The impact of the refugee crisis on urban development: The case of Vienna

Abstract

The recent refugee crisis in Europe has arguably been one of the most significant moral and political challenges in Europe since the end of the Second World War. The moral challenge was related to the emotions of the societies in the European countries, which were polarized, being divided into two groups, the "welcoming" people and the so-called "realists," whose claim were, that European countries cannot and should not take refugees. The discussion about refugees was instead discussed on a very emotional level than on a fact and consensus-based level. Austria has welcomed many refugees in the course of its history, mainly from its eastern neighbors and other eastern European countries. However, this stream of migrants has not lead to a welcoming policy of the Austrian government. While refugees are people who fled from their home due to political prosecution or wars with the intention of going back home once their home countries have been stabilized, migrants are people who plan to settle in a particular country without the intention of returning home. This paper will examine, how urban developments and the infrastructure in Vienna, in general, respond to incoming refugees and migrants.