Theoretical Approaches to Urban Resilience

Abstract

This paper investigates the concept of resilience through its social, ecological, economic, and institutional dimensions. It explores key factors such as social cohesion, social capital, and community infrastructure in enhancing social resilience. The analysis extends to ecological resilience, focusing on biodiversity, habitat complexity, and the functional roles ecosystems play in responding to disturbances. Economic resilience is discussed in terms of the capacity of regional economies to recover and maintain stability in the face of external shocks, while institutional resilience examines how governance structures adapt and implement effective responses to ongoing challenges. The paper further evaluates methods for assessing resilience, including the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI) and its application in identifying vulnerable populations and areas. In doing so, it highlights strategies for strengthening resilience across these dimensions, such as fostering robust social networks, improving infrastructure, ensuring responsive governance, and promoting ecological conservation. The findings underline the importance of an integrated, multi-dimensional approach to resilience in both human and ecological systems. UDC: [005.591+005.35]:351(1-21); JEL: D85, O18, R58