* Apologies for cross posting *

1ST INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON CONTESTED TERRITORIES

How do we conceptualise and research Contested Territories in Latin America?

May 20th and 21st, 2019
School of Geography 
University of Leeds

Keynote speakers: Sam Halverson (Queen Mary, London) and Sofia Zaragocin (Uni-versidad San Francisco de Quito)

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Contested Territories is a conceptual notion that aims at focusing on the production and appropriation of space and knowledge(s) in and through often overlapping cultural, economic, environmental, political and spatial conflicts occurring at multiple sites, places and scales. It has the scope to de-centre traditional Anglophone discourses about territory by including critical dialogues between different sets of under-standings, world views and knowledges, especially those which are rooted in alternative political and social practices emerging in and from Latin America. Recent research about conflict and contestation in Latin America has taken up these discourses, developing novel epistemological, conceptual and methodo-logical approaches that provide nuanced considerations and critiques to hegemonic ways of imagining disputed relations in space and society. Our workshop at the University of Leeds mirrors these challenges by posing the question how the conceptual notion of Contested Territories in Latin America can be further developed both theoretically and practically. We are seeking contributions that respond to and advance critical reflection on one or several of the following key questions:

-	How can the notion of Contested Territories be better conceptualised and theoretically framed to encapsulate struggles and alternatives developed in communities across Latin America?
-	What kind of knowledge, discourse and political practice is mobilised through the idea of Con-tested Territories?
-	In which way do Contested Territories relate to radical urban thought and practices emerging in and from Latin America?
-	What is the scope to think environmental exploitation and extractivism through the lens of Contested Territories?
-	How do Contested Territories challenge traditional methodologies and epistemological ap-proaches and encourage alternative ways to understand critical academic practice?
-	What are the ethical implications and repercussions of putting the notion of Contested Territories into practice?

WHAT IS THIS INITIATIVE ABOUT?
This International Workshop is the first event related to a collaborative project on Contest-ed Territories which is funded by the White Rose University Consortium. Our network of So-cial Science, Arts, Humanities and Environmental researchers from the Universities of Leeds, York and Sheffield are starting a series of events focusing on interdisciplinary dia-logues on conflict, resistance and development alternatives in Latin America. Our key aim is stimulating and cross-fertilising critical discussions on Contested Territories in Latin Ameri-ca. We do so by reflecting on how alternative practices and decolonial methodologies can be effectively put in place in an ever more recentralising and hierarchical academic and political environment. 

ORGANISATION AND LOGISTICS
This is a 2-day workshop taking place from Monday 20 to Tuesday 21 May 2019 at the School of Ge-ography of the University of Leeds. There are no fees to pay and light meals will be provided during the workshop. However, we cannot support travel and accommodation (unless for those affiliated with the collaborative project and research network at the Universities of Sheffield or York).

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Abstracts may be submitted in Spanish, Portuguese or English, summarising the objectives of the proposed paper communication and explain how they relate to the key questions addressed in this call. Abstracts should not exceed 250 words and include the names, contact details and affiliation of all authors. In the afternoon of May21st, an alternative and interactive methods event will take place. Please indicate in your abstract (not included in the 250 words) if you would like to attend this part of the workshop. Priority for the methods event will be given to PhD and ECRs but it is open to all. Please submit your abstracts by no later than 15 April 2019 to: [log in to unmask] 

WORKSHOP DYNAMICS
All accepted participants are requested to send a short paper communication of 900-1250 words by 15 May 2019. Papers will be shared with all participants prior to the workshop to better prepare interaction and discussion. We will have relatively short presentations followed by provocative thoughts from paper discussants. As such, we will allow sufficient time for in-depth engagement and discussion. Our aim is to publish all suitable communications as Blog entries very soon after the workshop.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON CONTESTED TERRITORIES
Web: https://www.whiterose.ac.uk/collaborationfunds/contested-territories-interdisciplinary-dialogues-on-conflict-resistance-and-development-alterna-tives-in-latin-america/

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