I am a social scientist based in Berlin but with extended work experience at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Nairobi and with the European Union across Europe. I have a keen interest in national and international policies for urban and regional planning and development to achieve resilience and sustainable development.
My blog is essentially looking for ways to develop cities and regions in a more resilient and sustainable way. What is special about my blog and my work in general is that, as a social scientist, I pay special attention to the political and administrative framework conditions and processes that exist at all political levels, from the international to the national and local level. Such a multi-level and cross-sector perspective is more complex and subject to greater dynamics than, for example, the already complex situation of local planning. However, it is a reality that all policy levels in a multi-level system interact with each other, and that this affects the development of cities and regions. The blog does not replace intensive research, but wants to contribute to the discussion.
A first highlight was a series of four blog posts on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals.
http://ugraute.de/localizingsdg1
Other highlights include two posts on 'Failure to plan in planning to fail'
http://ugraute.de/failure-to-plan-is-planning-to-fail-post-1-the-importance-of-vision
and posts on events to which I contributed, like the conference
Inclusive Cities Leaving No One Behind - Neither a Myth nor a Reality but Work in Progress
http://ugraute.de/inclusive-cities
Certainly, the 18 posts series on 'Sustainable Germany' was met with special interest.
http://ugraute.de/sustainable-germany-building-a-new-government-in-germany
More challenging are posts where I discuss political conflicts and what urban and territorial cooperation could contribute to de-escalating the conflict. However, my most recent post on the conflict in Ukraine found already about 1200 viewers.
http://ugraute.de/conflict-in-ukraine
I am very much interested in you feedback and suggestions. Please use the comment function or send me an email at ulrich.graute@ugraute.de.