Paragons of Lifestyle: gated communities and the politics of space in Bombay

In Bombay (Mumbai), the global phenomenon of gated residential enclaves is burgeoning. The city has a long history of residential segregation along religious and ethno‐linguistic lines; the new developments are more inward‐looking, however, in that they seek to create private, self‐sufficient living and leisure spaces. This shift is located within the local dynamics of a perceived rise in crime, Bombay's increasing communalism, and the politics of exclusion in the city. It is also a characteristic of urban formations worldwide.