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An ancient city for people or profit? Urban greening discourse and practice: a mixed-method case study of Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Dimitrova, Nadezhda LU (2024) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20241
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Following the collapse of socialism in 1989, Eastern European countries experienced rapid socio-spatial reorganization causing a significant loss of urban greenspace (UGS). Greenspaces provide socio-environmental benefits, making them a crucial component of urban sustainability. This study explores the development of greenspace in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), which serves as a case study to understand discourses related to greenspace and the spatial developments of UGS between 2006 and 2023. Using Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach coupled with GIS analysis, I identify and build a typology of three leading discourses on greenspace related to ideas of the Ancient City, the Livable City, and the Attractive City. Among other findings,... (More)
Following the collapse of socialism in 1989, Eastern European countries experienced rapid socio-spatial reorganization causing a significant loss of urban greenspace (UGS). Greenspaces provide socio-environmental benefits, making them a crucial component of urban sustainability. This study explores the development of greenspace in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), which serves as a case study to understand discourses related to greenspace and the spatial developments of UGS between 2006 and 2023. Using Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach coupled with GIS analysis, I identify and build a typology of three leading discourses on greenspace related to ideas of the Ancient City, the Livable City, and the Attractive City. Among other findings, the GIS analysis revealed that greenspace increased before rapidly declining after 2018, mostly due to commercial pressures. An instance of urban inequity towards a minority community was identified. These results provide insight into how UGS planning relates to critical urban theory and sustainable urban development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dimitrova, Nadezhda LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Sustainability science, Urban greenspace, Post-socialist cities, GIS analysis, Critical discourse analysis
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2024:028
language
English
id
9154973
date added to LUP
2024-05-29 07:48:56
date last changed
2024-05-29 07:48:56
@misc{9154973,
  abstract     = {{Following the collapse of socialism in 1989, Eastern European countries experienced rapid socio-spatial reorganization causing a significant loss of urban greenspace (UGS). Greenspaces provide socio-environmental benefits, making them a crucial component of urban sustainability. This study explores the development of greenspace in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), which serves as a case study to understand discourses related to greenspace and the spatial developments of UGS between 2006 and 2023. Using Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach coupled with GIS analysis, I identify and build a typology of three leading discourses on greenspace related to ideas of the Ancient City, the Livable City, and the Attractive City. Among other findings, the GIS analysis revealed that greenspace increased before rapidly declining after 2018, mostly due to commercial pressures. An instance of urban inequity towards a minority community was identified. These results provide insight into how UGS planning relates to critical urban theory and sustainable urban development.}},
  author       = {{Dimitrova, Nadezhda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{An ancient city for people or profit? Urban greening discourse and practice: a mixed-method case study of Plovdiv, Bulgaria}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}