TY - CHAP

T1 - Networks in Sustainable Urban Development

T2 - An Empirical Study

AU - Kirchberg, Volker

PY - 2022/8/5

Y1 - 2022/8/5

N2 - How important are local networks for sustainable urban development, what are the causes for the significance of certain network actors, and how significant is networking for these actors? Finding answers to these questions, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative network analysis in Hanover, collecting data about the characteristics and relationships of as many SUD actors as possible. There are three major findings to be reported. First, actors are strongly connected if they are bureaucratically institutionalized, and they are less connected if they work in temporary civil society projects. Second, institutions and projects that deal with urban climate issues are particularly well connected, followed by actors dealing with civic engagement, nutrition and consumption, and the fostering of commons. Third, the type of relationship relates to an actor’s network power; municipal environmental protection and sustainable urban development institutions stand out here as powerful “brokers,” whereas artistic-cultural projects and initiatives have almost no power and need the help of others to make their voice be heard and their demands implemented. The chapter ends with recommendations for more optimal networking, i.e., how to connect partial networks and integrate peripheral sustainable urban development actors.

AB - How important are local networks for sustainable urban development, what are the causes for the significance of certain network actors, and how significant is networking for these actors? Finding answers to these questions, we conducted a quantitative and qualitative network analysis in Hanover, collecting data about the characteristics and relationships of as many SUD actors as possible. There are three major findings to be reported. First, actors are strongly connected if they are bureaucratically institutionalized, and they are less connected if they work in temporary civil society projects. Second, institutions and projects that deal with urban climate issues are particularly well connected, followed by actors dealing with civic engagement, nutrition and consumption, and the fostering of commons. Third, the type of relationship relates to an actor’s network power; municipal environmental protection and sustainable urban development institutions stand out here as powerful “brokers,” whereas artistic-cultural projects and initiatives have almost no power and need the help of others to make their voice be heard and their demands implemented. The chapter ends with recommendations for more optimal networking, i.e., how to connect partial networks and integrate peripheral sustainable urban development actors.

KW - Sustainability education

KW - Culture and Space

KW - Cultural Distribution/Cultural Organization

KW - Sustainability Governance

KW - Sociology

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/5662185a-cbc9-3826-b15b-736418886876/

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85151314067&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/f0ad975e-0bcc-32d5-bb1b-17af625f1895/

U2 - 10.4324/9781003230496-12

DO - 10.4324/9781003230496-12

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781032137001

SP - 193

EP - 208

BT - Culture and Sustainable Development in the City

A2 - Kagan, Sacha

PB - Routledge Taylor & Francis Group

CY - New York

ER -