Shrinkage in post-socialist medium-sized cities in Germany and Poland.

A comparison of urban renewal strategies in Germany and Poland examines the IBA Saxony-Anhalt and the Polish MRM pilot programs. Promotion of participatory governance through competitive mechanisms occurred in both cases, while conceptual frameworks, territorial coverage, and financing showed large differences. The IBA benefited from a comprehensive policy framework – Stadtumbau Ost – and substantial funding, enabling coordinated, long-term interventions in structurally challenged cities. The MRM showed gaps in criteria and funding and would be strengthened by clearer rules and a wider policy context. The paper finds that while both programs introduced new municipal action plans-INSEK and GPR respectively-the German approach more effectively integrated cross-sectoral policies and promoted shrinkage-aware governance. The IBA’s ability to foster inter-municipal cooperation, develop knowledge institutions, and implement holistic strategies underlines the importance of robust governance, long-term vision, and context-sensitive planning in tackling urban shrinkage. By contrast, the Polish experience reflects a pre-IBA logic, where renewal efforts remained confined to symbolic inner-city interventions. Ultimately, the comparison reveals that addressing urban decline requires more than procedural innovation; it demands a paradigm shift in urban policy-one that recognizes shrinkage as a legitimate and manageable condition.