New Directions in British urban policies and community participation in a context of austerity
Wednesday 4 January 2012
2 – 6 pm
Sciences Po
Room H401
28, rue des Saints-Pères
75007 Paris
The seminar aims at presenting the new context of urban policies inEnglandsince the arrival of a coalition government led by David Cameron in 2010. This government has put in the core of its priorities the reduction of public deficits (within an austerity budget), welfare reforms, planning reforms (suppression of the Regional Development Agencies). Its flagship policy slogan is to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building a big society that will “take power away from politicians and give it to people”.
From a planning and urban policy point of view the shift with former labour governments is eloquent. Clearly inherited from conservative ideologies implemented in the 80s and 90s the Big Society principles question the role of the State and the Civil Society. It also reinforces the role of central government and obviously raises questions of the nature of such centralised governance practices.
The seminar will decrypt these evolutions repositioning them in the context of the last 40 years (Stephen Hall). Changing relationships between State and Civil Society inEnglandwill then be explored (Irène Mboumoua). Finally attention will be given to the forms of resilience developed by local communities or small companies in a context of austerity (Lauren Andres).
Speakers
Stephen Hall (University of the West of England, Department of planning and architecture) « Whatever happened to urban regeneration in England? »
Irene Mboumoua (Paris-Est University, Department of Urban Engineering)
« Evolution of the relationships between State and civil society in England »
Lauren Andres (University of Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Centre for urban and regional studies)
« The role of ‘persistent resilience’ in a context of austerity: the importance of networks and impact-minimizing coping tactics »
Discussion
Renaud Epstein (University of Nantes)
Max Rousseau (Post-Doctorant ENS Lyon / Triangle)
No registration – Free entrance
Contact: thomas.aguilera@sciences-po.org