Spatial Resilience and Institutional Adaptation: Assessing the Role of Local Inter-Faith Forums in Regional Social Stability
Keywords:
Spatial resilience, institutional adaptation, inter-faith forums, collaborative governance, social stability, regional development.Abstract
Urban and regional planning literature increasingly recognizes that territorial resilience relies not only on physical infrastructure but also on the adaptive capacity of local social institutions. In multi-faith, rapidly urbanizing regions, social friction often exhibits distinct geographical patterns, making institutional spatial awareness critical for maintaining peace. This study evaluates how local inter-faith forums adapt institutionally and spatially to safeguard regional social stability. Utilizing a qualitative research design rooted in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), data were gathered through semi-structured interviews (n=24) and three Focus Group Discussions with community leaders, regional administrators, and peace advocates. Analyzed via NVivo, the findings reveal that successful conflict mitigation depends on "spatial localization" the ability of formal institutions to deploy informal, localized networks directly into high-friction zones. The study demonstrates that institutional adaptation transforms static bureaucratic organizations into agile, spatially resilient networks capable of neutralizing socioeconomic and territorial disputes before they escalate. These insights provide a scalable collaborative governance framework for territorial planners and public administrators facing complex demographic shifts in emerging economies.
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