Events

This symposium is jointly organised by the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3, Paris, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore.

This is the second of two conferences organized through collaboration between NUS and Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3. Participants will deliver their final research papers to a public audience in Paris. The focus of this collaboration is on the rise of progressive cities in Asia and Europe. In Asia the dynamics for progressive cities emanate from an on-going urban transition creating globally-linked national urban networks, and generating democratic reforms with decentralization of governance to local levels. In Europe people are turning to city governments in situations in which national governments have become preoccupied with economic austerity and financial crises. In both East and West, continuing international in-migration is also producing highly diverse social and cultural settings that raise complex issues concerning inclusion in the city and in governance. While contexts vary both between and within each of these two world regions, a comparative exploration of similarities and differences among cities in different settings can aid in better understanding the dynamics that cut through each city.

With cities rising as important spheres of public decision-making, the diversity of urban experiences becomes more apparent. In every country some cities appear to be more progressive than others in effectively advancing issues of inclusion, distributive justice, environmental sustainability, and the conviviality of social and public life, including participatory governance. Four questions guide research:

1. Can an overarching concept of a progressive city be established?
2. What are the drivers of the rise of progressive cities?
3. What are the key mechanisms or policy tools used to put progressive policy intentions into practice?
4. What are their prospects for the future?

Among the cities to be discussed are: Seoul, Busan, Onagawa, Taipei, Hong Kong, Chengdu, Surakarta, Surabaya, Marseille, Istanbul, London, and Paris.

CONTACT DETAILS

Symposium Convenors

Prof MIKE DOUGLASS
Asia Research Institute, and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
E | michaeld@nus.edu.sg

Prof Romain GARBAYE
British Studies, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3
E | garbaye98@hotmail.com

Assoc Prof Kong Chong HO
Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore
E | sochokc@nus.edu.sg