Newsletter
December 2000
Dear Colleagues,
2000 has been another successful year of the Commission with two impressive conferences and a great approval for the achieved work by the General Assembly of the IGU. As the new Chair I want to thank the former Chairs Max Barlow and Bob Bennett for the important and successful work they have done for the Commission in the last 8 years and I want to thank all the Full members for their permanent support. I have always enjoyed working with the Commission and I hope we can continue under the new name and with a new objectives and group of Full members as executive board.
At the 29th International Geographical Congress, held in Seoul in August 2000, the IGU General Assembly approved the Commission’s proposal for extension for the period 2000-2004. The General Assembly also approved the commission’s proposal to expand the scope of its work and to change its name to Commission on Geography and Public Policy. (You have found the IGU proposals for restructuring and the Commissions proposal for renewal in the last newsletter.) You find more information about the outcomes of the Congress and the new executive board at: http://www.igu-net.org/.
Also during the Congress the commission decided to organize a conference in Montreal, Canada in 2001. The First Circular for this conference is presented overleaf.
Looking forward to see you at one of our
next meetings, I wish you a happy and successful New Year,
Doris Wastl-Walter
FULL MEMBERS 2000-2004
Commission Chair: Doris Wastl-Walter,
Department of Geography, University of
Berne, Hallerstrasse 12, CH-3012 Bern, SWITZERLAND; Tel: 004131 631 8016
Fax:0041 31 631 8511 Email: dwastl@giub.unibe.ch
Vice-Chair: Robert J. Bennett
Leverhulme Research Professor, Department
of Geography, University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN,
UNITED KINGDOM; Tel: 1223-339956, Fax: 1223-333392, Email: rjb7@cam.ac.uk
Secretary: Rex Honey
Department of Geography, 316 Jessop Hall,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA; Tel: 319-335-0154, Fax:
319-335-2725, Email: rhoney@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Other Full Members
Max Barlow, Department of Geography, Concordia
University, 1455 de Maisonneuve West, Montreal H3G 1M8, CANADA Tel: 514-848-2050,
Fax: 514-848-2057, Email: imax@vax2.concordia.ca
Petr Dostal, Department of Social Geography
and Regional Development, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague,
CZECK REPUBLIC, Email: dostal@natur.cuni.cz
Brij Maharj, Department of Geography,
University of Durban-Westeville, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, SOUTH
AFRICA, Email: bmaharaj@pixie.udw.ac.za
Carlos Nunes Silva, Centro de Estudos
Geograficos, Faculdade de Letras, Universidade de Lisboa, Cidade Universitaria,
1699 Lisboa codex, PORTUGAL, Email: carlos.silva@fc.ul.pt
Richard Welch, Department of Geography,
University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND, Email: rvw@hyperperth.otage.ac.nz
Eran Razin, Department of Geography, The
Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91905, ISRAEL, Email: msrazin@mscc.huji.ac.il
Sungjae Choo, Department of Geography,
Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, KOREA, Email: sjchoo@khu.ac.kr
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Future Evaluation of the work of Commissions.
At the IGC the Executive board has also
circulated recommendations for the evaluation of the work of Commissions.
As I think this can be quite important for our future, I list it as follows:
Our work will be evaluated by
1. Activities (Meetings, Newsletters,
Publications, Reporting in the IGU Bulletin)
2. Organization and Cooperation (Rotation
of membership, Cooperation with global and international programs)
3. Aspects of Research Strategies (Innovative
ideas and concepts, Multiple-scale and integrative approach, Exploration
and design of interdisciplinary approaches)
So please support the Commissions work by participating and informing us about your activities and publications!
Future Conferences
Our schedule for the next four years is
usually two meetings a year, sometimes as joint meetings with other commissions.
The planned and confirmed future commission meetings are:
2001 MONTREAL (Canada), June 3.-6. (see
the first circular below)
STAVROPOL and KISKOVODSK (Russia), September
12.-17. (see the first circular below)
2002 LOS ANGELES (USA), Probably March
16.-19.
