What Can We Learn from Urban Crisis?

Kristian Hoelscher, Hanne Cecilie Geirbo, Lisbet Harboe and Sobah Abbas Petersen
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Kristian Hoelscher: Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), 0186 Oslo, Norway
Hanne Cecilie Geirbo: Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Technology, Art and Design, Oslo Metropolitan University, 0130 Oslo, Norway
Lisbet Harboe: Institute of Urbanism and Landscape, The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, 0175 Oslo, Norway
Sobah Abbas Petersen: SINTEF Digital, 7034 Trondheim, Norway

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: The irreversible transition towards urban living entails complex challenges and vulnerabilities for citizens, civic authorities, and the management of global commons. Many cities remain beset by political, infrastructural, social, or economic fragility, with crisis arguably becoming an increasingly present condition of urban life. While acknowledging the intense vulnerabilities that cities can face, this article contends that innovative, flexible, and often ground-breaking policies, practices, and activities designed to manage and overcome fragility can emerge in cities beset by crisis. We argue that a deeper understanding of such practices and the knowledge emerging from contexts of urban crisis may offer important insights to support urban resilience and sustainable development. We outline a simple conceptual representation of the interrelationships between urban crisis and knowledge production, situate this in the context of literature on resilience, sustainability, and crisis, and present illustrative examples of real-world practices. In discussing these perspectives, we reflect on how we may better value, use, and exchange knowledge and practice in order to address current and future urban challenges.

Keywords: urban development; sustainability; urban resilience; crisis; flexibility; innovation; knowledge production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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