PROJECT UrbanSelf
UrbanSelf - A North-South-Network on Urban Self-Organisation and Public Life in Europe, India and China (07/2011 – 06/2014).
Coordinator: Universität Passau
Scientific Officer: Prof.
Dr. Rüdiger Korff; South-East-Asian Studies II; Universität Passau
Administrative Officer: Dr. Eberhard Rothfuß; Human Geography; University of Bonn
UrbanSelf - A North-South-Network on Urban Self-Organisation and
Public Life in Europe, India and China builds on existing contacts of cooperative research
and knowledge exchange. The objective of the UrbanSelf
network is to bring together and integrate competences on urban
processes in Europe, India and China with a specific focus on urban
self-organisation and how this can contribute to the development and
enhancement of public dialogue within and between the three participating
areas. Thus as well as seeking to further the role of civil society within
Europe, India and China UrbanSelf intends
to simultaneously strengthen the North–South dialogue. In the “urban age” this
is of particular relevance, because urban problems are increasingly global
challenges and it is vital to share knowledge and understanding of these
challenges and how to address them.
The bringing about of change in governance, policy and politics aimed at enhancing the role of the citizen, and their self-organising activities, will facilitate the rise of organisations that enable the articulation of interests (public sphere) and the creation of supporting social and economic practices. Accordingly, urban governance has to interface with these citizen-based organisations. The support of self-organisation is the crucial process for such a transition towards real - rather than virtual - citizen participation. Consequently, self-organisation is a necessity for urban sustainability.
The key objective is to understand these forms of organisation through comparative discussion and knowledge transfer of existing research on European cities and rapidly growing cities in India and China. This then allows for empirically founded theoretical conclusions which in turn will provide the basis to identify innovative approaches to urban challenges from an actor-oriented perspective. The scientific results of urban self-organisation and developments in the public sphere will be addressed to the relevant stakeholders in local organisations, administration, and political actors.
Downloads/Links:
- Vorstellung von UrbanSelf in den BayFOR News - Bayerische Forschungsallianz aktuell, PDF [de]
- Project Poster: UrbanSelf, PDF [engl]
List of participants:
