In Search of a Decolonial Urban Transformation

Abstract

We ask whether the WBGU report Humanity on the Move, as a major catalyst for urban sustainability science and agency, reproduces ways of thinking that could ultimately contradict the idea of a Great Transformation towards global sustainability. We contest the dominance of Western knowledge on cities and urbanization which shapes much of the report, even while the urban future is largely unfolding in the Global South. We suggest taking theories from the South into account, as they open up our understanding of both urban scholarship and sustainability science in general.

Introduction: Planning theories from 'southern turn' to 'deeply rooted/situated in the South/context'

“…Sweet (2018) uses cultural humility as a lens to decolonize planning theory, education and practice. Bruns and Gerend (2018) promotes decolonial urban transformation by taking southern theories into consideration, and improving one's understanding of urban scholarship and sustainability science. There is an emerging literature on decolonization of planning theory where southern theorists are increasingly taking part.…”