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Apologies for cross-posting... Call for papers: RGS-IBG Annual International Conference, Exeter, 1-4 Sept 2015 The urban governmentalities of forced migration Session convenors: Jonathan Darling and Lucas Oesch (University of Manchester) Sponsored by The Political Geography Research Group (PolGRG) There is an increased tendency among scholars and practitioners to recognise that forced migration has an important urban dimension. To date, research in this field has ranged from examining the integration of “urban refugees” and the development of “camp-cities”, to exploring the urban dispersal of asylum seekers, the re-scaling of state borders, and the role of cities as potential sanctuaries. Yet despite these contributions, the question of how urban environments are both shaped by, and help to shape, experiences of forced migration and its politicisation, regulation and governance, remain relatively under-developed. This session aims to open such questions to critical scrutiny by promoting conversations across discussions of forced migration, urban theory and political geography. Whilst recognizing the importance of the urban, a range of tensions exist within discussions of the urban governmentality of forced migration. For example, but not exhaustively, we might consider three areas of concern. Firstly, significant debate exists as to whether semi-urban spatial forms of forced migration - such as camps and informal settlements - are spaces of exception or integration, or whether they present contingent sites of spatial negotiation. Secondly, influenced by the conventional “durable solutions” offered to forced migrants, research has often concentrated on the question of urban integration at the expense of a critical recognition of the continued mobility of forced migrants within and between cities. Finally, there is a concern to explore how cities may monitor, manage and control forced migrants, and how cities may simultaneously offer the grounds for insurgent forms of citizenship, rights and political agency. Departing from these discussions, this session intends to examine the global urban governmentality of forced migration by focusing upon both urban policies towards forced migration (such as methods of regulation, management or hospitality) and the strategies, experiences and political agency of forced migrants within urban space. We seek to consider how cities encounter forced migration and how forced migrants encounter cities. We particularly welcome papers on the following topics: • The (problematic) categorisation of “forced” migration in urban settings • Global and local urban policies towards forced migration • The spatial forms produced and transformed by forced migration (such as camps, informal settlements, accommodation centres) • The politicisation of urban space through forced migration • The “permanent temporariness” of forced migration and its effects • The livelihood strategies and political strategies of forced migrants in cities • Urban mobilities and forced migration Both theoretical and empirical papers are welcome, and studies which question and transcend distinctions between the Global South and Global North are encouraged. Abstracts of no more than 200 words should be sent to both Jonathan Darling ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) and Lucas Oesch ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) by Friday 6th February 2015. We will notify the authors of selected papers by Friday 13th February 2015. Dr Jonathan Darling Lecturer in Human Geography School of Environment and Development The University of Manchester Manchester, M13 9PL 1.032, Arthur Lewis Building Tel: +44 (0)161 306 6698 Webpage: http://staffprofiles.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/Profile.aspx?Id=jonathan.darling ESRC Producing Urban Asylum project: http://www.producingurbanasylum.com<http://www.producingurbanasylum.com/>