DURBAN (South Africa), August 4.-8. at
the Regional IGU Conference
2003 LISABON (PORTUGAL), spring
PRAGUE (Czech Republic), autumn
2004 GLASGOW (UK), at the next IGC
CONFERENCE REPORTS
From 27th of April to the 2nd of Mai the
Commission had a Conference in Prague organized by Petr Dostal and Jan
Bucek. The Main focus of the Conference was: DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
OF THE ECONOMIC BASE OF CAPITAL CITIES AND METROPOLITAN AREAS. It was also
foreseen to have excursions in Prague and Moravia. All the participants
were excited about the outcome and the perfect organization as well as
the welcome and hospitality in Prague. We thank the organizers for their
fruitful efforts and the success of the meeting and we are looking forward
to the next conference in Prague in 2003!
In the Context of the 29th International
Geographical Congress the Commission had a very good meeting , organised
by Max Barlow and the local responsible Sungjae Choo, whom we welcome also
as new full member. He has done a great job in organizing this meeting.
PROGRAM Of THE COMMISSION ON GEOGRAPHY
AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Seoul, Korea, August 15-16, 2000
Main Theme: Administrative Geography: Emerging Issues and Future Research Directions
August 15 (Tue) 11:20~12:30
Session 1: Spatial View on the Role of
Local Government
Chair: Max Barlow (Concordia University,
Canada)
Eran Razin (The Hebrew University, Israel)
“Decentralization versus Centralization, Modernity versus Traditionalism:
The Case of Israel’s Local Government”
Jan Groenendijk (Utrecht University, The
Netherlands) “Regimes in their local government: a comparative ecological
ecological analysis of governance capacity”
Maano Ramutsindela (University of the
North, South Africa) “Local government restructuring: constitutional hiccups
and community protests in South Africa”
August 15 (Tue) 13:30~14:40
Session 2: Cooperation between Local Governments
Chair: Robert J. Bennett (University of
Cambridge, U.K.)
Okju Jeong (University of Paris-IV-Sorbonne,
France) “Les Mutations des Espaces de Gestion: les cas français
et coréen”
Sachiho Arai (University of Tokyo, Japan)
“Joint administrations in mountainous areas in Japan”
Sungjae Choo (Korea Research Institute
for Human Settlements, Korea) “Geographical analysis and the interests
of local autonomy groups: the case of designating a geographical boundary
for extended urban master plan of Taejon City”
August 15 (Tue) 14:50~16:00
Session 3: Public Administration and Regional
Development
Chair: Doris Wastl-Walter (University
of Berne, Switzerland)
Kenji Tsutsumi (Osaka University, Japan)
“Public administration to depopulated regions in Japan”
Robert J. Bennett (University of Cambridge,
U.K.) “Administrative boundaries for small business support initiatives”
Shin’ichiro Sugiura (Hiroshima University,
Japan) “Spatial development of social services for the elderly in Japan”
August 16 (Wed) 09:00~13:00
Field Trip: A Formal Visit to Korea Research
Institute for Human Settlements
Guided by Sungjae Choo (KRIHS)
10 :00~10 :30 Introduction of KRIHS
(by Dr. Chul Koh, Director of Research Planning and Cordination Division,
KRIHS)
10 :30~12 :00 Issues of Spatial
Development Programs in Korea (by Dr. Yong-Woong Kim, Director of Regional
Economies Division, KRIHS)
12 :00~13 :00 Lunch hosted by Dr.
Jeong-Sik Lee, President of KRIHS
We really enjoyed the great hospitality
and information of the KRIHS and we thank Jeong-Sik
Lee and his team and especially Sungjae-Choo
for the fruitfull and pleasant day.
Governance and Public Administration in
a Globalizing World
FIRST CIRCULAR
As we begin the 21st century society is being transformed in what is often described as a globalizing world. The phrase refers both to forces that cause change and to a context within which change occurs. Governments at all levels are among the institutions affected, leading to changes in governance, public administration, and public policy. Key developments and trends include: reinventing government; shrinking the state; rolling back the welfare state; the new urban governance; the ascendancy of regionalism; and the emergence of transnational political institutions and international regimes. The main object of the conference is to examine governmental challenges and responses in relation to a globalizing world. Papers may focus on any level of government or on a specific aspect of public policy. A wide range of theoretical, conceptual, and case study papers is anticipated.
