ROBERT GIOIELLI – HISTORY ON THE EDGE
On 11 February 2026, we hosted a new lecture at the Institute of Contemporary History as part of the History on the Edge series.
In his talk “1968: The Year America Embraced Sprawl (And destroyed the planet?)”, Robert Gioielli explained how car-oriented suburbanisation became a defining feature of U.S. metropolitan areas—and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
He emphasised that suburban sprawl is not simply the result of “American preferences,” but is rooted in the social and racial conflicts of the late 1960s and early 1970s. In response to the 1968 legislation aimed at ending housing segregation, many white communities resisted and moved away, further entrenching spatial inequalities, worsening environmental justice, and reinforcing a development model that has contributed to today’s climate crisis.
The event was held in English, at the INZ premises and via Zoom.
You can watch the full lecture here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN_WPObYOEQ&list=PLhZ_k72iCcmpfyuOGkD7rpStl7XMhk38I&index=62
In this post, we share a few photo highlights.
You are warmly invited to watch the lecture!
