Item/City | Rotterdam | Szczecin | Tirana |
Urban context | Transforming post-industrial port city, multiculturalism, greening the economy, creative industries. | Former German city turned Polish after 1945, during and after socialist period, post-industrial port city. | Transformation after a harsh communist period, rapid population growth in 1990-2010, “wild-east” urban development |
Authenticity and memory | Essential element of being unique, reconstruction city, postmodern port city | German till 1945, troubled history, shipyard memories. | Communism disregarded, modernization, real-estate driven development. |
Current identity approach of local government | Careful communication, “Make it happen” new narrative for external and internal branding | Implicit, port city, stress on peripherality is a faraway part of Poland. Now emerging self-esteem. | Planning “reinvented”, explicit focus on modernization, Europeanization, primate city in the Albanian region. |
Local government online | Intensive, all social media, modern entrepreneurial city, unique features, participate in Rotterdam | Modest online presence, with (now) positive mood. Space, green, water, economic chances. | Modest online presence. Colourful, modern, lively, transforming, hospitable. Mayor as key person. |
Perceived functionality, identity building | Entrepreneurial city, politics of inclusion/exclusion | “We suffer from history, are not accountable” Now a more positive tone. | New European capital, power to political circle. Inviting people and investments. |