In the context of urban studies, decolonial urbanism is characterized by the adoption of a relational perspective fo-cused on exchange processes between ‘differences’, this is to say, between different cultures, subjects, collectives, practices, knowledges that allow a pluriverse to emerge. The recognition of differences is considered a necessary step to define relationships through socio-spatial structures given or to be configured. Decolonial thinking does not coincide with the multicultural discourse which does not highlight asymmetries of power and social inequalities and that is, in many respects, compatible with the neoliberal model. The multicultural model of governing differences aims at controlling cultural conflict within the limits of the established order with a view to maintaining stability and social cohesion. The decolonial discourse, on the contrary, starts from the recognition of colonial power devices and their link with capitalist logics and imaginations. Therefore, it makes explicit the mechanisms that legitimize coloniality, as a model of knowledge that crosses multiple spheres of experience: knowledge, disciplinary perspectives, the relationships between society, space and the environment up to gender relations. The decolonial posture wants to suggest both an alternative perspective located on dwelling, on its spaces and ontolo-gies, and an expansion of the literatures focused on eurocentric canons crossing it with literatures on racism, extractiv-ism and colonial violence and that move out from a Eurocentric modernity as the sole possible way to know and imag-ine the urban world. Expected learning outcomes Decolonial thinking expresses a thought that questions domination relationships, inequalities and socio-spatial conflicts in order to transform them. In this sense, the objective of this course is to problematize colonial knowledge devices in the context of urban and territorial studies through a political discussion on practices and conditions which hinder the relationship between differences. To achieve these objectives, the course is organized in a series of lessons/roundtables centered on a key word or theme where invited scholars debate. Key words could be: ‘Resistance’, ‘Border Thinking', ‘Ecology’, ‘the Mestizo'. This methodology intends to favor a discussion "among equals" without hierarchies by proposing a facilitation and a series of readings. Various texts will be proposed to students for the different roundtables. The reflections produced in the seminars allow a cross between urbanistic, decolonial, feminist and queer and anti-racist knowledges. In this sense, Ph.D students, focusing on can ontological approach to urban planning and design, will learn main theoretical bases of the decolonial discourse on the city and the territory in a historical context and critical perspective. 2. Definition of cross-fertilization processes among the western discourse on ‘Space and Power’ and other epistemologies and paradigms. 3. Comparison and hybridization between different planning practices (and their meaning in terms of urban political theory) 4. Construction of a critical thought on possible practices of decolonial urban thinking by discussing key cases / authors / practices of decolonial spatial policies. Epistemic questioning of Western paradigms and design attitudes, Decentralization of the Western idea of the ‘author’ as the sole meaning-maker of design discourses.

GENERAL PREREQUISITES FOR ACCESS TO THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN URBAN AND REGIONAL DEVE-LOPMENT

This teaching proposal adopts the perspective of the so-called ‘decolonial thoughts’, developed mostly by scholars such as Walter Mignolo, Arturo Escobar and Maria Lugones and under the label of ‘epistemologies of the South’ by Boaventura De Sousa Santos. The aim of such discourses is to propose a critique to some interpretative-cognitive par-adigms and conceptual devices that connote contemporary western urban planning practices, especially the neoliberal ones. The decolonial thought is almost unknown in Italy. It has been analysed in the disciplines of anthropology, sociology and political science, however, the contribution it may offer to the definition of a critical thinking around the city and its project is very relevant, insofar as it makes explicit the link between project, politics, struggles and epistemic vio-lence. It insists on the necessity for the analysis of colonial power and forms of knowledge with respect to both educa-tional and design practices, moving away expanding post-colonial literature and critical studies to embrace other epis-temic and ontological frameworks. The course is organized around 2 main topics: • A deconstruction of the so-called Western Urban Theory •The definition of a Decolonial thought conceptual map

On line synchronous mode

Oral presentation - Written report presentation

P.D.1-1 - November