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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
GLOBAL CAPITALISM AND PROCESSES OF URBAN REGENERATION
A TRIBUTE TO NEIL SMITH
Barcelona, September 14th, 15th and 16th, 2015
Neil Smith, who prematurely died in 2012, has had an immense influence on the discipline of
geography and on the social sciences in general: his works on global capitalism, uneven
development and processes of urban regeneration and gentrification are key contributions. His
theorizations on space as a product of capitalist development and on the strategies of capital
over the processes of urban change have been used worldwide in many empirical studies. His
militancy and activism in several causes is still today an example of commitment and
involvement for all social scientists.
This conference, organized by [espaiscritics], focuses on Neil Smith’s work and is addressed
to all those interested in urban social theory. It will rely on the presence of the most
prestigious international experts on the work and the topics that defined Neil Smith’s
trajectory. The conference is open to the participation of academics and researchers as well as
to activists and members of social urban movements.
On the occasion of the conference, volume 6 of the “Espacios críticos” series will be launched.
The book is specifically devoted to the intellectual figure of Neil Smith and is written by
professors Luz Marina García Herrera and Fernando Sabaté Bel (Universidad de La Laguna).
The "Espacios críticos" series (Icaria Edtorial) is directed by Abel Albet (Universitat
Autònoma de Barcelona) and Núria Benach (Universitat de Barcelona).
Organizative aspects
The conference will be held at the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA).The
two first days (September 14th and 15th) will be dedicated to researchers’ presentations and to
the keynote lectures. On the morning of September 16th a tour on several urban developments
in the Raval neighbourhood will be organized including the presence of experts, activists,
social movements and neighbourhood associations.
There will be simultaneous translation from/into English during the invited speakers’ sessions.
Attendance to the conference is free but a previous registration is required by e-mail to
espaiscritics@gmail.com, indicating attendee’s full name and place of study/work. There will
be updated information on the conference at www.espaiscritics.org.
Call for papers
The conference will accept a limited number of oral presentations on investigations or
reflections directly related to Neil Smith’s concerns throughout his academic and activist
career. Abstracts (title and a summary of maximum 250 words) can be submitted, together
with a short CV of the author (10 lines, including affiliation and contact details) stressing the
relation of the contents to the themes of the conference.
Abstracts should be sent before June 14th 2015 (deadline will not be extended) to the e-mail:
espaiscritics@gmail.com. Eventual acceptance will be communicated on June 22nd to all
applicants. Languages accepted are Catalan, Spanish and English.
Keynote speakers
Deborah Cowen. Professor at the University of Toronto. She works on the relation between
cities and everyday life, and is deeply concerned with the politics of space. Together with Neil
Smith, she decisively participated in urban social movements and other forms of activism,
both in Toronto and New York. She has published several works on space, politics and
citizenship, urban conflicts and interventions on urban spaces Her most recent book is The
Deadly Life of Logistics: Mapping Violence in Global Trade (2014).
Luz Marina García Herrera. Professor of Geography at the Universidad de la Laguna. She
did her Doctoral studies at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (United States) where
she met Neil Smith and became interested in the topic of gentrification. Her current research
interest is the production of urban space and its social and political implications, and she is
also interested in urban public spaces. She is the co-author, with Fernando Sabaté Bel, of the
book Neil Smith. Gentrificación urbana y desarrollo desigual (Icaria, 2015).
Maria Dolors Garcia Ramon. Emeritus Professor of Geography at the Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona. Author of many works on geographical thought and gender in geography. She
has co-edited Women of the European Union: the Politics of Work and Daily Life (1996) and
Espacios públicos, género y diversidad (2014).
Don Mitchell. Distinguished Professor at Syracuse University (United States). He has
published many articles and books on the production and meanings of landscape, on public
spaces and on theory of culture. As a student, he had a close personal relationship with Neil
Smith; after his death, he became responsible for his intellectual legacy. Author of Cultural
Geography: A Critical Introduction (2000) and The Right to the City: Social Justice and the
Fight for Public Space (2003).
Fernando Sabaté Bel. Lecturer at the Universidad de la Laguna and socio-political activist.
He is interested in historic and cultural geography, specifically in the process of
transformation of vernacular rural spaces. He is the author of many works on urban planning
and citizenship participation He co-authored with Luz Marina García Herrera, the book Neil
Smith. Gentrificación urbana y desarrollo desigual (Icaria, 2015).
Tom Slater. Reader in Urban Geography at the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom).
He is the author of many works on gentrification, urban inequalities, territorial stigmatization
and urban politics. He successfully applies Neil Smith’s theoretical ideas and has co-edited
the volumes Gentrification (2008) and The Gentrification Reader (2010).
Organized by:
espaiscritics.org
With the support of:
Organizing committee
Abel Albet (UAB)
Núria Benach (UB)
Anna Clua (UOC)
Núria Font (UB)
Teresa Tapada (UAB)
Aritz Tutor (UAB)
Fabiana Valdoski (USP)
Scientific committee:
And the collaboration of:
Horacio Capel (UB)
Vicenç Casals(UB)
Luz-Marina García Herrera (ULL)
Maria Dolors Garcia Ramon (UAB)
Fernando Sabater (ULL)
Álvaro Sevilla (UPM)
Perla Zusman (UBA)