Betreuung: Dr. Letizia Imbres, M.Sc. Anastasiya Matyushkina, M.Sc. Liu Ruiying

Urban shrinkage is not a new phenomenon, but it has become a global focus of debate and scholarly attention since the end of the 20th century. Driven by deindustrialization, globalization, low fertility rates, and population ageing, urban shrinkage is becoming a reality for more and more cities and regions. In Europe shrinkage is especially severe - almost half of Europe’s cities (49%) have faced population losses in the period between 1990 and 2010 (Wolff & Wiechmann, 2018).

If left unsteered, urban shrinkage can affect the urban economy, the built environment, the social structure, and citizens’ wellbeing, thus having an impact on all aspects of sustainability. However, dealing with urban shrinkage is a challenging task for traditional planning, whose concepts, instruments, and actors’ coalitions have been based on, and depended upon growth (Pallagst et al., 2017; Sousa & Pinho, 2015). Given the structural and novel challenges, shrinking cities need innovative strategies to manage or avoid the negative impacts and move towards environmental, social and economic sustainability. There is never a one-size-fits-all model that can be applied in shrinking cities around the world due to diverse contexts; thus an international comparative view is essential for understanding the constraints and possibilities of transformation.

In this seminar the students will:

1. Understand the phenomenon of urban shrinkage: causes, effects, and global status.
2. Understand the contradictions and dilemmas in planning for shrinking cities.
3. Learn about diverse approaches to address different aspects of urban shrinkage.
4. Be able to critically and holistically reflect on the planning and policy-making in shrinking cities against the goal of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
5. Be able to compare international cases to reflect on the constraints and opportunities of different local contexts.

The seminar will include, among others, presentations by guest lecturers, reading discussions and case-study analysis.

Zeit und Ort

Literatur

Although pre-reading is not compulsory, students may find it helpful to prepare for the seminar by reading or dipping into the following articles:

1. Pallagst, K., et al. (2017). "What drives planning in a shrinking city? Tales from two German and two American cases." Town Planning Review 88(1): 15-28.https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2017.3
2. Sousa, S., & Pinho, P. (2015). “Planning for Shrinkage: Paradox or Paradigm”. European Planning Studies, 23(1), 12–32.https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.820082
3. Wiechmann, T., & Bontje, M. (2015). “Responding to Tough Times: Policy and Planning Strategies in Shrinking Cities.” European Planning Studies, 23(1), 1–11.https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.820077
4. Blanco, H., et al. (2009). "Shaken, shrinking, hot, impoverished and informal: Emerging research agendas in planning." Progress in planning 72(4): 195-250.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2009.09.001
5. Hospers, G. J. (2014). “Policy Responses to Urban Shrinkage: From Growth Thinking to Civic Engagement.” European Planning Studies, 22(7), 1507–1523.https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.793655
6. Fol, S. (2012). “Urban Shrinkage and Socio-Spatial Disparities: Are the Remedies Worse than the Disease?” Built Environment, 38(2), 259–275. Retrieved fromhttp://www.jstor.org/stable/23799124

Leistungsnachweis
Participating students will be asked to submit an individual essay at the end of the seminar. The length of the paper varies depending on whether a student is interested in receiving a grade (max. 20 pages incl. references) or just collecting the credits (max 10 pages incl. references). Requirement for passing the course is also a proof of successful active participation, which encompasses group work, reading discussions and case-study analysis.

Art der Veranstaltung
Seminar (digital)

Dauer:  2 SWS

Punkte: 4