2009 Conference of the Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British
Geographers (RGS-IBG), 26-28 August 2009, Manchester
First Call for Contributions to following session:
The 'Right to Stay Put': Contesting Displacement in Urban Regeneration /
Development Schemes
Sponsored by the Participatory Geographies Research Group
Session Organisers:
Chris Allen (Manchester Metropolitan University); Lee Crookes
(University of Sheffield); Stuart Hodkinson (University of Leeds); Tom
Slater (University of Edinburgh)
It is now 25 years since Chester Hartman first advanced the notion of
the 'right to stay put' for lower income group struggles against
gentrification. Since then, gentrification and related processes of
privatisation and marketisation have become integral to neoliberal urban
strategies across the world. In Britain, 'state-led gentrification'
(Davidson 2007) now impels urban regeneration schemes such as Housing
Market Renewal (Allen 2008) and even the government's council housing
modernisation programme 'Decent Homes'. Despite this proliferation,
academics have generally responded poorly to Hartman's call to arms.
Rather, as Slater observes (2006, 2008), gentrification research has
generally lost its critical edge, and from some quarters gentrification
has even been celebrated as beneficial to incumbent low-income groups
(Freeman, 2006; Vigdor, 2002). This is not our experience and with this
session we seek to restore Hartman's principle to the heart of
gentrification research by inviting contributions from activist
geographers in the widest sense of the term (academics, teachers,
housing professionals, campaigners, trade unionists and ordinary
residents) to share and exchange their experiences, insights and methods
to better defend people's 'right to stay put'. In the spirit of making
geography 'relevant' beyond the policy-academy complex, the session will
have a practical orientation and welcomes submissions in a wide range of
formats that offer reflections, stories, tactics, lessons and strategies
for developing successful urban resistances. The aims are to: (1)
share experiences and develop practical knowledges about what works in
urban resistance; (2) create an educational space for encounter and
dialogue between those involved in similar critical work and activism;
and (3) start to develop an action research network and a
knowledge/resource base for wider dissemination.
We seek ideas for participation which address some or more of the
following themes:
Grassroots knowledges about gentrification and resistance
Examples of (un)successful individual or collective resistance
Developing strategies and tactics of urban resistance
Power, counter-power, resources, methodological innovations
The planning system, public inquiries, community planning
Legal challenges to evictions and Compulsory Purchase Orders
Human rights issues with respect to land and home
Using the Freedom of Information Act and other research methods
Alternatives to gentrification / displacement / privatisation
Implications of the new Homes and Communities Agency
Roles, responsibilities and experiences of academics and other educators
in resistance
Alliance building and creating a UK Right to the City movement
We want to hear from people who are interested in participating in the
session in whatever way they can. Please send a proposal with title and
short summary (250 words) for participation which should outline the
following:
1. Who you are and why you are interested in participating in the
session
2. What kind of involvement/experience you have with opposing
gentrification
3. Details of the contribution you would like to make to the session
(example might include: show a film, give a short talk, tell a story,
bring some visitors to participate or anything else you think would make
a useful contribution to the debate)
4. Details of the kinds of equipment (audio-visual, for example) or
support you might need for your contribution
Please send your proposals by the 15 February 2009 at the latest to
L.Crookes@sheffield.ac.uk
