Cities are cosmopolitan hubs of prosperity, diversity, and dynamism that offer opportunities to build socially-inclusive societies. Yet as the rapid pace of urban transformation across the globe disrupts communities and established orders, cities are also sites of discrimination, insecurity, poverty, and inequality. Often, the drivers and consequences of contemporary urban processes leave many of the most vulnerable urban inhabitants to fall through the cracks. Urban researchers at Georgia State are working to generate new knowledge that helps us to understand and improve social well-being and life chances for diverse urban populations.
USI’s thematic concern with inclusive urbanism asks: who are cities for? Who has the right to shape their production and access the resources of urban societies? And what are the consequences of urban policies for marginalized, vulnerable, and disenfranchised communities?
Our critical-applied approach builds upon theoretical interventions that are grounded in the lived experience and governance of cities. Faculty and researchers with expertise in housing, health, education, transportation, and mobility investigate intersectional questions of race, class, gender, and sexuality to inform debates at the cutting-edge of urban studies, address urban inequalities, and foster more-inclusive forms of development.
Inclusive urbanism requires working collaboratively, comparatively, and beyond disciplinary silos. USI researchers emphasize the importance of engaging practitioners and policy-makers to make a tangible impact on urban decision-making. We have strong connections with public, non-profit, and community organizations in Atlanta and beyond in on-going studies including:
