Events, conferences & seminars
on international co-operation
Edited by Guy Kervella

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City Mayors’ international events pages list and review conferences, conventions and seminars on international co-operation between cities and local government bodies.

EVENTS ON THIS PAGE
February 2012
Webinar: Living Together: City Strategies for Social Inclusion
Event: Join Cities of Migration for a free 60 minute international webinar to learn about strategic city-led initiatives in Antwerp (Belgium) and Waltham Forest (London borough, UK) that strengthen the capacity of city councils, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens to work together for more inclusive communities and strong democratic institutions. This webinar is supported by Open Society Foundations‚ At Home in Europe Project.
Date: 8 February 2012
Location: Online Webinar
Organiser: Cities of Migration
Contact: Evelyn Siu
 Email: citiesofmigration@maytree.com
Internet: http://citiesofmigration.ca

April / May 2012
Coastal Cities Summit II
Event: Important dates:
• 31 August 2011: Registration and submissions open online
• 30 October 2011: Deadline for Abstracts, proposals for Workshop Topics and Panel Presentations
• 15 December 2011: Authors will be informed of selection by e-mail
• 31 March 2012: Deadline for early registration
Approximately 2.8 billion people, over 40% of the total global population, live in coastal cities. The planet‚s population is projected to reach over eight billion people by 2050. Coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change and human pressures. We face significant challenges in managing the use of natural assets of coastal regions. Significant implications are expected for ecosystem stability, human health, and sustaining economic vitality. Ecosystem, societal, and economic assets need to be considered in planning for coastal and urban development, coastal pollution, and other resource uses. How do our coastal communities best prepare for sea level rise, ocean acidification, and increased meteorological variability? Coastal cities also face needs in marine transportation and coastal and port security. These require public education and engagement.

Workshops, Plenary and Keynote speeches, and individual presentations are solicited.
Emphasis: case studies, best practices, and solutions in the following thematic areas:
• Budgeting for Smart Development under a Changing Climate
• Coastal and Port Security
• Coastal Energy Alternatives
•, Population Growth and Vulnerable Communities
Date: 30 April 2012 to 3 May 2012
Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Organiser: International Ocean Institute - USA
Contact: Mara Hendrix
Tel: +1-727-553-1118
Email: mara@usf.edu
Internet: www.coastalcities-ioi.org

July 2012
World Cities Summit 2012
Event: The World Cities Summit (WCS) is the global platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions and forge partnerships. Under the theme “Liveable and Sustainable Cities – Integrated Urban Solutions”, the World Cities Summit 2012 will explore how cities can build resilience and improve their quality of life and environment by adopting integrated solutions to increasingly complex challenges. After the success of the first two Summits, World Cities Summit 2012 is expected to attract more than 3,000 government leaders, policy makers and industry experts from around the world.
Date: 1 - 4 July 2012
Location: Sands Expo & Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands
Organiser: Centre for Liveable Cities & Urban Redevelopment Authority Singapore
Contact: Daphne Yeo
Tel: +65 6542 8660 ext 151
Email: info@worldcities.com.sg
Internet: www.worldcitiessummit.com.sg

IPSA 22nd World Congress of Political Science
Event: Reshaping Power, Shifting Boundaries. In a globalising world, everywhere power is being reconfigured, creating opportunities for change: New players are emerging on the world stage, reflected in G-20, the BRICs‚ and in North-South relations.
• Climate change and the financial crisis have altered global dynamics.
• Transnational governance is taking on new forms, such as the reformed EU and Mercosur.
• Within states, there is increased devolution and the recognition of sub-identities.
• State functions are increasingly being shared with non-state actors such as corporations and non-governmental organisations and are affected by the dynamics of an international society.
• Substantial changes are taking place in social life including gender roles and the nature of the family.
• Religious cleavages refuse to disappear, and may be evolving into a major axis of political and social conflict.
• The Westphalian model of inter-state relations is not sufficient to cope with the challenges of global governance. This emphasises the importance of the dialogue between political science and international relations.

The nation-state remains the key crucible of power in terms of elections, public policy and in international negotiations, but it faces new challenges. Territory and power no longer align. Boundaries and borders are shifting.

Boundaries can be geographical, social, cultural, religious or economic. We need to understand how they are created and interpreted. Every boundary is an expression and exercise of power and this raises normative issues, particularly those relating to justice and the divisions between public and private and at the global level between North-South and South-South relations. The debate about the centrality of trust in social and political life has been reactivated.

How we frame these issues depends in part on our disciplinary assumptions and methodologies. We need to think again about how to conceptualise power, for example in terms of legitimacy, sovereignty or questions of global governance/locality. Boundaries within our discipline and with other disciplines are shifting. Space and scale are becoming increasingly important in the thinking of political science. What other tools or multi-method approaches do we need to respond to these changes?  Political science can play an important role in informing the choices that come with the reshaping of power.

The main congress themes are:
• Comparative Politics and Political Institutions
• Gender, Religion, Identity
• International Political Economy
• International Relations
• Political Behavior
• Theory
• Public Policy
We invite you to share your research on the reshaping of power and shifting boundaries at the World Congress of the International Political Science Association, in Madrid 2012.
Date: 8 to 12 July 2012
Location: Madrid, Spain
Organiser: IPSA
Contact: Yee Fun Wong
Tel: +1 514 848 8748
Email: madrid2012@ipsa.org
Internet: www.ipsa.org