Grassroots Representation or Pro Forma Exercise? Cooperation and Participation in the Revitalization of Polish Municipalities

Justyna Przywojska, Aldona Podgórniak-Krzykacz — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article explores a participatory approach to revitalizing degraded urban areas. The study examined whether revitalization committees in Poland serve as platforms for cooperation among various stakeholders and to assess local authorities’ views on the importance of individual stakeholders in the revitalization process. This article presents the concept of sustainable revitalization as a response to urban crises and discusses the dilemmas and challenges associated with the participatory approach to planning and implementation.

To gather opinions from local authorities on the functioning of revitalization committees and other advisory bodies that include revitalization stakeholders, quantitative research was conducted in 573 Polish municipalities. The online survey questionnaire was addressed to mayors or heads of villages and their deputies. The research results indicate that the permanent involvement of stakeholders in revitalization is not common among Polish municipalities. Although local leaders highly rated the importance of partnerships and local cooperation in revitalization and reported no difficulties in establishing revitalization committees, these committees operated in only 27% of the surveyed municipalities. The established revitalization committees are characterized by both administrative and social functions, predominantly comprising local government officials, local authorities, and NGO representatives. Business communities, vulnerable groups, and institutions addressing socio-economic issues in the revitalized areas are relatively underrepresented in these committees. A key finding of the study is the mismatch between the high importance assigned by local leaders to certain stakeholder groups and the limited presence of these groups in the composition of revitalization committees.

Morphological Change of Coastal Kampung Kota

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

‘Kampung kota’ (urban villages) in Indonesia represent informal settlements that emerge organically and unplanned, blending urban living with local cultural identities. Despite their unplanned growth and associated risks, such as flooding, fires, and economic instability, these communities exhibit remarkable resilience through strong social ties, adaptive spatial practices, and cultural continuity. Using urban morphology as an analytical lens, this study examined the resilience and vulnerability of Kampung Cungkeng and Sinar Laut, two coastal Bugis settlements in Bandar Lampung. The morphological changes reveal the development patterns and social and economic data integration within their structure. The research was conducted by field observations, in-depth interviews, and spatial analysis by satellite imagery to study the settlements. Their morphological transformations were examined over decades. The findings reveal how physical adaptations, such as stilt houses and mangrove planting, help mitigate vulnerabilities. Additionally, socio-economic strategies like the multifunctional use of space contribute to reducing risks while preserving cultural heritage. However, unregulated expansion and environmental pressures exacerbate risks, highlighting the need for integrated planning. The findings underscore the dual nature of ‘kampung kota’ as both resilient and vulnerable, offering insights for sustainable urban development. The study’s results contribute to the global discourse on informal urban resilience by highlighting how coastal ‘kampung kota’ can contribute to the world discourse on informal urban resilience through unique spatial adaptations and cultural sustainability

Journal of Regional and City Planning

Grassroots Representation or Pro Forma Exercise? Cooperation and Participation in the Revitalization of Polish Municipalities

Morphological Change of Coastal Kampung Kota