IRS International Lectures on Society and Space

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I present a critical-colonial perspective to understanding the contemporary expansion of the so-called knowledge economy. The kernel of argument is that the knowledge economy can be understood as a geopolitical process of producing entangled yet different “worlds” through a logic of coloniality. more infos

Urban theory has long been struggling to find its feet. It has been criticised for an inclination to favour paradigmatic cities, for not being particularly inclusive or for ignoring the importance of context. The alternatives have been reproached for being particularistic, arbitrary and ignoring economic imperatives, voluntarism taking the upper hand over structural features. more infos

This IRS International Lecture on Society and Space will focus on the “human capital migration” phenomenon, i.e. the migratory behaviour of highly-educated, highly-skilled individuals. Much is known already on the determinants of human capital migration and also on the positive effects it has, in economic terms, on the receiving economies. more infos

Consequences of neoliberalism and entrepreneurial urban governance seem to be very clearly visible in some cities through scattered property-led spatial developments and investments. While the entrepreneurialisation of municipal governance is widely acknowledged in the scholarly literature, the extent and format of institutional and organisational structures that accompany neoliberal ideological shifts and market transitions often remain unclear. more infos

Poverty and social exclusion exist in rural, as well as in urban, areas across the world. This paper begins by reviewing conceptualizations of social exclusion and its relation to place, arguing that social exclusion may be understood in terms of dynamic, multi-dimensional, relational processes which operate in localized contexts at multiple scales. Often this is considered primarily in terms of exclusion from labour markets or simply lack of income, but a full understanding of social exclusion can only be gained by considering the wider range of processes by which resources are gained and lost in our societies. more infos

How do cities manage the arrival and settlement of immigrants? This question is discussed by the Canadian journalist Douglas Saunders in his book "Arrival City: How the largest Migration in History is Reshaping Our World", published in 2011. In his book, Saunders lays out the conditions for success and failure of immigration-defined neighbourhoods around the world. more infos

Urbanization and the land question go hand in hand, in fact the land question is at the core of urban transformation on a global scale. In this lecture, Ute Lehrer will look at the suburban land question, where we can still find central aspects of the transformation process from a use value of land to an exchange value as a commodity within a capitalist society. She will also make reference to the land question that is posed within a colonial context, namely that of stewardship versus ownership. more infos

Urbanization and the land question go hand in hand, in fact the land question is at the core of urban transformation on a global scale. In this lecture, Ute Lehrer will look at the suburban land question, where we can still find central aspects of the transformation process from a use value of land to an exchange value as a commodity within a capitalist society. She will also make reference to the land question that is posed within a colonial context, namely that of stewardship versus ownership. more infos