Exploring Spatial Justice in times of disruptions

The concept of spatial justice encapsulates a number of diverse theoretical, political and normative strands. It sheds light on the way resources are allocated across different types of localities and how spatial patterns influence, enhance or confine people in their opportunities. Inevitably, space plays a crucial role in the reproduction of structural inequality, since the space in which we live limits or enhances individual or group-based opportunities and capacities. Scholarly work points not only to the mechanisms, limitations and implications of redistributive efforts focused on spatial justice, but also to the extent to which related planning and development work is based upon fair, democratic, collaborative and transparent processes. 

The concept of spatial justice also provokes a re-think of contemporary substantial challenges of territorial development, such as the growing disparities between prosperous cities and regions and those that assumedly do not matter (anymore), or access to different types of infrastructures and services of general interest. We live in times with a number of fundamental disruptions and huge transformations, triggered by the ongoing pandemic, the search for effective and just climate change responses and the ongoing fourth industrial revolution − to name just a few. This renders the importance of the quest for understanding the implications for spatial justice greater than ever. Hence, with this Summer School we want to offer a forum for early career researchers to discuss issues related to the notion of spatial justice.

Title photo: © Anders Rickegård/Stockholms universitet