Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry

This paper assesses the prospective contribution of social-ecological resilience thinking in advancing a theory of ‘ordinary’ cities. Building on the hierarchical divide that continues to prescribe analyses and representations of cities in urban studies, the paper suggests that, while ideologically...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Dessie Elizabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2018-06-01
Series:Bulletin of Geography. Socio-Economic Series
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/bog-2018-0014
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849412005972148224
author Dessie Elizabeth
author_facet Dessie Elizabeth
author_sort Dessie Elizabeth
collection DOAJ
description This paper assesses the prospective contribution of social-ecological resilience thinking in advancing a theory of ‘ordinary’ cities. Building on the hierarchical divide that continues to prescribe analyses and representations of cities in urban studies, the paper suggests that, while ideologically contentious, the conceptual configuration of resilience thinking, promoted essentially through notions of uncertainty, diversity and transformation, shows considerable potential for interdisciplinary research. While remaining cautious about its analytical thresholds, applying the framework as it emerges from its ecological niche suggests that resilience thinking can, alongside other concepts, play a part in creating an enabling environment for broadening the way communities, neighbourhoods and institutions that form and connect cities across the globe are understood, studied and represented in urban theory; allowing us to recognise all cities and their citizens as relatable and ‘ordinary’.
format Article
id doaj-art-50b4d7e32f8548eb815d01274687e6a2
institution Kabale University
issn 2083-8298
language English
publishDate 2018-06-01
publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
record_format Article
series Bulletin of Geography. Socio-Economic Series
spelling doaj-art-50b4d7e32f8548eb815d01274687e6a22025-08-20T03:34:35ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńBulletin of Geography. Socio-Economic Series2083-82982018-06-014040576710.2478/bog-2018-0014bog-2018-0014Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiryDessie Elizabeth0University of Gothenburg, School of Business, Economics and Law; Department of Economy and Society – Unit for Human Geography, P.O. Box 625, 405 30 Gothenburg, SwedenThis paper assesses the prospective contribution of social-ecological resilience thinking in advancing a theory of ‘ordinary’ cities. Building on the hierarchical divide that continues to prescribe analyses and representations of cities in urban studies, the paper suggests that, while ideologically contentious, the conceptual configuration of resilience thinking, promoted essentially through notions of uncertainty, diversity and transformation, shows considerable potential for interdisciplinary research. While remaining cautious about its analytical thresholds, applying the framework as it emerges from its ecological niche suggests that resilience thinking can, alongside other concepts, play a part in creating an enabling environment for broadening the way communities, neighbourhoods and institutions that form and connect cities across the globe are understood, studied and represented in urban theory; allowing us to recognise all cities and their citizens as relatable and ‘ordinary’.https://doi.org/10.2478/bog-2018-0014ordinary citiesresilience thinkingurban theoryinterdisciplinary research
spellingShingle Dessie Elizabeth
Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry
Bulletin of Geography. Socio-Economic Series
ordinary cities
resilience thinking
urban theory
interdisciplinary research
title Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry
title_full Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry
title_fullStr Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry
title_full_unstemmed Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry
title_short Applying resilience thinking to ‘ordinary’ cities: A theoretical inquiry
title_sort applying resilience thinking to ordinary cities a theoretical inquiry
topic ordinary cities
resilience thinking
urban theory
interdisciplinary research
url https://doi.org/10.2478/bog-2018-0014
work_keys_str_mv AT dessieelizabeth applyingresiliencethinkingtoordinarycitiesatheoreticalinquiry