Urban Futures

It is estimated that 60% of the world’s population will be urbanised by 2030. The rapid growth of cities is giving rise to a range of economic, social and environmental problems. The challenge for policy makers and urban planners is how to manage growth sustainably, tapping the potential benefits of urbanisation while avoiding its exclusionary and environmentally damaging tendencies.

The projects which we carry out as part of this theme seek to conduct an evaluation of urban pluralism as a key characteristic of urban futures: as a form of effective governance, as a basis for increased resilience and human security, as a pre-condition for creativity and improved experiences of the urban habitat, and as a manifestation of the making and meeting of livelihoods. With policy thinking increasingly looking for singular solutions, such as ‘smart’ technologies, it may be necessary to re-consider the modalities of governing plural cities, navigating plural economies and inhabiting plural cities, with a view to better harnessing their potential alongside more traditional ‘top-down’ forms of urban planning and management.

Funded by the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

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