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URBAN STUDIES
Beginning in February 2011, CISR will begin research on the topic of Urban Studies (Городские исследования). As a new area of research, Urban Studies represents the logical continuation of previous work on the 'study of cities and space' (Исследования города и пространства).
At its core, research in the field of Urban Studies at CISR seeks to gradually accomplish the following goals:
- Initiate the creation of professional communities and networks of Urban Studies researchers in Russia and to strengthen their work through the organization of joint conventions, seminars, publications, etc;
- Building on a foundation of state-of-the-field analyses in Urban Studies in Russia, create a database of important research projects from the last ten years;
- Facilitate the inclusion of Russian Urban Studies research networks into larger professional networks worldwide;
- Initiate and encourage new research projects on topics vital to St. Petersburg and Russia;
- Create a communicative base and resource center in order to attract young researchers interested in Urban Studies.
The Principles of research in the field of Urban Studies
- Interdisciplinarity (междисциплинарность)
- Networking (сетевая работа) on both the national and international level
- A focus on education for the general public
- Additional educational components for students and young researchers
- Active communication with activist groups and citizen initiatives
To accomplish our goals, we intend to focus our attention on three main areas: (1) the existing potential for continued Urban Studies research through CISR, (2) active and motivated researchers in St. Petersburg and across Russia interested in cooperating to create researcher networks and (3) the creation/solidification of international networks to include CISR researchers as well as our colleagues in Russia.
A MANIFESTO
There is nothing particularly surprising about the fact that Urban Studies-the study of city spaces, cultures and subcultures characteristic of city-wide transformations and other phenomena-is becoming increasingly more topical as an area of research, especially considering that more and more people across the globe are choosing to live in large cities. What is surprising, however, is that in Russia, and in St. Petersburg in particular, contemporary research in the field of Urban Studies has taken on a fragmented character. An adequate institutional foundation for such research is completely lacking-Russia possesses very few research institutions specializing in Urban Studies, none of which are located in St. Petersburg. In addition, work in the sphere of Urban Studies is poorly correlated, as there exists no unified professional interdisciplinary discourse. Deficiencies in empirical data are painfully felt. Interactions with Western colleagues and attempts at participation in international professional conferences in the field of Urban Studies illustrate how Russian theoretical discourse in this sphere continues to lag behind. It also underscores the unsatisfactory level of previous Russian methodological foundations.
At the same time, seeing the harbingers of change within Urban Studies research in Russia during the 2000s-the steadily growing quantity in recent years of research, publications, dissertations, presentations, thematic compilations and academic journals, as well as the increased quantity of city initiatives sprouting up seemingly everywhere, all indicative of a broad change in city environment-it is not difficult to see that demands linked with the growth and expansion of this interdisciplinary field and the practical work associated with it have not only matured, but have reached a point where a qualitative shift is unavoidable. There is no doubt that the next two-three years will witness a true qualitative breakthrough in the field of Urban Studies.
Our goal is to be a vanguard in this process by facilitating change, helping raise Urban Studies in Russia to an international level of professionalism and by making St. Petersburg an Urban Studies center both within Russia an abroad.
In particular, work at CISR in Urban Studies is focused on the following tasks:
- The accumulation of human potential by attracting interested social scientists, architects, designers, artists, social activists, active citizens, etc. and organizing seminars, conferences, lectures and other events in order to encourage networking (создание сетей) among professionals and colleagues in different disciplines and different spheres;
- The consolidation of information resources addressing the different schools of Urban Studies in Russia and elsewhere, building on the work of specialists in the field;
- The study of contemporary tendencies in the field and those aspects, key to the Western academic world, which facilitate the participation and involvement of Russian social scientists in the international discourse;
- The initiation and organization of various academic, scientific and applied-research projects in the sphere of Urban Studies, with the goal of studying the realities of life and the transformations occurring in post-Soviet and specifically Russian cities;
- Work in education calling for the expansion of expert potential on a national level: the organization of seminars, public lectures, and educational programs.
