Space – Society – Economy is a lecture series that examines current issues about the relationship between space, society and economy with renowned international guest speakers at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. The lecture series was established in 2010 and is currently organized by the Professorship of Economic Geography in cooperation with the Chair of English Literature Studies (Prof. Dr. Richard Nate), the Chair of Management Accounting (Prof. Dr. Anton Burger) and the International Office (Dr. Martin Groos). It aims to further internationalize the teaching at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and we invite interested students and staff members of all faculties to participate.

Each term four to six international guest speakers are invited to present and discuss their recently finalized scientific publications. The main topic approaches the various relationships between Space – Society – Economy whereby each term represents a specific focus. Recent debates and discussions focussed on the topics Glocal Transformations (WS 2016/17), Sustainable Futures (SS16), Uneven World (WS 2015/2016), In and Out of Place II (SS 2015) and I (WS 2014/15), KIDSp(l)aces (SS 2014), Power of Place (WS 2013/14), Virtual Spaces (SS 2013), Well Being – Well Spaces (WS 2012/13), Social Movements and Protest (SS 2012), Alternative Economies (WS 2011/12), Global South II (SS 2011) and Global South I (WS 2010/11). 

Main focus of the current semester: Place & Conflict

Conflicts are at the very core of people’s everyday lives. The ways in which they arise, materialize and are experienced, however, vary extensively between different places. It is precisely this place-bound nature of conflict that is the starting point for the summer term’s lecture series which sets out to explore the ordinary and mundane places of conflict: On the one hand, we will draw attention to violent conflicts (e.g. the Syrian civil war), their causes and consequences, as a classic, yet very current topic of political geography. On the other hand, special attention is given to tensions arising in people’s day-to-day lives, especially for those who differ from hegemonial norms (e.g. young, elderly or ill people) or challenge dominant structures and elitist interests (e.g. with regard to scarcity of resources and security). In order to analyse these conflicts, four distinguished scholars from a range of disciplines are invited to explore place as a key factor of understanding: First and foremost, place will be debated as a theoretical lens through which the emergence and materialization of conflicts may be conceptualized. These reflections will be underlined by our guest lecturers’ contemporary empirical work on distinct places, especially on the particularities that influence the character of a conflict as well as the practices and discourses shaping it. The insights gained during the discussions will encourage all participants to grasp and further explore the deeply rooted links between Place & Conflict.

Programme

17.05.2017 | Wed (18:00 – 19:30)
Prof. Peter Hopkins (Newcastle University):
Negotiating everyday geopolitics in uncertain times: Young people, religion, racism and place

14.06.2017| Wed (18:00 – 19:30) CANCELLED
Dr. Preeti Patel (King’s College London):
Complex political emergencies: Challenges for the health sector

19.07.2017 | Wed (18:00 – 19:30)
Dr. Christopher Harker (Durham University):
Financial crisis ordinariness: Slow violence in Ramallah (Palestine)

26.07.2017 | Wed (18:00 – 19:30)
Assist. Prof. Ajay Bailey (University of Groningen):
Who Cares? The Crisis of Care for Older Adults in Migrant Households in India

Being an interdisciplinary project, the lecture series aims to explicitly address students and staff members of all faculties. Those interested are invited to either attend the entire lecture series or single sessions. 

In this respect we are looking forward to an exciting summer term's programme and welcome you to our lecture series Space - Society - Economy.

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