Relational Cities Disrupted: Reflections on the Particular Geographies of COVID‐19 For Small But Global Urbanisation in Dublin, Ireland, and Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. (12th June 2020) - Hesse, Markus
Abstract: This paper looks at the particular geographies associated with the COVID‐19 outbreak through the lens of cities that are products of relational urbanisation. This includes small but highly globalised cities, such as financial centres or hot spots of politics and diplomacy, which are usually situated between different political, economic or cultural systems and their boundaries. These cities experienced strong growth due to internationalisation and a dedicated politics of extraversion. Our argument is that such places are unusually affected by the current lock‐down, illustrated by two empirical cases, the cities of Dublin, Ireland, and Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Both have experienced striking growth rates recently, but now suffer from disruption. Their development trajectories remain unclear, since a return to the 'old normal' seems unlikely, and the emergent 'new normal' calls for adaptation towards more state involvement in areas hitherto governed by the market. The paper addresses possible alternative geographies for both cases. Abstract : During the lockdown that was released by the government in response to COVID‐19, residents of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg were advised to stay at home ("bleift doheem", in Luxembourgish). Cross‐border commuters, representing almost half of the country's labour market, were required to display a proof of their employment when entering the border. Otherwise they wouldn't be allowed to cross the border and get to their place of work.