Organizer: Professor Max Barlow,
Department of Geography, Concordia University,
1455 de Maisonneuve West, Montreal, Quebec
H3G 1M8, Canada.
Phone (514) 848-2050; Fax (514) 848-2057;
Email: imax@vax2.concordia.ca
Expression of interest should be indicated
as soon as possible by returning the form below.
The deadline for submitting paper titles
and abstracts is March 15, 2001.
Conference Fee: $50 US. It is anticipated that this will cover the cost of a conference dinner.
The conference will be held in the Department of Geography at Concordia University. The university is located in the centre of Montreal, and accommodation will be in hotels within walking distance. The cost of accommodation is expected to be between $60 US and $90 US per room per night.
Immediately before the conference, the
Canadian Association of Geographers will hold its annual conference in
Montreal. This conference will mark the 50th anniversary of the CAG, and
it is expected to attract a large number of geographers from across the
country and from the USA. If you wish to receive information regarding
this conference, please indicate on the form below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THIS
CONFERENCE PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND IT TO MAX BARLOW AT THE ADDRESS
INDICATED ABOVE. ALTERNATIVELY, SEND THE REQUESTED INFORMATION BY E-MAIL.
Name: __________________________ Affiliation: _____________________________________
Mailing address:____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________ Fax: __________________ Email: _________________
I intend to present a paper (please indicate) YES NO
Tentative title or topic:_______________________________________________________________
I would like to receive information regarding the CAG conference YES NO
The Commissions on Political Geography, on Geography and Public Policy, and on Mountain Geography of the International Geographical Union, the Stavropol State University (SSU) and the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IGRAS) organize in Stavropol and Kislovodsk (Russia) on September 12-17, 2001 the international conference:
Settlement Systems, Ethnocultural Mosaics and Geopolitics of Mountainous Regions
The main objective of the conference is
an interdisciplinary analysis of contemporary transformations of settlement
systems in mountainous regions in relation with their geopolitical role,
political and administrative division, ethnocultural situation and economic
processes.
It is supposed to consider mountainous
regions in close connection with plains. Comparative studies of mountains
are especially welcome. The focus will be made on Caucasus, including
its Russian northern part and Transcaucasia.
It is suggested to discuss the following
questions.
Part 1. The demographic situation, migrations,
settlement systems and political geography of mountainous regions
1. Reproduction of population and demographic
potential.
2. Migrations, social mobility and ethnopolitical
situation.
3. Urbanization and sustainable social
and political development.
4. Isolation or risks of globalization:
communications’ system and geopolitics.
5. Nation-states, ethnic and regional
identities: mountains vs plains.
6. Ethnic conflicts and territorial claims
in mountainous regions.
7. Mountains and plains in the administrative
division.
8. Uncontrolled areas and self-proclaimed
states in mountainous regions in the contemporary world geopolitical order.
9. Environmental problems and geopolitical
risks.
Part 2. Dynamics of settlement and ethnopolitical conflicts in Caucasus.
1. Caucasus on the world and the post-Soviet
map.
2. Migrations, deportations and urbanization:
history and contemporary consequences.
3. Increasing cultural diversity and political
risks.
4. Economic crisis, restructuring and
interactions of mountains and plains.
5. Sovereignty, territorial integrity
and geopolitical situation in North Caucasus and Transcaucasia.
6. The Chechenian conflict, its roots
and geopolitical role.
Official languages of the conference will
be English, French and Russian. Simultaneous translation will be available
in Stavropol.
The conference will begin in the city
of Stavropol, the capital of a subject of Russian Federation, situated
on the heights dominating North Caucausian plains and keeping relict woods.
It is connected with Moscow and some other cities with daily flights. The
second part of the conference will take place in the small city of Kislovodsk
(about 200 km from Stavropol), in a picturesque part of the North-Caucasian
piedmont famous for its mineral waters.
