Complexity and Transdisciplinarity: The Case of Iconic Urban Megaprojects

Abstract

The nature and the shaping of urban megaprojects owes to the socio-economic, developmental, institutional and geographic context where they emerge. However, megaprojects, regardless of context, constitute disorderly, disruptive and contentious complexity and have an intrinsic potential (often realized) to elicit substantial controversy and criticism that fundamentally questions the parameters of the projects as envisioned and publicly presented by their promoters. As a result, it is possible to highlight – as will be done in the conclusion to this paper -- some suggestions for future research and policy practice aiming at urban sustainability that can be applied to the planning, design, management, implementation and development of megaprojects worldwide. Our proposal converges around transdisciplinary research on urban megaprojects. From the vantage point of transurbanism, the complex nature of megaprojects can be justly observed and assessed. In fact, the concept of complexity, which is salient in transdisciplinary approaches, suits research on urban megaprojects as characterized by disorder, disruption and contention.