Unjust Urbanities: Spatially reinforcing patterns of segregation

In this thesis the spatial dimension of ‘justice’ and ‘segregation’ is explored through the perspective of urban form. Urban theory emphasises justice as an important topic due to the increased patterns of segregation and social exclusion that western cities are facing to-day, where critical urban theory criticize decision-makers and urban developers for valuing financial capital higher than social sustainability and citizen rights.

Urban planning and design are closely related to political processes and societal norms and values. Space syntax theory has noted a lack of understanding of ‘how’ cities work, and instead a great focus on the normative aspect of ‘what’ cities are desired to become. However important it is to shape normative objectives for the urban development, they are of little use if they cannot be materialised so that the aims are achieved. One common example of such mismatch is the modernist planning paradigm, which had great ambitions striving to achieve an urban development for the common ‘good’ in Sweden, but is nevertheless subject to severe critique in terms of the social stigma and isolation that the modernist housing estates generated.

Increased social diversity require a more tolerant social environment acceptant to difference. Within social sciences ‘co-presence’ between non-locals is argued important for increased tolerance. Societal norms and values are essentially generated through how social practices are negotiated in urban public space. Through co-presence different groups in urban society may express themselves and take part in the formation of such norms and values. Accordingly spatial segregation may exclude certain groups of people from the perpetual process of remodeling urban society, which constitutes an important urban injustice today.

Urban form also influences the accessibility to urban amenities. Accessibility aspects have proven important not only in direct terms such as e.g. how far it is to the closest health centre, but also indirectly in whether the urban form encourage or discourage co-presence, opportunities on the labour market etc. and is accordingly crucial to the matter of urban social justice. Nevertheless population groups that are highly dependent on their spatial con-text for the performance of social life in cities, often spend time in poor spatial conditions. In this thesis the relation between social exclusion and urban form is tested in Gothenburg, Sweden. In order to draw any conclusions on how the urban form infuences social life, it is necessary to make both spatial (congurational) analyses deriving from space syntax methodology and observations and questionnairs of co-presence and intensity in public space. The result shows that Gothenburg is a segregated city in terms of urban form, and that it does affect both the intensity and constitution of co-presence in public space. Accordingly the sharing of information and knowledge is limited, and the participation in the perpetual re-negotiation of societal norms and values fragmented. It is also found that there are great differences throughout the city in regard to accessible resources.

Finally it is important to highlight that ambitious political objectives to create more just urban environments needs to be paralleled with a thorough understanding of what urban justice implies and how it can be translated into urban form. There are needs that do not coincide with a demand on the market, whereas a largely market-driven urban development has to be complemented with political and long term socio-economic strategies that benefit a socially robust urban development where just urbanities can ensure all citizens equal inuence in urban society.