CfP: After Industry: Cities and Regions in Transformation
Deadline for abstract submission: June 30, 2025.
Abstract length: max. 300 words. Please include a short academic CV (max. two pages) with your submission.
Conference language: English.
Contact email: sevecek@flu.cas.cz
In the late 20th century, and especially after 1989, many cities and regions in Central and Eastern Europe underwent profound changes due to deindustrialization, globalization, and political-economic transformation. While some of these places were able to redefine their position and identity, others continue to face long-term challenges linked to economic decline, demographic loss, and social fragmentation. The After Industry conference seeks to examine these processes from historical and other interdisciplinary perspectives critically.
The conference invites papers addressing the following five thematic areas:
Post-socialist urban and regional transformation
What has been the impact of the transition from centrally planned to market economies on urban and regional structures? What adaptation strategies have been employed, and how have cities‘ and regions‘ identities, functions, and spatial organizations evolved since 1989? We welcome case studies, comparative approaches, and theoretical reflections on post‑socialist transformation.
Deindustrialization in the 20th century as a historical process
Deindustrialization is an economic shift and a complex historical process that has shaped urban landscapes and social experiences across generations. We seek contributions exploring its origins, trajectories, and legacies in various geographical contexts—not only in Central and Eastern Europe but also in a broader global perspective.
Industrial decline, adaptation, and the reinvention of cities
Industrial decline is often perceived as a disaster for urban environments. However, it may also open avenues for renewal and redefinition. This theme focuses on cities and regions seeking or having found new development paths through reindustrialization, the integration of new urban functions (cultural, ecological, technological), or innovative planning strategies. What roles do local governments, civic actors, and market forces play in these processes?
Inequality and the social consequences of deindustrialization
Deindustrialization and post-socialist restructuring have generated deep social and spatial inequalities. This theme explores the human costs of industrial decline, from shrinking cities and depopulated areas to new forms of marginalization. We encourage papers examining processes of social exclusion, labor market shifts, the dissolution of community ties, and emerging forms of socio-spatial disparity and concepts of resilience and cohesion in post-industrial environments.
Human consequences of post-socialist transformation
The transformation from state socialism to market-based political systems and economies entailed significant changes in political and social structures. It profoundly impacted the everyday lives and self-image of the people living in these societies. The deindustrialization of certain cities and regions significantly influenced the human consequences of the post-socialist transition. This theme focuses on the everyday aspects of the transformation process, including changes in living conditions and social values. It also examines the political consequences, particularly the rising tendencies toward authoritarianism that are becoming more pronounced in Central and Eastern Europe.
The conference aims to produce a collective edited volume that brings together historical depth and interdisciplinary insight into the dynamics of deindustrialization and transformation in cities and regions. We invite theoretical and conceptual contributions, macro-level analyses, and in-depth case studies. Dialogue across history, sociology, urban studies, and other disciplines is especially encouraged.