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Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Chicago, 21–25 April 2015
Call for Papers: Precarious Geographies
Convenors:
Ella Harris (Royal Holloway, University of London) [log in to unmask]
Mel Nowicki (Royal Holloway, University of London) [log in to unmask]
While there is an established body of work on precarity (Ettlinger 2007; Standing
2011; Lewis et al 2013), such analysis is often focused on precariousness as
a temporal phenomenon linked to uncertainty, and orientated towards studies of labour economies. There has been little substantial exploration in geography of the role of place in instigating, advancing and exploiting precarity, although the importance of
considering place within precarity is evident; for example, in processes of gentrification, localism, and housing policy. Such considerations are particularly pertinent at a time of austerity politics; which brings into focus questions around how far and in
what ways everyday precarities are exacerbated and created via varying political and socio-economic mediums.
Following on from Judith Butler’s assertion that, while precariousness
is common to all life, precarity is politically induced (2009) ‘Precarious Geographies’
seeks to understand the stratagems behind both the exploitation of precariousness,
and the instigation of precarity. Of particular interest are how such exploitations and instigations relate to both place-making and place-unmaking. For example place-making projects are instrumental in gentrification processes which in turn un-makes place
for others.
We invite contributions relating to, but not limited to, the following key questions:
-How is precarity engineered and mobilized through place to political ends? And why
are some locations and/or geographical imaginings more vulnerable to enactments of precarity than others?
-How do makings, un-makings and re-makings of place relate to precarity?
-What is the role of media and political discourse in manufacturing, maintaining
and responding to precarity?
-What are the roles of institutions and territories, such as schools, prisons and
ghettos, in producing precarious subjects?
-How are enactments of precarity responded to and resisted across various geographical
arenas? Can ‘the precariat’ be a political force, and where is the role of place in such a politics?
Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and should be emailed to both convenors
by Friday the 17th of October. Please be sure to include your name, institution or affiliation and email address in your response.
For further information about the conference, including details of
registration, see http://www.aag.org/cs/annualmeeting
References
Butler, J. 2009. Frames of War. London: Verso.
Ettlinger, N. 2007. ‘Precarity Unbound’, Alternatives: Global, Local, Political 32 319-340.
Lewis, H, Dwyer, P, Hodkinson, S and Waite, L. 2013. Precarious Lives:
Experiences of Forced labour among Refugees and Asylum Seekers in England. Full
Research Report. Leeds: University of Leeds.
Standing, G. 2011. The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class. London: Bloomsbury Academic.