Singapore University of Social Sciences

Aspirations to develop cities that withstand crises intensify as more than half of the world’s population is now urban. Cities potentially expose more people to risks when crises hit because they are areas with relatively dense populations. Yet, how do crises emerge and develop in the context of cities and urban life? What current urban issues potentially disrupt our societies? And, to what extent do cities produce their own crises? This course offers students social science perspectives on urban crises through an inquiry of spatial justice. Spatially, this course offers two distinct vantage points: 1) the ways in which social, political, and cultural factors in urban spaces contribute to the making of crises; and 2) the extent to which crises in cities are shaped by the dynamics of surrounding “non-urban” spaces. Current issues of gentrification, migration, and technologisation will connect spatial justice to the realities of contemporary cities and crises. By understanding crises through city spaces and beyond, students will access a critical understanding of city development and develop out-of-the-box ideas in addressing current urban issues.