Cities and Migration: Opportunities and Challenges – Seattle, US, 25-28 April 2007 25-04-2007 Introduction The 37th Annual Meeting of the Urban Affairs Association (UAA) is themed
“Cities and Migration: Opportunities and Challenges”. Cities and urban policies
are intrinsically connected to broader patterns of population movement - of
migration at international, national, regional and intra-metropolitan levels.
This has always been true, but the increasing scale of migration poses new
opportunities and challenges for urban planning, urban politics and social
relations in cities. At the 2007 UAA Annual Meeting these issues will be
discussed.
Description
What are the forces that are driving migration - both the migration of
populations and the migration of firms/industries and therefore employment? How
have cities planned for the evolution of migration patterns, to the city and
within the city? Should these practices be rethought in light of the scope of
present day population movements? How do schools plan for who will be in the
classrooms in five or ten years time? What kind of housing stock do we need to
meet the needs of migrants through the various stages of their insertion into
new urban locations?
Diversity has always marked cities and recent migration waves have added
levels and intensities of diversity. How are cities meeting these challenges and
opportunities? How do national and sub-national policies frame, help or hinder
local efforts? What are the mechanisms by which residents make their voices
heard and participate in urban politics and policy-making? Increasingly rapid
mobility and diversity of urban populations has also called for programmes,
policies and activities aimed at social inclusion, integration and/or the
development of urban citizenship. How should we understand these developments?
Are cities becoming primary foci for identity? Should they be?
Holding the 37th Annual Meeting of the UAA in Seattle provides a very
appropriate site for exploring this theme - highlighting, among other trends,
national migration from east to west over the North American continent, and
international migrations from the Pacific Rim. The organisers hope that the
theme and the location will be of particular interest to international
colleagues and those interested in cross-national comparisons. Proposals
approaching the theme from varied perspectives are welcome. Suggested topics
include:
Programme Location
Seattle, United States
Register Links For more information and to register, please visit the UAA website.back |
