Urban and regional studies

Title of session: Urban and Regional Studies

Organizers:

Robert Begg                   Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA

Stelian Dimitrov           Sofia University

Kliment Naydenov       Sofia University

In the context of globalisation and economic and environmental change, local and regional societies have to adapt to conditions that are set beyond their control. Urban and Regional Planning focuses on strategic issues related to the long-term development of cities and regions. Urban and Regional Studies is about the interrelationships between everyday social and spatial patterns, growing complexities, and the governance of neighbourhoods, cities and regions. Planning in this context can be described as an integrated activity that combines various areas of expertise in processes that take into account cross-border and multi-scalar realities, and the various stakeholders involved (i.e. public administrations, private companies, NGOs and citizens). These challenges include economic development; urban poverty and income inequality; preserving and promoting culture, architecture and art; land use conflicts; and the provision of adequate and sustainable transportation and housing services.

Urban and regional planning is facing challenges that are connected with environmental and climate change, a multi-cultural society, a structural transformation of economy and increasing competition among cities and regions. In the light of these challenges, cities and regions have to reconsider prevailing policies and planning practices, and identify alternative strategies for their long-term development. Urban and Regional Planning combines elements of social, technical and natural sciences, and the humanities. This interdisciplinary approach is applied in the analysis of complex relations between economic, social and physical aspects of urban and regional development. It includes studies of urban and regional change, prerequisites for public and private strategies and actions, and the understanding of planning and decision-making processes based on a systems approach and the application of quantitative and qualitative methods.

Planned output:

The conference papers can be published in:

Peer-reviewed book in Springer series on Key Challenges in Geography

Special Issue in European Journal of Geography

Special Issue in Journal of Bulgarian Geographical Society

Special Issue in Journal Problems of Geography

Looking forward to welcoming your research to this session!