Call for Papers: RGS Session at RGS Annual International Conference

RGS Annual International Conference

Newcastle Upon Tyne, 30 Aug-2 Sept June 2022

Session title: Geographies of Recovery? Development Pathways and Prospects for ‘Left Behind Places’

Session organisers and affiliations:

Professor Danny MacKinnon, CURDS, Newcastle University, UK, danny.mackinnon@ncl.ac.uk

Dr Tim Leibert, Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, t_leibert@leibniz-ifl.de

Dr Vincent Béal, University of Strasbourg, France, vbeal@unistra.fr

Abstract

Social and spatial inequalities between and within core and peripheral regions have re-emerged as an acute concern in economic geography and regional studies. The past couple of decades have seen growing geographical polarisation between 'superstar' cities and economically lagging and declining regions. These struggling or 'left behind’ places, particularly former industrial and rural regions, are attracting renewed interest from researchers, politicians, and policy-makers. While 'left behind’ places were neglected by the dominant city-centric spatial policy frameworks of the 2000s, the emergence of a new geography of discontent since 2016 and the uneven impacts of the pandemic are focusing attention on struggling and lagging regions’ acute need for economic and social recovery. 

Ongoing work is assessing different types of ‘left behind’ places, examining their conceptions of ‘development’, understanding their diverse development trajectories and identifying the kinds of institutional and policy responses required to address their problems. Yet research is only beginning to problematise the label of ‘left behind’ and the different kinds of places and predicaments it evokes. There is a need for in-depth studies of the ‘development’ problems of ‘left behind’ regions and the aspirations and needs of their residents. Such engagement can be seen as a pre-requisite for the formulation of place-based policies for regional recovery.

Seeking to remedy this wider neglect and contribute to emergent debates, the aim of this open session is to explore the distinct circumstances of ‘left behind places’, examine their diverse pathways of development over recent decades and assess their prospects for recovery.

The organisers welcome theoretical, methodological, empirical and policy analyses which address the following topics amongst others:

• Defining and conceptualising ‘left behind places’.
• Methodological challenges of measuring spatial inequalities and ‘left behindness’.
• Geographies of discontent, populism and political marginalisation.
• Processes of population loss and shrinkage. 
• Patterns of residential mobility and immobility from, to and within economically lagging and declining regions.
• The role of social infrastructures, assets and facilities in supporting the development of ‘left behind’ places.
• Alternative forms of economic and social development, including the foundational economy, inclusive economies, community-wealth building, wellbeing, post-growth and degrowth strategies.
• Governance and policy approaches and initiatives for the recovery of ‘left behind’ regions, covering both alternative and conventional approaches.
• Residents’ employment and livelihood strategies.

Please send your abstracts to the organisers by 18 March 2022, using the following email address: danny.mackinnon@ncl.ac.uk

Session format:

Open call for papers and flexible for either of the RGS ‘in person’ or ‘hybrid’ options with a preference for the ‘presenters in-person’ where possible, but scope for individual presenters and attendees to participate online.

The proposed format would be a paper session with ~10 presenters across the 2 sessions.

Last modified: Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:42:30 GMT