Linkage between community resilience and participation, and social sustainability: Insights from the challenges of urban apartment residents in Yangon, Myanmar

Zin Ni Ni  Lwin; Riken  Homma

doi:10.59400/jps2099

Linkage between community resilience and participation, and social sustainability: Insights from the challenges of urban apartment residents in Yangon, Myanmar

Zin Ni Ni Lwin Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
Riken Homma Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan

Article ID: 2099

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/jps2099

Keywords: social sustainability; community resilience; risk reduction; urbanization; Yangon

Abstract

All over the world, urban communities face several pressures such as natural hazards, climate change, and other urban challenges. Yangon, the former capital city of the developing country, Myanmar also faces poor infrastructure and limited resources, complicating efforts to reduce risk, and increasing its vulnerability to various shocks and emergencies. Especially in Yangon’s urban areas, an important aspect that seems to be lacking is maintaining the social aspect of sustainability and enhancing community resilience and participation. By approaching the conceptualizations and applying them through qualitative methods, including interviews and questionnaires, this paper explores a holistic understanding of the challenges and barriers faced by urban apartment residents in downtown Yangon, focusing on maintaining resilience and enhancing the overall well-being of their daily lives. Our findings contribute to the theoretical conceptualizations and empirical understanding of urban lifestyle by exploring descriptive analysis of how apartment residents face weak social bondings and social illness. As a result, we proposed political recommendations and highlighted the critical need to promote long-term social sustainability not only to address immediate urban challenges but also to promote their resilience against a variety of future challenges. Although the outcome of this study has focused on specific suggestions for Yangon, this paper provides original insight into effective strategies for building social bonding and resilience, aiming to impact future urban studies and inspire actionable solutions that enhance the social well-being of its population and encourage equitable development across the globe.

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Published

2025-01-03

How to Cite

Lwin, Z. N. N., & Homma, R. (2025). Linkage between community resilience and participation, and social sustainability: Insights from the challenges of urban apartment residents in Yangon, Myanmar. Journal of Policy and Society, 2(2), 2099. https://doi.org/10.59400/jps2099

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Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024)

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