Research Group
Research Group
Research Group
DINÂMIA'CET-IUL
Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies
Assistant Researcher

Sonja Dragović
research interests
urban studies, urban development, policy design, participatory spatial practices, critical geography, social movements
Short Bio
Sonja Dragović has a BSc in Economics from the University of Montenegro an MSc in Urban Studies from the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). She is a PhD student at the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL). Her research interests lie in urban studies, critical geography, social movements, participatory spatial practices, and policy design. She has been involved in analyzing practices of urban activism and working with local communities toward improving participatory methods, public policies, and shared spaces. She has authored several papers, book chapters, research reports, and policy proposals on these topics. She is a member of several activist and research collectives, which are based in Portugal and Montenegro and dedicated to studying the current approaches to policy and practice of urban development.
research project at dinâmia'cet-Iscte
The project investigates how socially engaged architectural practices influence the shaping of urban development policies in the European periphery, with a focus on the contexts of Portugal and Croatia. The aim is to produce new knowledge on how, to what degree, and with what outcomes the socially engaged architectural practices contest the urban development policies rooted in post-2008 crisis austerity measures. The outcomes will be important for improving the institutional knowledge, and for strengthening the institutional commitments toward involving society in the processes of urban governance in a meaningful way. The project results will contribute to the ongoing debate on the role the discipline of architecture may have in supporting societal transformation and charting the future of urban development.
Main publications
Dragovic, S. (2021). Common action: Can grassroots initiatives propel territorial governance in Montenegro?. European Spatial Research and Policy, 28(2), 83–101.
Dragovic, S. (2021), The Volatile Policy Framework of Spatial Planning in Montenegro: Will the Centre Hold?.[in:] Berisha, E., Cotella, G. and Solly, A. (eds.), Governing Territorial Development in the Western Balkans, Springer, 131–151.
Čukić, I., Timotijević, J., Stojić, B., Dragusha, Nj., Rexha, O., Dragović, S. & Rajić, T. (2020), Spaces of Commoning: Urban Commons in the Ex-Yu Region, Belgrade: Institute for Urban Politics
Neto Henriques, C., Dragović, S., Auer, C., & Gomes, I. (2020). The Territorial Agenda 2030: Towards a common language? A review of a conceptual framework. Europa XXI 38 (2020), IGiPZ PAN
Dragović, S. (2016). Tailors Turned Activists: Surviving the Demise of the Croatian Textile Industry. Intersections, 2(1), 32-53
Main projects
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