Events

This workshop is jointly organized by Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society (RCC) in Munich, Germany, and Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore.

Cities across Southeast Asia and beyond depend upon the lives and livelihoods of rural-urban migrants for affordable and informal labor. Likewise, rural-urban migrants often depend upon work in cities to support urban and rural living. To date, however, we know little about how these rural-urban connections have coped with the mobility restrictions and market closures caused by Covid-19. Taking work and labor in late capitalism as a general frame of reference, this workshop seeks to explore how those living already vulnerable lives have managed the interrelated effects of economic downturn, health concerns, supply chain disruption, and social barriers due to the coronavirus restrictions and their after-effects. While we know that those living in precarity often depend upon multiple connections to rural and/or urban places for work, family, or land, we know relatively little about how these connections may have adjusted during and post-pandemic. This workshop aims to deepen our understanding of the pandemic’s interrelated and indirect effects on those lesser heard voices and lesser studied locations in the Southeast Asia region, and to discuss some of the potential longer-term ramifications of pandemic responses on rural-urban mobilities, livelihoods, and work.

PARTICIPATION

Please note that participation in the closed-door workshop is by invitation only. 
For any inquiry, please contact Ms Valerie Yeo at valerie.yeo@nus.edu.sg.

WORKSHOP CONVENORS

Dr Jessica Clendenning | Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Germany
Prof Tim Bunnell | Asia Research Institute & Department of Geography, National University of Singapore