses to new languages can result in policy transfer.
- Jane Jacobs absolute applicability to the Brazilian cities is questioned.
- Although Jacobs called for understanding context, this did not occur in planning the Nova Luz project in São Paulo.

The mobility and contextualization of urban policies between localities have received significant attention in recent literature. A number of mechanisms have been identified, including “best practices,” “policy tourism,” multinational firms, and conferences have been identified. This article identifies a new mechanism: the translation and publication of seminal theses into additional languages. Using citations analysis and interviews in São Paulo, this mechanism is confirmed as an additional mode of transference and identified as being responsible for the growth in interest in Jane Jacobs in São Paulo. However, this article finds that despite the increase in accessibility to her ideals, her emphasis on contextuality was overlooked in that case. This, in turn, calls attention to larger issues of the use of so-called 'universally-good' examples of urbanism.