1172 | A geography of “new” territorialities: challenges and scenarios for creating alternative imaginations and narratives | Isabelle Dumont (1); Emanuela Gamberoni (2); José Ignacio Vila-Vázquez (3); Brais Estévez-Vilariño (4)
Today, a series of crises – economic, climatic, health-related etc.-, have opened deep unknowns about the habitability of the Planet. In this context, relevant concepts have emerged, among which the Anthropocene, which indicates that we are immersed in a new geological era, characterized by widespread global environmental degradation of anthropic origin. Starting from this framework of uncertainty, this session seeks to readjust and expand the forms of geographical imagination, with the aim to identify new ways of inhabiting and producing spaces in which life “in common” could be carried on.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some people abandoned metropolitan spaces in favour of low-density spaces, where they can take refuge and reconnect with “nature”. Otherwise, new modalities of the Outdoor have been invented or some interstices have been re-discovered. In addition, the objectives of the green transition, the Green New Deal, and the decarbonisation have renewed the political role of different territories, as laboratories of other possibilities of existence. These phenomena have questioned some dichotomous geographic interpretations (“winning” / “loosing” territories; urban/rural…). As a result, some research appears to try to deal with this dichotomy by problematizing the so-called hybrid and/or “transgenic” spaces. Currently, when the ecological crisis forces us to integrate the planetary limits in our ways of life, a plurality of spatial scenarios could be explored.
What kind of spatial phenomena (in progress or in an embryonic phase) can trigger possible futures? How can Geography analyse them? What does it remain of the urban-rural opposition when some forms of work, digitally mediated, enable flexible places of residence less dependent on closeness to the workplace? What kind of local communities are emerging by these new forms of coexistence? What are the conflicts that are unleashed in these “new” spaces?
The different crises constitute a threat, but also an opportunity to explore ways to fight for the habitability of the Planet, such as building more socially equal spaces and more cohesive communities, based both on interdependence and on a culture of bonds of trust. This session calls for communications that address one of the following topics although it is also open to others:
· “New” territorialities and ways of living.
· Post-COVID, Anthropocene geographies, habitability.
· Alternative cultural practices and networks in a world in crisis.
· Green and collaborative economies.
· Solidarity, interdependence, and cooperation. Session type: presentations.The expected contributions can be focused on both empirical research and methodological or theoretical-conceptual aspects.
In order to facilitate a wider participation, it is encouraged to present the communication in a language different from that of the visual support (e.g. powerpoint presentation).
Isabelle Dumont (1); Emanuela Gamberoni (2); José Ignacio Vila-Vázquez (3); Brais Estévez-Vilariño (4)
(1) Università Roma Tre, (2) Università di Verona, (3) Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, (4) Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
ID Abstract: