Algirdas Ramonas
Urban Transformation and Sustainability
Brave Tolerant City: Planning for diversity forbearance in Kaunas
Tolerance is essential for diversity to flourish. In times of globalisation, digitalisation and polarisation, it is becoming more critical than ever. Therefore, the main research question for this paper is as follows: how can spatial and policy planning be used to foster more tolerant attitudes towards difference in everyday Kaunas? Tolerance is subjective, partly non-representational, and unconscious. Consequently, I chose to use a mixed-methods explorative approach, combining comprehensive theoretical and empirical analyses. The fusion of multiple methods, disciplines, 17 unstructured interviews and 8 case studies, allowed me to uncover a force affecting people’s attitudes in Lithuania – the Tolerance Event. It is a very active type of encounter that ruptures the passive status quo and allows people to get to know diversity. I propose multiple strategies as an example of how to use this theory in Kaunas. They follow one central vision—to become the Brave Tolerant City, Kaunas needs more Tolerance Events.