Published July 9, 2021 | Version v1
Thesis Open

Culture and Urban Development Policies. Beyond Large Metropolis

  • 1. ISCTE

Contributors

  • 1. ISCTE

Description

In a changing world, the role of culture in promoting development has become widely recognised as a means and resource for revitalising places, strengthening the identity and communities’ sense of belonging, boosting the culture economy, and legitimising the action of cultural and political elites and the implementation of new forms of governance. Alongside, the intrinsic value of culture has been discussed, associated with subjective and aesthetic experience and the improvement of individual and collective well-being.

The vast literature, on this subject, focuses mainly on the processes that take place in large metropolises due to the concentration and diversity of resources, neglecting the initiatives undertaken in smaller cities. However, the interest in understanding the challenges of these urban centres has increased in the pursuit of a more sustainable and cohesive development in the European context, where they have a significant expression and a central role in urban-rural and centre-periphery relations.

This research reflects on the values and roles attributed to culture in the urban planning strategies and development policies of four European small and medium-sized urban centres, situated in intermediate and rural regions, namely, Český Krumlov (Czech Republic); Jyväskylä (Finland); Óbidos (Portugal) and York (England).

 Given the complex nature of these processes, this study examined through a comparative and relational approach the dominant political discourses and practices, observing the structural conditions and developmental trajectories that shape and are shaped by the actors' agency. This should allow broader conclusions about the political action and cultural processes, and even about how we perceive the transformations that we are living.

Notes

Thesis presented for the fulfilment of the degree of Doctor in Sociology at School of Sociology and Public Policy - ISCTE February 2018

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PHD Final 2018 Elisabete Tomaz (review1).pdf

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Thesis: 10071/18258 (Handle)