Politics and Planning

The Research Area analyses the political negotiation, planning and transformation of the social and spatial development of cities and regions. It primarily examines the governance of increasingly uncertain, complex and ambiguous constellations. The research is based on the observation that current developments such as climate change, global migration, increasing socio-spatial disparities as well as political polarisation, protests and conflicts put cooperative governance arrangements under pressure. Through its research on common goods as housing, urban infrastructures as well as a climate-neutral, climate-resilient and sustainable urban and regional development, the Research Area contributes to a better understanding of governing cities and regions in multilevel systems. Knowledge transfer addresses policy makers and administrations, but also energy and housing companies, associations and civil society organisations.