Edited Collection on Sustainable Urbanization in Small Island Developing States
Sustainable Urbanization in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)1
EDITORS: Eris Schoburgh, Tracy McFarlane and Stephanie McDonald
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 30, 2022
The expansion of towns and cities has become a phenomenon of interest for policy-makers in the Caribbean. Not only because of the remarkable speed at which the process of urbanization is taking place but because the increase in urban density in many island-states of the Caribbean Region and the concomitant demographic shifts have placed enormous pressure on existing socio-economic structures and natural resources, exacerbating social inequalities and environmental risks. Balancing social needs, economic interests and environmental protection in the process of urbanization has become an imperative for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Importantly, Caribbean countries face distinct challenges in integrating substantially the imperatives or pillars of sustainability in their national development plans. As a consequence urbanization has been marred by high levels of inequality, underemployment, urban sprawl, degradation of ecosystems and insufficient infrastructural provision. Planning adequately for communities and cities sustainably appears to have been stalled or might have been overwhelmed by the pace of urbanization. Schoburgh, McDonald and Salmon (2022) concluded in a study of the policy-institutional framework that sustainable urbanization in the Caribbean is an undeveloped idea both in concept and praxis. Even though all the countries reviewed
demonstrated policy overtures towards the imperatives of the sustainability paradigm, programme implementation remains insufficiently scaled to make an impact.
The aim of this collection is to stimulate interest in the subject of sustainable urbanization and to generate policy-relevant research towards solutions that are suited to the circumstances of island-states. While previous studies have examined the urbanization process, the focus has
primarily been on North America, ASEAN and African countries. The Caribbean Region shares some socio-economic and historical similarities with ASEAN and African countries but urbanisation studies within those spaces do not wholly reflect Caribbean realities. This edited collection seeks to address the dearth of research on sustainable urbanization in the Caribbean
region.
We are especially keen to attract research from a variety of perspectives and levels of analysis that can help us better understand the theory and praxis of sustainable urbanization. Seven themes are listed below to which scholars may wish to contribute, though contributions do not have to be limited to these themes:
- Health and the urban environment
- Green Economy
- Public participation in sustainable urbanization
- Urban mobility and public transportation
- Disaster risk management
- Public housing
- Governance and management of urban spaces
- Human well-being and social capital
What do we need from prospective contributors?
Please send us a working title and an abstract (minimum 300 words) that responds to any of the problematics enumerated above or which relate to the general theme of sustainable urbanization in island-states, along with a short bio by the 30th April, 2022.
SUBMIT ABSTRACTS TO: eris.schoburgh02@uwimona.edu.jm cc: tracyamcfarlane@gmail.com.
About the Editors
Eris D. Schoburgh is Professor of Public Policy and Management, in the Department of Government and former Associate Dean in the Faculty of the Social Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus where she teaches courses in public and policy management at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her general area of academic specialisation is public policy and management with a particular focus on comparative subnational government/governance; subnational/local (economic) development. Among her publications are three books and
several research articles that have appeared in leading international and regional journals. Professor Schoburgh is President of the Caribbean Studies Association (CSA), Member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), the International Public Policy Association (IPPA), and the International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM).
Dr Tracy McFarlane is a social and health psychologist who has done a range of consultancies with local and regional organisations to improve well-being, interpersonal/intergroup processes, and social outcomes among their members. These short and medium-term engagements have been with private and public sector institutions and community organisations. She is currently a senior lecturer at The University of the West Indies, Mona, where she has worked for close to two decades. Dr McFarlane’s ongoing research explores the social dimensions of health, immigrant adjustment
and stigma.
Stephanie McDonald is an independent policy researcher who holds a Master’s Degree in International Public and Development Management, from The University of the West Indies. Her research interests span public policy, management and governance.
———
1Working title.
Pics by Dr. Michelle Munroe, Department of Government, FSS, The UWI-Mona
