Pluralism in Future Cities of Kazakhstan as a Projection of the Idea of Virtuous Society

Abstract

Public places are significant urban elements that offer a positive impact to the quality life of the citizens. A good city is always receptive, inclusive and meaningful. They are the important ingredients of a successful, benevolent city that helps to build a sense of community, civic identity, culture, and community revitalization. At the same time, it is the very place, which acts as a catalyst in uniting the segregated diverse group of local community while it could also be a platform in engaging with the global community when it acts as a major gathering spot. Due to lack of research done in the area of planning cities in regards to becoming a vital tool in promoting pluralism; tensions and segregations within the communities are being overlooked easily as of only political, religious or social concern.  It can therefore damage the public goods such as liberty, equality or justice, which will result in decelerating the country’s development. There is an urgent need to revive the true essence of people-centered city planning especially in the area of designing cities. In the studies of (i) placemaking, (ii) designing public places emphasizing on inclusive urban management and social planning strategies, (iii) planning cities with more profound reflection on urban segregation, exclusion, social hierarchies, and inequalities; this paper address the need to introduce pluralism in planning future cities of Kazakhstan. Expected findings will become a vital tool in connecting people and generating peace and pluralism for future cities. Keywords: Future Cities, Virtuous City, Perfect Societies, Public Places, Kazakhstan and Pluralism