Urban activism and democratic innovation on debate
22/09/2014
The UAB Institute of Government and Public Policy (IGOP) and the "la Caixa" Social Projects have organised this meeting to strengthen relations between university researchers from both sides of the Atlantic and study different systems of city governance, urban activism and democratic and social innovation.
The debate will focus on social and political issues arising on both sides of the Atlantic as a result of the global crisis which began in 2008. The basic reasons behind these issues are the discontent produced by an economic model in which growth is often widely removed from social wellbeing and quality of life, and the frustration with institutions which are not effective, efficient or as honest with their citizens. Both in Europe and Brazil, the social innovation movements and protests began in large urban areas.
Two of the symposium's conferences will be open to the general public. The first focuses on the cities as crisis scenarios(“Les ciutats com a escenaris de la crisi i de la seva superació”) and will take place on 2 October at 7 pm. The conference will be given by Sonia Fleury (FGV-RJ); and the second, entitled “The Future of Social Movements in Globalized Cities” will be offered by Donatella dela Porta (European University Institute in Florence) on Friday 3 October at 5 pm.
The symposium will also include European and Brazilian experts who will speak on aspects such as the expression of urban crises; new types of urban protests; protests, internet and new policies and innovation among society and the local public sector.
Registration is free and the symposium is open to the general public, although places are limited.
More information