Public space in urban areas plays a central role in social life. It is not only a place of encounter and exchange, but also a mirror of the social, cultural and economic dynamics of a city. Public space includes all freely accessible areas that are intended for the general public irrespective of social or economic background. These encompass squares, parks and other communal areas. Public spaces are crucial to the quality of life of urban dwellers as they provide opportunities for leisure, social interaction and cultural as well as political activities.

Currently, public spaces in European cities are facing manifold challenges that have put them under pressure. The most prominent ones are

(1) The effects of global crises on the local level, such as the pandemic, the climate crisis and growing poverty due to ongoing inflation. Crises alter the ways in which people use public space and underline the need for urban transformations, while growing usage has increased the potential for conflict between different user groups. Climate change in particular will affect cities in the future, with sustainable solutions urgently sought.

(2) The issue of security and the securitization of urban spaces, which is an often-exploited topic in populist discourse, with certain neighbourhoods being framed as inherently unsafe, fuelling discussions in relation to a generalised suspicion against migrants. Inclusion and exclusion and the notion of “who does public space belong to” are intricately linked to questions of superdiversity and social cohesion.

(3) The unequal distribution of easily accessible public space in cities, which primarily affects economically weaker groups. Notable disparities between neighbourhoods limit the access for marginalised groups who may feel – once again – excluded.

This session welcomes contributions that address one or several of the mentioned issues, without being limited to them. We are not only interested in the challenges, but presentations delving into discourse on public space, its governance, or success and failure of civic participation and other measures are highly welcome.