This course will introduce key issues facing European and Asian cities to govern their diversity. It will explore a range of urban experiences: global cities that have become magnets of multiple types of migrations, cities that have welcomed large numbers refugees, cities that have mobilized diversity as an asset for regeneration in a context of economic decline, cities that have been confronted with the issues of racism, xenophobia, inter-ethnic tensions, and refugee inflows, cities that have developed successful initiatives to create convivial urban spaces and foster interactions among populations of different background.

The course will introduce the different facets of urban diversity and the challenges it represents for contemporary cities. It will provide tools to compare the governance of diversity in different cities. It will look at the role of different levels of public institutions, of private actors and civil society in the management of diverse cities. It will analyze the resources and opportunities that diversity represents for cities. It will explore initiatives to celebrate diversity, and make it contribute to lively neighbourhoods and urban development