Concrete measures taken to address the above should include:
An acquainting of the Russian audience with important issues in the field of Urban Studies developed in the past 30 years
Predominantly, our focus centers on the work of S. Zukin, the later works of R. Sennett and the sociologists of the German School (R. Lindner, H. Hoizerman and M. Lev), Latin American Urban Studies, and the study of transformation in post-socialist European cities. Alongside planned seminars and public lectures, the following are essential aspects of this work:
- Publication of special readers, to be used in educational programs and specialized courses at Russian universities (Numerous key texts gathered by CISR, have already resulted in the creation of an annotated reader on Urban Studies for the Center's library);
- Future preparation and publication (by 2012/13) of a Russian-language textbook on the social sciences and Urban Studies produced by CISR in cooperation with our Russian and Russian-speaking colleagues;
- Initiation of research projects. CISR is working on raising the necessary funds in 2011 in order to begin work on the numerous projects planned for 2012-13. Our main goal continues to be the inclusion of St. Petersburg in various international comparative studies. The highest priority, in our opinion, remains a focus on research on the transformation of city spaces and infrastructure, with an accent on public culture and social participation (the study of public city spaces, the mapping of cities in virtual space, the 'creative class' and self-organized groups of citizens working to improve their urban environment, local forms of gentrification, etc.).
Education for a broader audience
It is essential for society, its citizens and its government, to understand that a city is not only the sum of its buildings. Rather, a city's inhabitants have both the right and the opportunity to make their home a better and more comfortable place. They are not only the beneficiaries of infrastructural and construction projects, but the driving force behind them and behind the betterment and humanization of city space.
Reinforcement of the role of expertise in the field of Urban Studies
There currently exists a large societal demand for expertise in the area of city development, as well as a substantial interest in making the city environment a more comfortable place while simultaneously finding solutions to various social problems and encouraging civic participation in city government. As these interests have been forwarded by representatives from governmental as well as business and artistic circles, it suggests that the demand for expertise in social and professional spheres is widespread.
Working beyond the traditional limits of Sociology
Interdisciplinary projects highlighting cooperation between specialists, 'city space' experts (urbanists, architects, city-planners, etc.) artists working with 'urban art,' 'public art' and 'street art' and various other civic activists.
Close cooperation with other research concentrations at CISR
Cooperation with our 'Art-Science' concentration, specifically work on projects where social science meets art, i.e. when academics and artists work together, utilizing their respective methodological approaches to address a single theme, while taking advantage of artistic methods in the presentation of their project results. Considering previous work at CISR with various Art-Science projects, the incorporation of Urban Studies research into this concentration promises to be a fruitful enterprise. Further, the results of research in this field will no doubt add to the public discourse, encourage social reflection and debate, and serve as a method of advancement for CISR in broader academic, intellectual, public, business and governmental circles.
Establishment of a discourse between societal groups and social movements (growth of informational and analytical support)
Forms of support include the regular release of analytical summaries and manuals as well as research on various topics important to said societal groups and social movements. An increase in the informed nature of activist communities concerning the city-planning sector as well as an increase in the professionalism of these groups is expected to result.
Organization of joint seminars and labor exchanges with foreign colleagues
Contact between local workgroups and Western researchers promises to 'open' local experts to the Western community, including them in international networks, as well as familiarizing them with the work of their Western colleagues.
Exchange of academic approaches in activist and media space
Methodological (how to gather, analyze and visualize information, e.g. retrospective analysis, mapping, statistical modeling, etc.) as well as theoretical approaches (deep interpretation of processes and utilization of other cities' experiences). CISR support in this area will encourage mutually beneficial communication with activist organizations and secure a place for the Center as an expert organization in the Petersburg public sphere.
