The COVID-19 Pandemic as an Urban Crisis
An Opportunity to Rethink the Future of Cities and to Advance Effective Urban Diplomacy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14422/cir.i22.y2021.006Keywords:
COVID-19, pandemic, urban future, urban diplomacy, resilient citiesAbstract
The COVID-19 crisis is primarily an urban crisis. Cities are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, which has generated severe economic and human losses, and transformed city living. Against this backdrop, some experts highlight the inherent vulnerabilities of cities and their role in spreading the virus, anticipating a radical urban transformation, or even a decline. Meanwhile, some experts believe that, increasingly, cities will hold the key to our future, and see the current crisis as an opportunity to build the resilience of cities against future threats. While highlighting the critical importance of the COVID-19 crisis for the future of cities and the planet, this article provides an overview of the impacts of the pandemic on cities and the response from public institutions, conducts an analysis of key takeaways from the crisis for the future of cities, and discusses the opportunity presented by the crisis to advance effective urban diplomacy.
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