Performative Promise or Transformative Power?

European cities are facing increasing pressure from multiple, interconnected crises ranging from climate disasters and socio-political upheaval to democratic erosion. Under these conditions, resilience has emerged as a guiding framework for urban policy. This thesis employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate the role of culture in urban resilience strategies across Europe and examines how the dynamics of municipal governance influence its integration. Despite the increasing recognition of culture's potential in academic discourse on resilience, the analysis of 30 European urban resilience strategies and seven expert interviews reveals that culture's multidimensional and transformative potential is largely neglected. The findings of the policy analysis reveal two patterns: (1) culture is implemented to maintain the status quo rather than to foster transformation, and (2) it is reduced to easily measurable policies, such as heritage and tourism. The thesis argues that this approach limits culture's critical potential and reflects broader neoliberal tendencies in urban governance. The expert interviews further highlight that the integration of culture is hindered by two factors: conflicting institutional logics and a general lack of awareness. Cultural actors are often excluded from resilience planning because of their critical and alternative perspectives on resilience that do not align with the dominant, technocratic approach of municipalities. Furthermore, while culture departments are structurally isolated, resilience teams are often shaped by sustainability-focused backgrounds. As a result, the narrative that culture does not contribute to sustainability is perpetuated in resilience thinking. This leads to missed opportunities for using culture as a strategic driver of long-term, inclusive change. Moreover, the lack of structural, interdepartmental cooperation prevents the cultural sector from being recognized and funded as a fundamental component of resilience. The thesis concludes with three recommendations: (1) reorienting policy towards a dynamic and inclusive resilience paradigm that includes cultural and democratic dimensions, (2) advancing an academic resilience framework that acknowledges the multidimensional and transformative potential of culture, and (3) ensuring long-term, structural funding for the cultural sector to support inclusive, participatory, and place-based transformation. By using culture as a lens, this thesis critiques the dominant managerial logic of resilience planning and advocates for a more inclusive, democratic, and context-sensitive approach. Furthermore, it contributes to cultural policy studies by revealing the structural and discursive barriers that prevent the meaningful integration of culture into broader policy frameworks.