Cities

This research group focuses on research which speaks to the complex relationships between politics, society, democracy and governance in cities. We foreground a socio-political lens on cities, and consider built/physical characteristics and urban spaces from this perspective. Cities are increasingly a locus of academic attention, as the world urbanises, and scales of governance differentiate themselves. This gives the research group immediate broad academic relevance. The research group seeks to work with municipal actors and other urban stakeholders, generating both policy and broader societal impact. Guiding themes of this open and generative group include the relevance of cities for practices of democracy, types, scales, and modes of governance, urban lifestyles and their relationship to societal challenges such as climate change, social justice, and emerging technologies and infrastructures. The group focus includes historical perspectives, contemporary questions, and urban futures. The group is interfaculty in its starting constellation and encourages interdisciplinary connections and collaborations. Disciplines represented in the starting group are spatial planning, geography, urban studies, sociology, philosophy, political science, political history, and international relations. Research group members can minimally expect to get to know colleagues from other faculties working on related topics, to find out about relevant events, projects, calls etc, and to gain opportunities to co-develop research, education and impact projects.

General aims of the Cities research group

1. Thematise cities and urban topics across the RUG and wider academic community

2. Enable interfaculty connections and sharing of relevant activities, expertise, grant calls etc on the theme of cities

3. Foster collaboration on interdisciplinary research, teaching and impact activities on relevant topics under the scope of the research group