What is it like to live in a communist-run city? For residents of Austria’s second city of Graz, that question ceased being hypothetical in 2021 when Elke Kahr of the Communist Party of Austria was sworn in as mayor. In this special edition of The Urbanist, 
Monocle’s Alexei Korolyov ventures to Graz to see how its unique leadership is affecting citizens’ lives, and whether communist stigmas still loom large.


With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, this is Monocle’s guide to making better cities, be it new technology, state-of-the-art subways or compact apartments. Nominee in the Smartest Podcast category of the 2019 British Podcast awards. 

With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, this is Monocle’s guide to making better cities, be it new technology, state-of-the-art subways or compact apartments. Nominee in the Smartest Podcast category of the 2019 British Podcast awards.

The Urbanist

Communist Graz

Our holiday special brings you a collection of yuletide traditions from cities around the world. Then, we roll out another festive round of ‘The Urbanist’ quiz and give you the perfect gift idea for the urbanist in your life.

Our holiday special brings you a collection of yuletide traditions from cities around the world. Then, we roll out another festive round of &lsquo;The Urbanist&rsquo; quiz and give you the perfect gift idea for the urbanist in your life.

A very Urbanist Christmas

Jessica Bridger straps on her skis and takes us to a grand American resort whose wild, man-made landscape stuns visitors.

Jessica Bridger straps on her skis and takes us to a grand American resort whose wild, man-made landscape stuns visitors.

Tall Stories 439: Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Matt Sykes, co-founder and convenor of Swimmable Cities, describes how our urban centres can band together to promote more swimmable urban waterways. Then Sebastien Ricard from Wilkinsoneyre unpacks the transformation of the Battersea Power Station and Mandy Sinclair visits Aaniin – Canada’s first fully indigenous-owned department store.

Matt Sykes, co-founder and convenor of Swimmable Cities, describes how our urban centres can band together to promote more swimmable urban waterways. Then Sebastien Ricard from Wilkinsoneyre unpacks the transformation of the Battersea Power Station and Mandy Sinclair visits Aaniin &ndash; Canada&rsquo;s first fully indigenous-owned department store.

Communist Graz

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