[URBANTH-L] ANN: The International Network for Urban Research and Action (INURA)

[Angela Jancius]

Please circulate widely

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INURA - The International Network for Urban Research and Action
INURA is a network of people involved in action and research in localities 
and cities. The Network consists of activists and researchers from community 
and environmental groups, universities, and local administrations, who wish 
to share experiences and to participate in common research. Examples of the 
issues that Network members are involved in include: major urban renewal 
projects, the urban periphery, community-led environmental schemes, urban 
traffic and transport, inner city labour markets, do-it-yourself culture, 
and social housing provision. In each case, the research is closely tied to, 
and is a product of, local action and initiative. [.] More info: 
http://www.inura.org/whatis.html

INURA Annual General Meeting 2008
This year's INURA conference with the topic "Non/De/Re- regulation: limits, 
exclusions and claims", will take place in Athens and its region (October 
03-10, 2008). As every year the "Annual INURA Conference" is a one-week 
event and is divided into two parts: First, we will explore the city of 
Athens through field trips and public events (Athens, October 03-06), 
followed by a retreat to the southern coast of Attika (Attiki region, 
October 07-10).

Call for papers
INURA08 Call for papers for the retreat
Due date for abstracts: September 5, 2008

Overview:
This year's INURA conference with the topic "Non/De/Re- regulation: limits, 
exclusions and claims", will take place in Athens and its region (October 
03-10, 2008). As every year the "Annual INURA Conference" is a one-week 
event and is divided into two parts: First, we will be exploring the city 
through field trips and public events (Athens, October 03-06), followed by a 
retreat to the countryside (Anavissos, October 07-10).

The retreat is a central feature of the International Network for Urban 
Research and Action. The purpose of the retreat of this year is (1) to 
present and discuss papers relating to the conference theme, (2) to present 
ongoing research and activism of INURA members, and (3) to focus on INURA 
specific matters (such as common research project, diversity and power 
relations, etc.). The retreat offers a relaxed setting for social 
interaction and networking.

Please note: Neither the retreat nor the conference have the character of a 
formal academic conference or workshop!!

Papers/Presentations/Inputs:

The »retreat committee« welcomes and encourages contributions informed by 
research and/or activism by individuals or groups to the following topics:

1. The overall theme of the conference: " NON/DE/RE- regulation: limits, 
exclusions and claims "

2. Research, work and activities connected to the Common Research Projects 
of INURA

3. Contributions related to the INURA network and the wanted links between 
research and action, common projects, past, present and future.

Contributions should reflect on the following questions and issues:

Links Between Research and Action:

. How can radical research/projects inform and support progressive urban 
social and political movements and struggles?
. How to deal with the necessity particular and local issues/projects to 
wider and global movements and goals?
. What is the tradition/experience in your city/country with co-operation 
between academics, artists and activists?
. How to overcome unequal power relations- formal and informal hierarchies, 
discriminatory practices etc- inside collective (academic/activist) 
institutions and projects?

Submission Procedure:

Participants interested in presenting papers, films etc. or interested in 
organizing and preparing group sessions/workshops should submit a 250 word 
abstract, with a title that capture the core idea of your contribution, the 
general topic of what you want to address, how you will approach it, and 
what you hope to achieve. In addition, if/how the presentation/session is 
connected to the topics mentioned above.

Abstracts of proposed presentations are due by September 5, 2008. All 
abstracts of proposals and questions related to the presentations at the 
retreat should be send to: inura08 at gmail.com

More info: http://inura08.wordpress.com/


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Chiara Tornaghi, PhD
Dept. of Sociology and Social Research
University of Milano-Bicocca
Italy