Call for papers

CALL FOR PAPERS

for

the 6th International Conference on Globalization

Political factors of economic growth and regional development in transition economies

 September 10-12, 2013

Department of Human Geography and Regional Development, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia

During the last two decades the pathways of economic growth and regional development in transition economies were strongly influenced by national, regional and urban policies. Scale, scope and dynamics of socio-economic transition and transformation were not only fuelled by economic globalization transgressing the national boundaries. Significant regional comparative advantages in terms of low production costs, unfulfilled market potential and relatively skilled workforce were generally not sufficient for establishing long-term economic growth and competitiveness without necessary political support.

Nevertheless, there is still a large gap in our knowledge of political drivers and limits of economic growth and regional development in transition economies. The research efforts in economic and political geography, economy, political science and development studies are still more or less isolated from each other. Therefore, the following thematic sessions are aimed at building bridges between the above mentioned disciplines of social sciences and studying also some less common topics such as geopolitical and security barriers of economic growth, prospects of development in deviant and specific forms of states or a discussion how relevant are recent concepts of regional development in specific historical and institutional contexts of transition economies.

Sessions

  1. Deviant and specific forms of statehood – prospects and limits of economic growth in de facto states, quasi states and failing states
  2. Geopolitical and security barriers of economic growth in Eurasian context
  3. Border effects and border regions: boom or marginalization?
  4. Geographies of profit shifting, economic and social upgrading
  5. Governance in urban and regional development: global trends and local contexts
  6. Demographic limits of growth in transition economies and related policy issues – depopulation, aging, emigration, shrinking cities
  7. Geographies of industrial decline and revival – old industrial regions and their rejuvenation
  8. Traditional and recent concepts of regional development and their relevance for transition economies
  9. Prospects and governance of tourism development in peripheral regions, remote and sparsely populated areas
  10. Analysing, measuring and visualising regional development: in search of new tools and methods including GIS, statistics, case studies and comparative studies

Information for Czech Geographical Society members: members interesting of activities in the Human Geography Section will have a meeting during the conference.

Further information about registration, fees and papers can be found at conference website http://conference.osu.eu/globalization.