Analysing the Socio-Spatial Vulnerability to Drivers of Globalisation in Lisbon, Oporto, Istanbul, Stockholm and Rotterdam

The spatial development of cities is influenced by a combination of economic, social, demographic and environmental factors, which cause certain vulnerabilities in cities. Vulnerability, in this respect, means “exposure to risk and an inability to avoid or absorb potential harm” (Pelling 2003). It is the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, risks. Thus, socio-spatial vulnerability can be defined as the openness of regions, territories, cities, parts of cities, urban-built environments, urban areas, neighbourhoods or places to the risks caused by diverse dynamics, events and impacts. These disturbances can be unexpected or expected, sudden shocks or slowly developing changes and can have different drivers (economic, social, political or ecological). Vulnerability refers to the limited capacity of spaces to avoid or absorb potential harm from diverse risks and includes complex sociopolitical characteristics attached to the spaces that accommodate them. This means that physical capacities as well as social processes attached to these spatial processes need to be addressed here. Socio-spatial vulnerabilities are defined not only in terms of path-dependent characteristics of space but also their exposure to major pressure/damaging phenomena and economic pressure, particularly in periods of change in economic and political regimes, while also discussing modes of regulation.