LUCI – Labour, Urbanscapes and Citizenship
LUCI – Labour, Urbanscapes and Citizenship is a multi-disciplinary research area, within the Competence center Labour, Welfare and Social research (CLSW). It investigates the increasingly predominant urban character of the contemporary globalized world.
LUCI explores the evolving relationship between urban environments, citizenship mutations, and the changing landscapes of labour, focusing on three main streams:
LUCI aims at contributing to the development of innovative theories and concepts, to the study of urban policy solutions and strategies that address the challenges posed by these transformations, through an ecosystemic, socio-political-centric approach to urban development focused on political, social, and environmental issues. Sustainable and equitable approaches to urbanscape conception, governance, and labor market interventions are emphasized.
LUCI research area maintains a trans-national attitude in form and scope, actively participating in and promoting networks of scholars and researchers. LUCI collaborates with national and international universities and engages in international projects that encompass both empirical and theoretical research.
- The interplay between the changing nature of the geographies of urban spaces and the forms of citizenship, dealing with different forms of theoretical and empirical studies of participation, political and social action. Citizenship is then innovatively approached under the lens of urban fabric as a contemporary key locus
- The changing nature of labour in urban settings. The ubiquitous rise of digital platforms is reshaping labour trends and impacting urban dynamics. This platformization process influences labour markets, urban actors, job security, workers’ condition, migration flows, and the overall politics
- The urban dimension of the climate crisis and its social impacts: several of the main causes of global climate changes are rooted in urban areas, while its consequences affect their inhabitants, reinforcing social, political and economic inequalities
LUCI aims at contributing to the development of innovative theories and concepts, to the study of urban policy solutions and strategies that address the challenges posed by these transformations, through an ecosystemic, socio-political-centric approach to urban development focused on political, social, and environmental issues. Sustainable and equitable approaches to urbanscape conception, governance, and labor market interventions are emphasized.
LUCI research area maintains a trans-national attitude in form and scope, actively participating in and promoting networks of scholars and researchers. LUCI collaborates with national and international universities and engages in international projects that encompass both empirical and theoretical research.
The project is overseen by:
- Filippo Bignami is senior researcher and lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland. He has been external scientific consultant for UN-ILO (Inernational Labour Organization) and visiting professor in various international universities. His primary scientific interests and expertise lie in citizenship social and political theories and applied studies on citizenship policies and education. He is also member of the UNESCO group of scientific experts “Planning Citizenship Education for People on the Move”.
- Niccolò Cuppini is lecturer and researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland. His research connects urban studies, the history of political thought, and critical geography. He is a member of the editorial board of Scienza&Politica and is affiliated with the Into the Black Box research group. Additionally, he collaborates with the Academy of Global Humanities and Critical Theory and is involved in various international research projects in Europe, Africa and Latin America.
- Marco Palma is a researcher at the University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland. With over ten years of experience in local governance and international projects focused on sustainability and inclusion, he brings a wealth of knowledge from his work in local administrations and universities. His primary research interests revolve around the social impact of the climate crisis, with a particular emphasis on exploring the role of institutional actors, corporations and social movements in shaping the political agenda in the era of global warming.
Ongoing projects:
(coordinated and/or in consortium)
- Horizon Europe – RIA “INcrease Corporate political responsibility and Accountability (INCA)”, (2022-2026)
- Erasmus+ KA2 Cooperation partnership “InnoGreen - Innovative entrepreneurs leading green businesses” (2022-2024)
- SUPSI research funds project “Ensemble: participation to improve membership in school, workplace and society” (2023-2024)
- Swiss Federal office for mobility funds “IMM – Inclusive Micro Mobility” (2023-2024)
Recent most relevant past projects:
- Opportunity Grant (SERI and ETH Zurich Leading house) project “TOT City - Tokyo OIympics 2020: Transformations, City and Citizenship in a Case Study” (2020-2023)
- “Platform Labour in Urban Spaces (PLUS)” (2019-2021) - Horizon 2020
- Erasmus+ KA2 “Transcultural Open Badges Platform for Migrant’s Transition Mentoring and participatory citizenship– TOBP” (2018-2021)
- “Urban Regime and Citizenship in Rio de Janeiro” (2017-2019), financed by SNF (Swiss National Science Foundation) and FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro)
- “The city of Fès as a locus to investigate migration processes on the move” (2018-2019) – MENA research network
Recent most relevant publications:
- N. Cuppini, Planetary Metropolis 4.0. Beta Testing, Milano, Meltemi, 2023
- N. Cuppini, M. Frapporti, M. Pirone, Platforms in Time of Pandemic, in E. Armano, M. Briziarelli, E. Risi, Digital Platforms and Algorithmic Subjectivities, Westminster, University of Westminster Press, 2022
- N. Cuppini, M. Frapporti, M. Pirone, When cities meet platforms: Towards a trans-urban approach, “Digital Geography and Society”, 3, 2022
- Bignami, F.; Calzada, I.; Hanakata, N.C.; Tomasello, F. (2023). Data-Driven Citizenship Regimes in Contemporary Urban Scenarios: An Introduction. Citizenship Studies, 27:2, 145-159, DOI: 10.1080/13621025.2022.2147262
- Naomi C. Hanakata & Filippo Bignami (2023). Platform Urbanization, its recent acceleration, and implications on citizenship. The case of Singapore. Citizenship Studies, 27:2, 189-209, DOI: 10.1080/13621025.2022.2077568
- Bignami, F., and N. C. Hanakata (2022). “Platform Urbanization and Citizenship: An Inquiry and Projection.“ In Platformization of Urban Life - Towards a Technocapitalist Transformation of European Cities, edited by A. Strüver, and S. Bauriedl. Bielefeld and London: Transcript
- Bignami, F.; Cuppini, N.; Hanakata, N.C. (eds.) (2022). Mega-events, urban transformations and social citizenship: a multi-disciplinary analysis for an epistemological foresight. Abingdon and New York, Routledge
- Palma M., Towards Europe 2050. The role of Institutions, EU research, and citizens for climate justice. The urban challenge in Amsterdam, Bilbao, Freiburg, and Lisbon, PhD thesis