Utopian thinking and the intercultural co-creation of urban futures

Maged Senbel

doi:10.6092/issn.2036-1602/6292

Authors

Maged Senbel University of British Columbia
Associate professor in the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on public engagement and inclusive long-term neighbourhood planning. He has additionally theorized on approaches for cultivating inclusive and intercultural visions of a compelling urban future.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2036-1602/6292

Keywords:

Urban planning, Utopia, Social inclusion, Pluralism, Multicultural, Ecological community

Abstract

As cities face environmental and social pressures related to climate change, they require rapid transformation. Global environmental and social systems are stretched under the strain of highly consumptive middle class lifestyles, particularly in North America. Continued growth and consumption make matters worse. Utopian thinking allows us to focus on hope, rather than conflict and despair. It allows us to consider physical changes in the form localized ecologically integrated urban systems and social changes in the form of a participatory eco-social utopia. Using a capabilities approach we can transform the challenges of difference and diversity into opportunities for emphasizing inclusion, and cultural and religious pluralism, in co-created, mutually beneficial visions of urban futures.

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