In recent years, cities have assumed a prominent role in negotiating the oft conflicting politics of economic development, sustainability and welfare. The challenges and opportunities born of globalization, economic union and the financial crisis find particularly acute expression in urban areas, making urban spatial politics of particular importance in a discussion of European futures. European city governments now have powers and responsibilities in most of the policy arenas that impact everyday life – from social integration to climate change adaptation. As such, cities have become political innovators, launching policies and projects that make them economically competitive while protecting their populations and landscapes.

The panel we propose will explore the new role of urban politics in post-crisis Europe. Looking specifically at how economic development strategies have been folded into responses to the challenges of climate change and social inclusion in four European cities, the papers in this panel discuss how innovative urban actors harness place, space and design to meet their seemingly contradictory goals. In Berlin, civic social media campaigns seek to simultaneously promote integration and attract new investors by highlighting the city’s diverse workforce. In Paris, investments in the public amenities of low-income neighborhoods have countered some of the exclusions wrought by a competitive market to quell social unrest. Lastly, in Rotterdam, climate adaptation projects, such as public “water squares,” are invoked as catalysts for economic development both within the city and far beyond. The panel brings together urban scholars and designers from North America and Europe.