Call for Participation

40th Conference
Sustaining Cities in a Time of Globalization:
Social, Economic and Political Realities
Honolulu, Hawaii
Sheraton Waikiki Hotel
March 10-13, 2010

For its 40th meeting, the Urban Affairs Association is traveling to Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the major gateways to Asia and the Pacific. Situated on O'ahu, an island known as "the Gathering Place," the location encourages scholars from around the world to refocus their conceptual and theoretical frameworks to come to grasp with the significant ramifications generated by globalization processes. Due to the tremendous population increase and economic expansion of cities of the Pacific Rim, the 21st century has been coined the Pacific Century. While the growth of large North American cities were hallmarks of the 20th century, the last decade has witnessed a shift in world attention towards the mega-cities emerging on the Asian continent. Globalization and the changing economic and political relationships between countries have affected all cities in the world, to varying degrees and in different ways. These external forces have exacerbated internal problems faced by cities such as disparities in income, education, health care and housing. The global financial crisis has highlighted the interconnections between place, people and networks. How do the interconnections between different regions of the world impact localities? How do they transform local issues such as the provision of public services, governance, immigration, aging, social divides, real estate and labor markets? How do globalization forces affect the adjustment strategies of families, economic sectors, and service providers in urban contexts? What responses do social and political actors in cities put forward to overcome crisis and seize opportunities in unsettling times? The meeting will try to address the conflicting aspects of globalization, both positive and negative, and provide the occasion to discuss the wide variations in the experiences of cities, cultures, classes, and genders.

While cities have become increasingly vulnerable to external shocks such as the world financial crisis, they also face major environmental challenges and are threatened by natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and fires. In a period marked by unprecedented uncertainties and global interconnections, adopting a stance endorsing social, environmental and economic sustainability appears more than ever essential. How can cities and their urban regions be made more sustainable and livable? What opportunities arise in the wake of crises that generate demand for new urban planning tools, policy analysis and urban management? What place should environmental issues play in the design of cities? How can the different actors collaborate to build and manage cities that promote equitable, environmental, institutional and economic sustainability?

The conference theme- sustaining cities in a time of globalization- is particularly relevant to the city of Honolulu (a word that means the place of shelter, of protection). As an international hub of global commerce, tourism, and immigration, Honolulu faces significant social, economic and environmental challenges. The city is constantly seeking a balance between livability, sustainability and social well-being. This location prompts us to consider how and why cities can be made more desirable places to live, and what role they play in sustaining social, political and economic relations. We hope that the theme and the location will be of particular interest to international colleagues and those interested in cross-national comparisons.

We encourage proposals that focus on the conference theme as well as submissions on the array of research topics typically found at UAA conferences:

• Arts, Culture, Media
• Economic Development, Redevelopment, Tourism, Urban Economics,
  Urban Finance
• Education, Schools, Universities
• Environmental Issues, Sustainability, Urban Health, Technology and Society
• Globalization, International Urban Issues
• Governance, Intergovernmental Relations, Regionalism, Urban Management
• Housing, Neighborhoods, Community Development
• Public Safety in Urban Areas, Criminal Justice, Household Violence
• Immigration, Population and Demographic Trends
• Infrastructure, Capital Projects, Networks, Transport, Urban Services
• Labor, Employment, Wages, Training
• Land Use, Growth Management, Space and Place, Urban Design,
  Urban Development, Urban Planning
• Poverty, Welfare, Income Inequality
• Human/Social Services, Nonprofit Sector
• Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Diversity
• Social Capital, Democracy and Civil Society, Social Theory, Religion
  and the City
• Urban Indicators, Data/Methods, Satisfaction/Quality of Life Surveys
• Urban Politics, Elections, Citizen Participation
• Urban Theory, Theoretical and Conceptual Issues in Urban Affairs
• Professional Development, The Field of Urban Affairs
  

Proposal Deadline—October 1, 2009
Proposals can be submitted for papers, panels (a group of 3-5 formal papers with moderator), colloquies (formal discussions without papers), breakfast roundtables (informal discussions) and posters. UAA presentation and proposal submission policies limit participants to one presentation/session role per conference. Do not submit multiple proposals. However, participants can be co-authors on multiple papers. Proposal submissions are accepted only online at the UAA website: www.udel.edu/uaa. Proposal acceptance/rejection notices will be sent by November 16, 2009.

Registration Policy and Rates
ALL participants (faculty, students, practitioners) must pay the appropriate registration fees for their membership category. Session organizers should inform potential panelists that registration is required. Registration is completed on-line via the UAA website (www.udel.edu/uaa) by credit card, personal check or institutional check.

Rates for the 2010 conference are:

Visa/Passport Regulations
All international participants should become familiar with U.S. travel and entry requirements. Please visit www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis for the latest visa/passport requirements. Letters of invitation for visa applications will be provided only to persons accepted as conference presenters.

Hotel Accommodations and Rates
The 40th conference will be held at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. UAA is pleased to offer conference attendants a discounted rate at the Renaissance: $165 single/double, not including state and local taxes (currently 4.712% plus 7.25% Transient Accommodation Tax). For more information, visit the Hotel Reservations webpage of this site.

Exhibitors
Exhibit space is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Early contact with the UAA Office is advised. Fee information and space reservations can be made through Shelly Tillinghast (shelviat@udel.edu).

Local Host Committee
Dolores Foley, University of Hawaii at Manoa (Co-Chair)
Karl Kim, University of Hawaii at Manoa (Co-Chair)
Allen Clark, Pacific Disaster Center and East-West Center
Gerald Finin, East-West Center
Sue Sakai, Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd.
James Spencer, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Bae-Gyoon Park, Seoul National University 
Mary Alice Evans, American Planning Association, Hawaii Chapter

Program Committee
Claire Poitras, INRS-Urbanisation, Culture et Société, Montreal (Chair)
Gregory Andranovich, California State University, Los Angeles
Sugie Lee, Cleveland State University
James Spencer, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Jocelyn Taliaferro, North Carolina State University

UAA Office—University of Delaware
Margaret Wilder, UAA Executive Director
Shelly Tillinghast, Conference Event Planner

Important Dates and Deadlines for 2010 UAA Conference
March 10-13, 2010--Honolulu, Hawaii: Dates of Conference
August 1, 2009: Online proposal submission opens
October 1, 2009: Deadline for submitting a proposal
November 16, 2009: Acceptance/rejection notices sent; registration opens
January 4, 2010: Early registration payment deadline
February 1, 2010: Persons on the program must register AND pay fees by this date

UAA website: www.udel.edu/uaa (conference registration, hotel reservations, etc.). Questions: 302-831-1681 (country code 001) or see e-mail contact information.