Civil Society Mobilisation by the Urban Poor : Conference in Uppsala, Sweden
- Last Date : 8 February, 2013 -

Claiming the City - CIvil Society Mobilisation by the Urban Poor
Conference April 16-17, 2013

Half of the world’s population lives in cities, and a growing proportion – today one billion – lives in “slums” and informal settlements. Many of the urban poor engage in collective strategies to secure their housing, earn a living, and defend their interests. Their claims on the city often conflict with the demands of other urban groups over access to resources, space, and power. They also challenge the definitions of urban authorities and city planners regarding which claims are to be seen as legitimate. This conference will focus on informal and formalised networks and associations of urban poor – as well as other civil society organisations working in support of their claims – and their significance for strengthening people’s political, social and economic position in the city. We invite researchers and students, actors within international development cooperation, activists, and others with interest in the issues to participate.

Deadline for conference registration is March 15, 2013.

Deadline for submission of abstracts for paper presentations is February 8, 2013.

For more information and continuous updates, see www.claimingthecity.se

Faith in Civil Society – Religious Actors as Drivers of Change

The conference volume from the 2012 conference will be published here at the end of 2012.
Read more at the conference website: www.faithcivsoc.se

Global Civil Society: Shifting Powers in a Shifting World

Read the proceedings from the conference in April 12-13, 2011. The second conference in our series focused on transnational networks and power relations affecting civil society. Social movements and other forms of civil associations increasingly connect transnationally to mobilise political pressure, resources and other forms of support. They have also become important actors on the international political arena, striving to affect agendas and policies of UN bodies, trade organisations and corporations.

These global networks have strengthened the impact of civil society actors vis-à-vis political decision-makers at local as well as national and international levels. However, the political space available for civil society actors is largely determined by modes of governance exercised by more powerful actors, such as states and the international market.

This includes the terms set up by donor countries for development aid directed at civil society organizations. With new emerging global actors, such as China or the G-20, the role of civil society is yet to be seen. This conference addressed these various power relations, and what effect they have for social and political change. Participants were researchers, actors in international development cooperation, activists, and others with interest in the issues.

More informationat our conference website:
www.globalcivilsociety.se

Download and read more about the volume and the publication series, Outlook on Civil Society here.The paper book version can be ordered (without cost) from
[email protected] .

Power to the People? (Con)Tested Civil Society in Search of Democracy

Read the proceedings from the first conference in our series, held in 2010. Download the volume and read more about our publication series here (scoll down for this volume).

The project Civil Society in International Development: Research and Practice aims at advancing the Swedish research front on civil society in developing countries, and strengthening research-based knowledge about civil society among Swedish actors within international development cooperation. The project is coordinated by Mia Melin and Heidi Moksnes at CSD Uppsala and funded by Sida between 2009 and 2013.

Read more about the project under the link about the project above.