Open Lecture by Professor Guido Sechi on the Transformation of the Urban Environment in Post-Socialist Countries Held at KazNU

On September 22, 2026, the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted an open lecture by Professor Guido Sechi, a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Social Geography at the University of Latvia (Riga).

The lecture took place from 14:00 to 15:50 in Room 119, under the title: "The Politics of Residential Urbanism in Transition: Renovation, Governance, and Maintenance of Socialist Mass Housing Estates in a Comparative Perspective."

During the lecture, Professor Guido Sechi presented research on the transformation processes of mass-housing districts from the socialist era. He focused specifically on the renewal of urban infrastructure, the governance mechanisms for residential complexes, and the challenges of maintaining the quality of the urban environment within the context of post-socialist transitions.

Particular attention was given to a comparative perspective on urban development, the interactions between state institutions, local communities, and other urban governance stakeholders, as well as the social and spatial consequences of transforming residential areas. These issues are highly relevant to post-socialist societies—including Kazakhstan—where the modernization of urban infrastructure, the renovation of housing stock, and the improvement of the urban environment remain key priorities for both public and state development.

The event took place as part of the implementation of SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

About the Lecturer

Guido Sechi is a social geographer, researcher, and lecturer in the Department of Social Geography at the University of Latvia (Riga). He earned his PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy) in 2011. His research interests encompass the social and socio-spatial dynamics of cities and regions, the development of local communities, social capital, social inequality, territorial transformations, and urban and regional development in the post-socialist period.

In his work, Guido Sechi combines approaches from urban and regional geography with sociological analysis. He focuses particularly on Latvia and other post-socialist countries, examining the interplay between social relations, spatial changes, and the processes that shape the urban environment.

The open lecture served as a valuable opportunity for academic exchange, providing insight into contemporary international research and broadening the scholarly discourse on urban development, social inequality, and the transformation of post-socialist spaces.

The event contributed to strengthening international academic ties and fostering an interdisciplinary scholarly dialogue at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.