---- 2nd Call for Papers ----
Paradigmatic Cities?
A two-day conference organised by the RGS-IBG Urban Geography Research Group
Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th November 2006
Scottish Trade Union Congress, Glasgow, Scotland
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Urban studies has a long history of identifying particular cities as
emblematic of urbanism more generally. Through such processes certain cities
have emerged as ‘obligatory points of passage’ within the urban studies
literature: whether because apparently emblematic of particular ‘urbanisms’
(for example, Paris as the birthplace of urban modernism, or Los Angeles as
the eponymous ‘post-metropolis’) or of more specific processes (for example,
revanchism = New York, diversity = Toronto).
Such tendencies have come in for sustained critique in recent years. Where
some have launched what might be termed a ‘thin critique’ (challenging the
paradigmatic status of one city, only to substitute that city for another),
others have mounted a more serious challenge to the identification of
‘paradigmatic’ cities per se. Yet despite these critiques, tendencies remain
in the urban studies literature to focus disproportionately on a small
number of cities, as well as to identify newly paradigmatic places (witness
the re-emergence of a ‘Chicago School’ at this year’s AAG).
The aim of this two-day conference is to provide a forum for genuine debate
concerning the epistemologies and academic politics of paradigmatic thinking
in urban studies.
To this end we are adopting a slightly unusual format, with a small number
of Key Note Speakers interspersed with shorter position papers and open
discussion.
We are currently seeking expressions of interest from any one wishing to
present a POSITION PAPER at this event.
Position papers should be no longer than *7-10 minutes* and designed to
foster debate and discussion. Though contributors should not feel unduly
restricted by these themes, it is anticipated that authors will situate
their papers in one of two main themes - considering, Paradigmatic thinking
as epistemology AND/OR Paradigmatic thinking and the politics of the academy
– and may want to consider addressing questions such as:
- What are the *advantages* - conceptual, methodological, political - of
working with paradigms?
- To what extent is such a tendency evident in other parts of the academy,
or beyond? To what extent do the cities identified in other fields overlap
with/conflict with the cities holding center stage in urban studies?
- In light of recent debate about the need for geographers to engage with
policy makers and practitioners, how might the identification of key cities
help/hinder an engagement between urban studies and these other fields - and
with the public and policy makers?
Attached (in PDF format) is a full outline and CFP providing further details
on the themes and format for conference. This document can also be obtained
by visiting (and clicking on ‘announcements’):
http://www.urban-geography.org.uk
Expressions of interest and/or abstracts (250 words) by 31st August 2006 to:
Jon May, Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London
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