Addressing and transforming complexities in cities : Exploring logics and routines in Sweden

• Well-managed urbanization can be a transformative force towards socially and environmentally sustainable cities. The transformative change relies on knowledge and collaborative action, rather than disconnected knowledges from different scientific disciplines and of sectorial actors. A problem that hinders collaborative action is the complexity of sustainable urbanization. In this paper we aim to expand thinking on urban transformation from a multisectoral and tri-disciplinary research perspective. Methods in use are tri-disciplinary essays to identify multisectoral interests, logics and routines in urban transformation. Essayistic insights form and develop three analytical dialogues on a range of urban transformation specificities in the urban complexity and related to sustainable urbanization. The essays are collaboratively interpreted as a Saskia Sassen inspired de-theorising process to get hold of complexities in cities by social, self-reflective and introspective processes. There are multi-sectoral issues difficult to develop with current modes of thinking and independent logic of developments. A re-theorization is proposed with collective ways of understanding, interacting and developing urban sustainable solutions that aims to appropriately address the complexities of the urban environment. Two ways of thinking and acting is contrasted. Independent and interdependent logics of leadership cultures for sustainable development are considered as a new way to theorise around the sustainable city. Implications concern complexities in cities such as how to design and develop urban projects that embraces actors' concerns and knowledge for sustainable development. There appear many simultaneous action nets of urban transformation specificities. These are based on actors’ logics, routines, ambitions, and collaboration. Leadership for transformation is not the independent cultures with one or few actors in the action nets but the interdependent culture making room for and adapt specificities of the engaged actors.  

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Samhällsbyggnadsteknik -- Annan samhällsbyggnadsteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Civil Engineering -- Other Civil Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

built environment

architecture

urban transformations

leadership cultures

Urban studies

Urbana studier

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)