Course content

The course will elaborate on critical urban politics and planning theories, particularly emphasising urban transformations toward climate neutrality. The course will have a global approach focusing on decolonising urban scholarship while addressing the processes of marginalisation related to gender, ethnicity, class, and social groups in the context of urban sustainability. It will deal with the forces that create exclusion in the city and reduce possibilities for access to space and democratic processes. Theories such as those related to the right to the city and public space, political representation, pluralism, multiplism and governance models facilitate radical societal change toward climate resilience. The students will be encouraged to bring perspectives from their PhD research and use critical theory to strengthen the framing of their research questions.

Learning outcome

PhD candidates will, through critical reading, contextualisation, peer discussion, and self-reflection, gain a deeper understanding of critical urban theory and its relevance for analysing marginalisation, political decision-making, and urban development processes towards climate neutrality.

PhD candidates will be able to use theoretical references as a framework for formulating their research questions and writing a well-argumented theoretical reflection within their research.

Learning methods and activities

Seminars with interactive discussions and group work. During the course, the students will prepare a critical review of selected articles both in writing and for presentation. At the end of the semester, an essay is required as the primary basis for evaluation. Importance is given to the development theory for the PhD research subject and its theory and method.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

PhD candidates that have been admitted to the PhD program in architecture and have an already approved project proposal.