(Un)Just Cities

Kursbeschreibung

Cities around the world are marred by sharp inequalities. From homelessness, police violence, to limited access to green spaces, these inequalities are pervasive and perpetuate a cycle of injustice. However, these inequalities don’t exist in a vacuum and are, in fact, connected to our identities such as race, class, and gender. Understanding this connection and addressing the inequalities accordingly is critical to making our cities just and equitable. In this self-study course, we explore the complex web of urban inequalities through the lens of race, class, and gender—the "triangle of oppression." By analysing how these factors shape our cities, students will gain a deeper understanding of the systemic and structural nature of urban challenges. Through comparative analysis of cities around the world, including case studies from Germany, the course aims to reveal how inequalities manifest in different ways and what effects they produce. By taking this course, students will develop a critical understanding of urban inequalities, learn to identify the underlying systems of power and privilege that sustain these disparities, and be able to envision just cities where all residents can thrive.