CAT-ference Theme and Call for Panels: “Comparing Cities after Transition”
The overall theme of the 8th CATference–“Comparing Cities after Transition”–builds on CAT’s long-standing endeavour to build bridges between and within urban research communities (be they regional, discipline or topic-based). The main goal of the conference is to encourage conversations of a comparative nature regarding cities and urbanism in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, as well as on other contexts frequently referred to as “post-socialist”. Fresh empirical and theoretical contributions at different scales, from different perspectives, and with different disciplinary vantage points are warmly welcomed.
We think that Belgrade/Serbia/former Yugoslavia is a more than fruitful seedbed for CATs on every stage (beginners to experienced) due to the broad variety of urban phenomena over time and space. The scientific # of the conference will be complemented by a two-day field trip offering an inspiring opportunity to explore the singular urbanization processes and urban development taking place in the former Yugoslavia. The Balkans remain understudied in the literature, a situation which we hope to improve on with this event.
The themes we wish to focus on are:
- The place of CATs in urban theory
- Cities and social justice
- Smart cities
- Migration and mobilities in CATs
- Post-truth urbanism
This could include topics such as (not exclusively!):
- Socio-spatial patterns and processes
- Social cohesion
- Suburban and peri-urban patterns and processes
- Gentrification and related processes
- Urban informality
- Urban movements and activism in post-democratic (?) societies
- Urban geopolitics
- Urban and national identities
- Urban resilience
- Historical legacies and (urban) memory politics
- Challenges of urban shrinkage
- Immigration and the rise of right-wing movements in urban politics
- Migrant inclusion in cities: innovative urban policies and practices
- Mobility
- Commuting and urban transport development
- Smart cities: smart for whom?
- The prospects for small and medium sized towns
- Megaprojects and (authoritarian?) entrepreneurialism
- Touristification