Academic Year: 2015/2016 Course: Resources, Population and

 Academic Year: 2015/2016
Course: Resources, Population and Conflicts
Coordinator: Margarida Queirós
Teaching Staff: Margarida Queirós
ECTS:
6
Weekly Hours: 2,5
Typology: 20 TP + 14 OT
Contents
This course examines the processes of transformation of cities and territories involving actors
engaged in development strategies and multiscale governance systems. In a broad perspective,
a review of (i) the concepts of territory (from geopolitical theories), conflict, competition and
cooperation, governance, participatory and representative democracy, consultation, partnership
and coalition; (i) of the contemporary debates on research and town planning. In a more specific
approach urban social movements are discussed. Also, it examines their importance in the
society’s processes of transformation, resources and territories, through dynamic and evolving
role of its main actors and their strategies, in time and space. The course gives special attention
to conflicting dimensions of development processes, with emphasis on programs, projects and
activities from which they develop struggles, translating power games between agents and
which constitute a form of changing them.
Objectives and skills
Objectives:
— Interpret the transforming processes of society, resources and territories.
— Understand the conflict as part of development processes, stimulus to social change
and challenge for the territories.
— Combine the transfer of theoretical content with the opening of a space for interaction
on specific experiences (theoretical analysis and case studies).
— Encourage national studies on the mechanisms of planning and organization, and
dissemination, communication and citizen participation, generators of territorial
dynamics of innovation.
Skills:
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Demonstrate knowledge of different notions of governance and understanding of
governance systems, its actors and instruments.
To grasp the concepts of conflict and integrated partnership in certain social and
territorial system and inserted in certain urban regimes.
Conceptualize, interpret and critically evaluate the socio-territorial conflicts.
References
Castells M. 2013. Redes de indignação e esperança – Movimentos sociais na era da internet.
Rio de Janeiro: Zahar.
Castells M. 1997. La era de la información. Economía, sociedad y cultura. El poder de la
identidad. Vol. 2. Madrid: Alianza editorial.
Fukuyama F. 1995. Trust: Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity. New York: The Free
Press.
Gualini, E. (ed.) 2015. Planning and Conflict. Critical Perspectives on Contentious Urban
Developments. RTPI. New York: Routledge.
Healey P. 1997. Collaborative Planning: Shaping Places in a Fragmented Society. London:
Macmillan.
Innes, J. 1994. Planning through Consensus Building: A New View of the Consensus Planning
Ideal. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Lauria M. (ed.) 1997. Reconstructing Urban Regime Theory: Regulating Urban Politics in a
Global Economy. Sage: Thousand Oaks.
Lefebvre H. 1991. The Production of Space. Oxford: Blackwell.
McAdam D., Tarrow S., Tilly C. 2001. Dynamics of contention. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
_______________________________________________________________
Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território ▪ Edifício IGOT - Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 LISBOA ▪ tel.: 21 044 3000
University Press.
Melé P., Larrue C., Rosember M. 2003. Conflits et Territoires. Tours: Presses Universitaires
François Rabelais.
Nel.lo O. (ed.) 2003. Aquí no! Els conflictes territorials a Catalunya. Barcelona: Ed. Empúries.
Soja E. 1989. Postmodern Geographies. London: Verso.
Knowledge evaluation methods and their partial grades
Regular regime:
1. In initial sessions, the course will focus on the thematic framework, on theoretical discussion
of concepts and on the presentation (national and international) of empirical studies, using texts,
audio-visuals or even the possibility to visit specific locations.
2. The final sessions will be developed from the weekly discussion of readings taken by
students from a list provided by the teacher. All students should register to lead a short
discussion session based on the weekly reading selected. The other students will support each
short session, led by a student, as follows: all students must write critical summaries of the
weekly readings (one page) and deposit it in Moodle until the day preceding each session
presentation/discussion. Critical summaries shall identify problems and raise issues to support
and stimulate the debate.
3. Each student will also be asked to compose an essay on 5 pages about conflicting
processes, generating tensions and dynamics of social and territorial transformation. This
written and original text must meet the readings addressed throughout the course, should
contain students’ additional readings.
4. Weighting of contributions: short presentation session: 30%; written summaries: 10%; written
essay: 60%.
Special regime: a test on the topics addressed / discussed (80%), with oral discussion (20%).
_______________________________________________________________
Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território ▪ Edifício IGOT - Avenida Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 LISBOA ▪ tel.: 21 044 3000