Planning, Urban Resilience, and Sustainability

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the framework of the study by examining the nexus between planning, resilience, and sustainability. Traditionally used in the study of socio-ecological systems, resilience and sustainability have recently gained significance in evaluating the resilience and adaptability of large and complex systems such as urban areas. The chapter uses the “regime change” model to analyze the administrative and governance structure of a city. “Regime change” markers can be looked at as “layers of impact” left on a city, which can be used to examine the transformation of a city and differentiate the drivers of the force of change that have impacted the long-term development trajectory of a community. By using Gondar’s historical transition as a case study, the chapter demonstrates how the model tracks the political and economic transformation through various periods and evaluates the impact these changes had on the economic and political systems of the city. Also, the meaning and interpretation of concepts such as resilience and sustainability are often difficult to isolate because of their vagueness. By developing a community resilience assessment measure, the chapter elucidates how one can operationalize the use of these concepts.