Creation of a web-based resource center and communication structure for Urban Studies researchers
Internet publication of lectures (video and audio recordings), as well as announcements of publications in the field of Urban Studies and conferences/seminars occurring around the globe will be of great use for researchers in the field, and will further strengthen CISR's image as a main center for specialized social research in Urban Studies. In addition, the creation of such a communicative resource base is sure to attract young researchers and students, for whom the Internet remains a primary source of information.
WORK IN 2011-2012
1)
Organization of regular interdisciplinary seminars in the field of Urban Studies at CISR.
The first seminars will begin in February 2011 (occurring twice monthly) and will be focused on networking specialists in the field of Urban Studies and on the development of long-term research programs (the presentation and discussion of concrete research projects, academic, activist and artistic cooperation and consolidation, etc.).
These seminars will serve to (1) acquaint the Petersburg public interested in Urban Studies with the state-of-the-field in other countries as well as in Russia, and (2) bring together those interested in conducting Urban Studies research in Russia. In addition, they have the potential to actualize informational resources for participants in a variety of different spheres (regional experts, researchers, activists, annalists, etc.), establish long-term professional connections among participants, and facilitate cooperation on possible future projects. The seminars will be conducted in cooperation with the action group 'Open Space' and will possess an interdisciplinary character, to include presentations by social researchers, architects, designers, artists and civic activists concerned with the characteristics of city life, the transformation of city spaces, societal involvement in city governance, city ecology, etc.
2) A series of public lectures and roundtables on city thematics (once monthly beginning in March 2011). The lecture format will be based on the concept of 'edutainment' (education + entertainment), which we expect to attract a wider audience and make city analysis a more entertaining and popular topic than it has been. The public lectures, differing from the regular seminars described above, will focus on attracting participation from experts outside of Petersburg and abroad. The format of the lectures will likewise be interdisciplinary and will be conducted in close cooperation with the 'Art-Science' projects and work at CISR. Among the lecturers, in addition to researchers, we have invited artists, curators and designers working on city thematics. We are currently considering holding some of the lectures/presentations at various art-space locations around St. Petersburg. Video and audio recordings of the lectures will be posted on the Internet.
3) An international conference "Urban Development and Politics in Europe and Russia" on the topic of current problems in Urban Studies research. The goal of the conference is threefold: (1) the integration of the research field within Russia, (2) the establishment of professional connections among foreign colleagues in the field and (3) the forwarding of key questions and issues facing Urban Studies research in Russia.
4) Preparation and distribution of a series of thematic atlases and surveys based on materials concerning the city of St. Petersburg (new construction, greenery expansion, public spaces, restructuring of social establishments, etc.) (2011-12). Activists have already gathered a large quantity of materials, able to form the foundation for regular publications dedicated to the various issues facing St. Petersburg and reflecting the condition of our city spaces and the changes occurring therein. However, this material addresses one-time actions and carries little real weight in the expert community. Addressing these shortcomings, CISR plans to publish a yearly analytical atlas tackling the issues and problems facing our city (published monthly electronically and in print yearly). These publications will rest on a foundation of information gathered from policy papers, press conferences, and popular-scientific exhibitions addressing these issues.
5) Publication of CISR activities: release of publication-compilations in Russian and English as well as issues of topical Russian research journals.
6) Creation of inter-university student research workshops under the auspices of CISR and comprised of St. Petersburg university students interested in Urban Studies. The primary goal of the workshops is the preparation of a new generation of city researchers in Petersburg and Russia. Workshop activities will include various topical research projects, training in field-methods and empirical data collection and analysis, etc.
7) Support for research opportunities at the Center for Art and Urbanistics in Berlin (Zentrm fur Kunst und Urbanistik, ZKU) for students and other specialists (artists, designers, architects, city-planners, etc.) working on city problems occurring in Russia, the CIS, the Baltic and Caucasus regions. Simultaneously, CISR will be opening a program in the summer of 2012 for student researchers and specialists from around Russia.
CURRENT PROJECTS
CONFERENCES
SEMINARS
PUBLIC LECTURES
PUBLICATIONS