Viewpoint: The planning research agenda: plural cities, equity and rights of citizenship

Abstract

Today it is self-evident that across the world we all - more or less - live in plural cities. A large body of literature has been built upon how contemporary society, which was at least relatively homogeneous in the past, is now gradually turning into a fragmented and complex society, where minority and majority groups coexist more or less in peace. A number of factors connected to development and underdevelopment processes as well as to the phenomenon of social polarisation on a world scale are seen to be connected to this transformation. As a consequence, new, unexpected geographies are being created and old phenomena are taking new forms and dimensions. In this new geography of exclusion, fostered by the mechanisms of the new capitalist system and the crisis of the welfare state, inequality in cities is spreading significantly. Moreover, the new urban dynamics tend to neglect the residential function, both as a primary function of urban life, but above all as an element of competition that can be the subject of public policies. This in turn inevitably implies a reduction in the power of the self-government of residents; it emphasises the disadvantages and the inequalities of the 'weaker' parts of the urban population, which cannot compete with the new economic dynamics. At the same time, these parts experience difficulties both in 'representing' their condition as well as in acquiring 'visibility' in the (local and other) political agenda. The crucial issue of relations between minority and majority groups, with particular reference to the forms of participation and the practice of citizenship in democratic political systems founded on the principle of elective representation, has emerged as a further related problem. Such contested urban space has thus become a space for residents to claim and to fight for individual rights and justice; but, at the same time, for some, such as homeless people or immigrants, the right to the city may be tantamount to having the very right to exist. From Lefebvre (1974) to Mitchell (2003), many scholars have demonstrated how the right to the city must be defended if we want to live in a diverse, just society, as the very idea of (citizenship) rights is fundamental to protecting the ideals of liberal democracy. Achievements and questions for a research agenda What are the objectives and issues of planning research in these new urban circumstances? How is it possible to define a planning research agenda that is able to face such issues, both theoretically and practically? How is it possible to guarantee equity and justice, even while recognising differences? How can planning contribute to the recognition of citizenship and rights? Many research projects have already been carried out at the analytical level; thus, a good body of descriptions, narrations and stories already exists; furthermore, a fairly structured body of planning research projects has also been developed during the last 10 years on this issue. Despite these achievements, however, they are not enough. The fear of the 'other' is growing in many European countries, at both the individual and political levels (Neill, 2008). A wide range of research projects from Hoch (1993) to Thomas (2000; 2008) have been assembled which show the persistence of racism in several urban planning systems and a reluctance to face plurality. Despite contemporary debates about multiculturalism and discussion on a number of approaches to, or models of, a multicultural society, their implications for planning are still only partially explored and rarely applied. Admittedly, there is a wide exploration of discrimination against and the subjugation of minority groups; there is also an increasingly sophisticated reflection on the need to include a broader view of socio-cultural processes in planning theory and practice; there is a large literature on inclusive, argumentative turns in planning; and, last but not least, there are many progressive and radical urban movements (and scholars) around the world working (and researching) for better and more equal living conditions. …