Urban governance and the politics of space and place
Architects, landscape architects, planners, urbanists, engineers and related professionals often pursue clear-cut goals based on taken for granted problems. Their attempts have not been without success. The history of cities can provide ample examples of how planning, development and design have actually made the world a better place. However, these professional solutions have also unintendedly contributed to increasing social, cultural and economic inequality, exclusion and marginalization among city dwellers.
We believe that an in-depth understanding of a given situation, place, space or landscape, particularly the one offered by cultural geography and the related disciplines, should precede attempts to change it.
This research agenda is therefore focused on urban governance and the politics of space and place and introduces reflexive theories and approaches to understand the politics of planning and design in urban contexts. By studying Inclusion, exclusion and democratic innovation, Conflicts and power and Materiality and object formation we contribute to the ongoing democratisation of urban governance, to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of urban governance, and to improve the quality of plans and designs for the end users.