First study trip for the GETEC Master !

THE SECOND YEAR’S STUDENTS OF THE MASTER GOVERNING ECOLOGICAL TRANSITIONS IN EUROPEAN CITIES WENT TO VIENNA, IN AUSTRIA, FROM 26 SEPTEMBER TO 1ST OCTOBER FOR THEIR STUDY TRIP. THE THEME WAS « FROM THE RED CITY TO THE GREEN CITY? ».

Vienna is one of the most fascinating European cities. Once the capital of an Empire that disappeared after 1918, it was known as Red Vienna, one the most progressive and innovative city, pioneering housing schemes that marked the heyday of municipal socialism in Europe.

The Cold war decades were a difficult period for Vienna that appeared oversized with its prestigious monuments and buildings and had a reputation of « belle endormie » at the far east end of the European community facing Eastern Europe, probably an interesting case of degrowth.

After the wall came down, exchanges increased with the oriental part of Europe that was at last integrated within the European Union. Vienna was at the forefront of this movement. Vienna’s development took shape and its elites tried to invent a sustainable model. Vienna is often presented now as a dynamic and trendy European cities with innovative policies a lively environmental movement, policies to protect the environment, develop different forms of social housing, using technologies more or less smart or transforming mobilities.

The ideas of common good, public domains, collective forms of housing are on the rise again in Europe in relation to the climate crisis. Of course policy mobility matters and is reinforced by consultants and international organizations. But the inheritance of past episodes are also revived to develop innovative policies. A first line of thinking for this study trip was to examine the legacy of Red Vienna, and its influence in contemporary innovative policies related to climate change. Second, students tried to examine, understand, assess the extent of the ecological transitions done in Vienna: what is being done or not done, who benefits, what is governed and how? See the pictures of the study trip

See the pictures of the study trip