Urban Perspectives: Building Just Cities

Urban governance is about how decisions are made

Cities are where opportunities and inequalities collide. Decisions about who has access to housing, public spaces, and essential services shape urban life, but too often, these choices benefit some while leaving others behind. Urban governance is about how decisions are made: who gets a seat at the table, how policies are crafted, and whether they genuinely serve all urban residents. When governance is weak or exclusive, institutional fragmentation, lack of participatory mechanisms, and power imbalances deepen inequalities instead of resolving them (Dehalwar & Sharma, 2024).

Addressing these challenges requires professionals who can bridge the gap between policy and practice while being attuned to these global crises. More than sole technical knowledge, they need an understanding of the living realities of low-income communities, migrants, displaced persons, Indigenous peoples, informal settlement dwellers, women, the elderly, youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Urban governance must be about more than efficiency; it must be about equity, empathy, and justice, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs of those most affected by them. Participatory planning processes have been shown to improve governance outcomes and promote inclusion, but their effectiveness depends on their ability to integrate diverse voices and perspectives (Rusconi, Paio, Nogueira, & Mota, 2024).

Navigating governance complexities

At IHS, we believe that education must be immersive, equipping urban professionals with the skills to tackle governance challenges head-on. The Urban Governance and Participation course in the Master’s on Urban Management and Development provides students with theoretical foundations and applied methodologies to navigate governance complexities. Learning is deeply embedded in real-world practice through participatory exercises, policy analysis, and case-based analysis that reflect global and local realities.

The Governance Tool Quest further enhances students’ ability to apply governance frameworks and indicators to real-world urban cases. Students work with established governance assessment tools to critically evaluate urban governance structures. By applying these tools to specific case studies, students gain hands-on experience in diagnosing governance challenges and proposing evidence-based solutions and participatory approaches to drive policy change.

Building just cities goes beyond policies on paper

Building sustainable cities isn’t just about policies on paper; it's about governance that is transparent, inclusive, and adaptable to real-world complexities (United Nations Human Settlements Programme, 2022). In a world where resources are extracted unsustainably, where environmental crises disproportionately impact those least responsible for them, and where exclusionary policies threaten social cohesion, urban governance must be a tool for justice. Strengthening urban governance capacity through education is crucial in achieving this goal. 

To foster a just transition, urban stakeholders must recognise that the fight for survival is planetary, transcending political divisions and national borders. The world is increasingly polarised, yet climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion affect all. True justice in urban governance requires more than legal frameworks; it demands a paradigm shift in how we approach global solidarity. Policymakers must not only safeguard vulnerable populations but also foster cooperation across sectors and regions. Practitioners must move beyond isolated governance mechanisms and embrace holistic strategies that integrate environmental resilience, economic equity, and social justice. Education plays a critical role in shaping professionals who can challenge exclusionary policies, bridge ideological divides, and promote governance models that are both inclusive and adaptive.

Graduates of the MSc in Urban Management & Development programme are not just equipped with knowledge; they emerge as catalysts for change in shaping urban governance worldwide. By advocating for inclusive decision-making, promoting participatory planning, and implementing governance solutions rooted in equity, they contribute to cities that are more just, resilient, and prepared for the complexities of the present and the future.