Politecnico International Fellowships| 20th February 2015| Politecnico di Milano
Via Ampere 2, Aula Gamma
STRUGGLING WITH DIVERSITY: SEGREGATION & CONFLICT
IN THE CITY-SPACE
Dipartimento di
Architettura e Studi Urbani
Organisation/information:
Ifigeneia Kokkali, PhD
Research Fellow (Politecnico International Fellowships)
Email: ifigeneia.kokkali@polimi.it
In the recent years, much ink was spilled on writings on urban diversity.
Empirical findings seem to indicate that cities which dispose a distinctly
diverse labour pool foster economic growth. The ‘creative capital’ thesis
made diversity even more central in the debates on urban growth. Despite
the severe criticism this thesis has often received, the question of the
(positive) correlation of the ethno-cultural diversification of urban
dwellers to economic growth of cities has inspired much of the recent
literature in urban research and policy. The seminar challenges the
‘diversity’ euphoria present in the field of urban studies, insisting on the
quality of inter-ethnic cohabitation in the city-space, often characterized
by conflict, discrimination and segregation, including school segregation.
The seminar aspires to open a wide discussion on the stakes of diversity
for urban research, policy and planning.
10.30 Introduction
Gabriele Pasqui (Politecnico di Milano)
10.45 Struggling with diversity. Insights from Milan
Speaker: Ifigeneia Kokkali (Politecnico di Milano)
11.15 School segregation in Milan
Speakers: Costanzo Ranci, Ifigeneia Kokkali (Politecnico di Milano)
& Giuseppe Como (ex-dirigente scolastico) | Invited guest: Sabina
Banfi (Comune di Milano, Direttrice del Settore Scuole Paritarie e
Case Vacanza) | Discussant: Alain Bourdin (Institut Français
d’Urbanisme-Université Paris Est)
12.30 Discussion
With: Elena Granata (to be confirmed), Carolina Pacchi, Paola
Briata (Politecnico di Milano) & Maddalena Colombo (Università
Cattolica di Milano) | Chair: Gabriele Pasqui (Politecnico di
Milano)