Apologies for cross-postings



---- 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

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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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