Planning within global comparison in a post pandemic scenario: theories, methodologies and strategies to compare metropolitan cases

Abstract

The challenges of metropolitan areas are widely discussed, in particular with regard to large agglomerations related to global processes. in particular with regard to large agglomerations related to global processes. Processes of state rescaling, the new roles played by state actors, private corporations and societal actors push towards a reconfiguration of the planning and governance realm by new discourses, institutional arrangements, tools and practices. Global agendas and agreements as the New Urban Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement are enacting the emergence of new global platforms dealing with contemporary socio-environmental trends and challenges. Recently, the pandemic of COVID-19 has altered conditions ranging from the livelihood's populations to changes in infrastructure and territorial dynamics. Considering these global driving forces and the post-pandemic scenario, this project proposes to continue and enhance an existing international partnership with the aim of generating knowledge and capacity building in the field of planning considering the challenges and opportunities of global comparison of metropolitan cases. The relevance of the proposal is related to the fact that Brazil and Germany are federal states, from the Global South and North respectively, sharing the challenge of improving intergovernmental coordination at metropolitan scale and providing answers through planning policies and practices to territorial dynamics. In this sense, a comparative study on metropolitan planning in a post-pandemic scenario is an opportunity for a research project and academic exchange, but it is also a theoretical and methodological challengeIn the context of the partnership the synergies between the universities of TU-Dortmund (TU-Do) and UFABC and additional technical agencies located in the Ruhr Region and São Paulo Metropolitan Region have resulted in actions. Actions in the field of research and training of new researchers and planners have been developing UFABC's participation in the International Master in "Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Economies" (SPRING) at TU-Do.  This academic cooperation project has paved the way for the implementation of a joint degree master's program at UFABC in 2020, taught completely in English, and the creation of a SPRING Global Strategic Plan (starting in 2019) that includes medium and long-term goals in the SPRING network involving other German partners. In addition to the education and training of spatial planners, the strategic plan of the SPRING network includes actions in research, exchange and publications. These initiatives have built a project T-AP - Transatlantic Platform (2022-2025) - under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Sophie Schramm (TU-Do) and Prof. Dr. Sandra Momm (UFABC). These are the bases that this project proposal seeks to explore in yet another collaborative effort advancing the theoretical-methodological discussion on metropolitan case comparisons. The exchange of knowledge, expertise and tools in comparative metropolitan studies will take place through meetings, workshops, seminars, production of papers, contributing and interacting with the ongoing projects mentioned above. This exchange also involves young researchers and practitioners.In the field of technical and scientific dissemination, TU-Do is a partner university of Habitat UN that will allow dissemination activities, besides the participation in international planning organizations as AESOP (TU-Do), ALEUP (UFABC) and GPEAN. Another important topic is related to exploring opportunities and building the basis for a new project to be presented, as has been happening in this partnership of researchers and universities. (AU)