Programme – Narrating the Neoliberal Agenda: Tales of democracy, community, and public space

Please find the programme of the symposium: Narrating the Neoliberal Agenda: Tales of democracy, community, and public space below. 

The event will be both in person (Nesslerstr. 16, Karlsruhe/Germany), and online. Results of the topics 1-5 will be visualized via flowcharts, produced by the participants.

Times are according to Central European Summer Time (CEST).

DAY 1 – SEPTEMBER 6

INTRO

9.30-9.45

• Ulrich Gehmann, Allan Siegel: What the symposium is about
• Ulrich Gehmann: introduction of flowcharts. What they are, how to make

9.45 -10.00

• John M. Roberts, Brunel University/UK: overview of symposium: topics addressed – description of presenters

1) WHAT IS NEOLIBERALISM, AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

10.00-10.15

• Excerpt from the exclusive interview with Dieter Plehwe, Wissenschaftszentrum für Sozialforschung/Berlin, about the genesis of neoliberalism, its image of the human and its think tanks.

10.15-10.45

• Exclusive interview with Wendy Brown, University of Berkeley/USA, about neoliberalism, the human condition and citizenship.

10.45 – 11.45

• Discussion, based on flowchart 1, depicting the relationships between the aspects addressed, made by the participants. One focus is on the image of the human that underlies the neoliberal agenda, another on the loss of actual democratic citizenship.

2) AUTHORITARIAN URBANISM

12.00 – 12.30

• Benda Hofmeyr, University of Pretoria/South Africa, about the sociocultural and socioeconomic dynamics triggered by the neoliberal agenda, based on multinational corporations; and why this is anti-democratic.

12.30 – 13.00

• Aysegul Can, Istanbul Medeniyet University/Turkey, about the neoliberal city in countries of authoritarian regimes and BRIC states; exemplified by Istanbul and Sao Paulo.

13.00 – 13.30

• Discussion, plus making of flowchart 2; focus: what are the essential dynamics of a neoliberal agenda?

3) NEOLIBERAL CITIES

14.15 – 14.45

• John Roberts, Brunel University/UK, on cultural heritage, public space, and social media under a neoliberal aegis. 

14.45 – 15.15

• Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Youth, Catholic University Silva Henriquez, Santiago/Chile, and Nicolás Angelcos, Centre for the Study of Conflict and Social Cohesion, Sociology Department of the University of Chile about the neoliberal impact on Chile as an exemplary case.

15.15 – 15.45

• Loveneet Thakur, Punjab High Court, Chandigarh/India, about the neoliberal reshaping of a former ideal city, Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh. –

15.45 – 16.45

• Discussion, based on flowchart 3 produced by the participants, visualizing the relationships between the aspects addressed.

17.00

• Summation of the day, based on flowcharts 1-3: the dynamics and impacts of neoliberalism in the different fields addressed.

DAY 2 – SEPTEMBER 7

LEAD-IN & DIGEST

9.30-9.40

• Outlook for Day 2, and presenters: Allan Siegel/Ulrich Gehmann

9.40 -10.00

• Recapitulation of Day 1, summary: J. M. Roberts, B. Hofmeyr, A. Can

4) SPACES & COMMUNITIES

10.00 – 10.30

• Judit Bodnar, Central European University/Vienna, about the neoliberal city and public space, and the effect of art on the community.

10.30-11.00

• Mike Berry, RMIT University, Melbourne/Australia, about housing and social consequences in the neoliberal city.

11.00 – 11.15

• Excerpt from the exclusive interview with George Monbiot, The Guardian, on space/community

11.15 – 12.15

• Discussion of the findings, based on flowchart 4, on community, public space, and democracy.

5) SOCIETY & COMMUNITY IN CRISIS

12.30 – 13.00

• Molly Slavin, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta/USA, on postcolonialism, crime and social justice in the neoliberal city.

13.00 – 13.15

• Excerpt from the exclusive interview with George Monbiot, columnist at The Guardian/UK, about the image of the human and basic assumptions underlying a neoliberal agenda.

13.15 – 13.45

• Michael Janoschka, KIT Karlsruhe/Germany, about counteracting neoliberalism by transforming the city through democratic movements – case example of Madrid.

13.45 – 14.45

• Discussion, based on flowchart 5, on the communal and its endangerment in the age of neoliberalism

6) NEOLIBERALISM TODAY

15.30 – 15.45

• Excerpt from the exclusive interview with George Monbiot, on individual self-interest vs. society and community wellbeing

15.45 – 16.00

• Excerpt from the exclusive interview with Dieter Plehwe: What is post-neoliberalism and does it exist?

16.00 – 16.15

• Benda Hofmeyr, summarizing theme  6)

16.15 -16.30

• Judit Bodnar, summarizing the neoliberal conditio humana, in both its dimensions as an image of the human, and as conditions of real life.

16.30

• Final discussion, summarizing the findings, by comparison of flowcharts 1-5: what these “maps of the neoliberal world” are telling us?