Research Ioannis Tzaninis

Abstract

Urban infrastructure in city peripheries is crucial for cities to function. Yet, it is generally ignored or purposefully disregarded as a necessary evil for urban life to continue. In such context, cities often appear as striving for green, sustainable policies, while still largely depending on the periphery's ports, airports, industry etc. This project will deal with urban infrastructure by focusing on the major ports of Antwerp and Piraeus. The research question is 'what are the interdependencies within the peripheral port-inner city interface and what is the extended Urban Political Ecology of the Antwerp and Piraeus ports?'. The aim is to explore the political-ecological relationships between (peripheral) port and (inner) city in terms of their roles, everyday life, logistics and supply chains. The project will reveal how the two ports have evolved into having their current roles, how residents around them experience urban life due to their presence and how the two ports can adopt ways of operation that fit a sustainable urban future. The approach is historical, discoursive and qualitative. First the two ports' histories will be analyzed, focusing on their role in the development of their respective cities. Second, the project will look into how contemporary political discourse, policy and local officials define the function of the two ports. And third, interviews and participant observations will be conducted with residents, local stakeholders and labourers in the port areas, focusing on lived urban spaces and oral histories 'from below'.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Oosterlynck Stijn
• Fellow: Tzaninis Ioannis

Research team(s)

• Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change

Project type(s)

• Research Project