Call for Papers - Sustaining Regional Futures - Beijing Conference Center, Beijing, China - Regional Studies Association Global Conference 2012 - Sun

The Regional Studies Association is concerned with the analysis of regions and sub-national issues and promotes interest and research on regional economies throughout the world. For the first time, the annual conference is being held outside Europe and is being organised with our partner, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, around the theme of `Sustaining Regional Futures' in Beijing, China.


As well as the plenary sessions at the Beijing conference, where keynote speakers will address some of the biggest issues facing regions and sub-national areas around the world, gateways are being organised on the causes and implications of different patterns of regional development. The gateways are dedicated to assessing the forms and successes of regional policies in managing regional disparities; establishing basic public services; supporting endogenous growth and the comparative advantages of regions; promoting regional competitiveness and sustaining harmony between the economy, society and the environment.


Offers of papers on each of these themes are encouraged - on different countries' and regions' experiences, and on comparative studies. Papers on aspects of social justice, territorial politics, governance, and peripheral and marginal regions are also welcome to address what has been happening in these times of rapid national growth and global upheaval. Additional topics in which we particularly encourage contributions are city-regions, spatial planning and analysis which may look at the position in China but which may focus elsewhere. Debate and discussion, contrast and comparisons are essential to the success of Regional Studies Association conferences and to academic endeavour. Critical analyses and sharing of experiences in all these topic areas will ensure the Beijing conference achieves the aims that the Regional Studies Association and its partners have set out for it.


Gateway Themes
A. Environmental sustainability
B. Migration and labour markets
C. Social justice and civil society
D. Rural challenges
E. Territorial politics and policy
F. City-regions and urban transformations
G. Spatial econometrics
H. Borders, border regions and peripherality
I. Industries, entrepreneurship, and regional competitiveness
J. Innovation and knowledge economies
K. Creativity, identities, and branding
L. Spatial planning and practice
M. Banking, finance and financialisation


Organisers welcome proposals for special sessions, themed workshops and innovative forms of networking and collaboration. If you would like to organise or offer a session to the conference please contact Jimmy Ancheta Jr. at events@regionalstudies.org and we will assist you.


Academic Organising Committee: Co-chairs, Liu Yi: liuy@igsnrr.ac.cn , Andrew Beer: Andrew.Beer@adelaide.edu.au , Secretary, Weidong Liu: liuwd@igsnrr.ac.cn, Members, Henry Yeung: henryyeung@nus.edu.sg, He Can Fei: hecanfei@urban.pku.edu.cn, Anthony Yeh: hdxugoy@hkucc.hku.hk Mike Danson:michael.danson@uws.ac.uk, Pedro Marques: marques@geographie.uni-kiel.de


For the most up-to-date version of this call for papers visit: http://www.regionalstudies.org/events/future.asp