Prague, Czech Republic, September 19 - 20, 2003

"Territorial Administration and Public Policy: restructuring of big governments, welfare state aspirations and local economies"

The aim of the conference is to address issues of current territorial administration and public policy at a wider context of societal organization at local, regional, national and supranational levels. Changes in structure and functioning of territorial self-government and administration are necessary, but they are only a partial component of societal development and are thus influenced by a wide range of other processes. In this sense, necessary reforms and restructuring of territorial self-government and administration tend to lag behind economic changes. Economic actors operating at intra-national and supranational levels tend to form a large plurality of subjects by articulation of partial interests. They confront territorial self-governments with important pressures for change. Democratic local and regional governments represent more integral aspirations and interests formations. Democracy and also territorialized democracy provide integral frameworks for economic and other corporate actors and citizens. By examining the relations between, on the one hand, basic principles of territorial self-government, administration and governance and, on the other hand, geographical structuration and the role of public authorities, civil society and economy, the conference can contribute to our better understanding of current issues of territorial administration and public policy and continuing need for restructuring of big governments, welfare sate aspirations and local economies.

The working language will be English.

Deadlines

28 February 2003	Pre-registration form and abstracts (sent by e-mail)
31 March 2003	Registration, payment (conference fee) and Hotel reservation
15 August 2003	Papers (sent in digital form by e-mail). Each participant is asked to take copies of his/her paper to be distributed at the conference

Conference fee: 60 USD

Contact: Petr Dostál / Eva Kuželová, Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Social Geography and Regional Development 12843 Prague 2 Albertov 6. Czech Republic
e-mail: dostal@natur.cuni.cz or kuzelova@natur.cuni.cz