Abstract

Abstract: Is resilience in danger of becoming a buzzword? Does its malleability mean that many divergent measures, including those that might otherwise appear indefensible, can be justified in the name of resilience? Or, is it a promising concept? And if so, what are the opportunities and limitations of translating resilience from the ecological to the social world? I will trace the origin of resilience, unpack its three different meanings, and raise some critical questions on resilience of what to what, for whom, and who decides?

Biography: Simin Davoudi is Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning at Newcastle University; has held visiting professorships in other universities; is past President of the Association of the European Schools of Planning (AESOP) and elected member of the Academy of Social Sciences. Simin has served as expert advisor for the UK Government and European Commission, and as member of national and international research assessment panels. Her research, which focuses on planning and environmental governance, has attracted funding from international and national institutions and been disseminated widely.