Excursion. Participants are invited to
a two-day tour. From Stavropol, they will go to picturesque high mountains
climbing the valley of the river of Bolshoi Zelenchuk in the Republic of
Karachaevo-Cherkesia. On the way, they will visit the administration of
the Adyge-Khabl district and will get acquainted with the ethnic and cultural
heterogeneity of population of this district settled by Cherkesians, Abazins,
Russians and Greeks. They will be told about the present-day situation
in agriculture and in former collective farms (kolkhoz) and stop in a village.
In the afternoon, participants will reach the Cherkesian village of Arkhyz
and overnight in the small high-mountain resort. They will go up to a water-fall,
try mineral waters and local specialities (lamb shashlyk).
On the next morning, participants will
leave to the town of Cherkessk, the administrative center of Karachaevo-Cherkesia.
They will meet there highest officials and discuss ethnic relations, identity
problems and the administrative structure of the republic. They will continue
to Kislovodsk reputated as one of the best resorts of the former Soviet
Union known for its favorable climate, for the unique and vast natural
park in the piedmont of North Caucaus, for beautiful mointain panoramas,
and for sources of mineral water. A short bus tour and a walk in the park
are planned at the arrival. On the next day, participants will have an
opportunity to go up to the nearest summit and to admire a view on the
Main Caucasian mountain range. They will be a reception at the municipality
of Kislovodsk where post-Soviet problems of turism in Northern Caucasus
can be discussed. After the end of the conference, participants will go
by bus to the airport of Mineralnye Vody (55 km) and will take plane to
Moscow (see the tentative program).
Registration
To register for the conference, please
complete the registration form.
The fee of USD 100 is inclusive of:
Accommodation and other costs. An overnight
in Moscow (hotel of the Academy of Sciences situated in the center of the
city, in front of two metro stations) costs USD 35 in a regular single
room and USD 65 in a more comfortable (recently renovated) single room.
In Stavropol, accommodation in a single
room costs about USD 10 in the hotel “Turist” and about USD 15 in a more
comfortable “Inturist” hotel. Both of them are situated in the very center
of the city and within a walking distance from the University, where the
conference is held.
Tickets for meals (USD 10 per day) will
be available at the registration desk.
The airfare Moscow - Stavropol and Mineralnye
Vody – Moscow costs USD 162 (economic class).
Deadlines. Registration forms and titles of papers should be sent by email to all local organizers before February 15, 2001. Detailed abstracts in English or French (15-25,000 characters, Word 6.0/ 7.0) are required not later than April 15, 2001.
Local organizers:
Dr. Vitaly Belozerov, Vice-Rector:
Stavropol State University
ul. Pushkina, 1
355009 Stavropol, Rusiia
Tel.: +7 (8652) 35-85-10
Fax.: +7 (8652) 35-40-33
E-mail: vbelozerov@hotmail.com
Dr. Vladimir Kolossov
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy
of Sciences
Staromonetny per. 29
109017 Moscow, Russia
Tel.: +7 (095) 959-00-29
Fax.: +7 (095) 959-00-33
E-mail: vladk@online.ru
Dr. Pavel Polian
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy
of Sciences
Staromonetny per. 29
109017 Moscow, Russia
Tel.: +7 (095) 959-00-25
Fax.: +7 (095) 959-00-33
E-mail: polian@aha.ru
Tentative program
Monday, September 10 or Tuesday, September 11: arrival to Moscow
Tuesday, September 11
10:00 – 13:00. Bus tour of Moscow
guided by specialist in urban planning and in economic and social geography
of the city
18:30 – departure to Stavropol by plane
from Vnukovo airport
20:30 – arrival to Stavropol.
Wednesday, September 12
10:00-10:30. The opening ceremony, greetings.
11:00 – 13;00. First session.
13:00-14:30. Lunch.
14:30-16;00. Second session.
16:00- 16:15. Coffee break.
16:15 – 18:00. Third session and discussion.
19:00. Reception in the Regional Duma
(legislative assembly).
19:30. Dinner.
Thursday, September 13.
9:00 –11:00. Fourth session
11:00- 11:15. Coffee break
11:30-13:30. Fifth session.
13:30-15:00. Lunch
15:00 - 17:00. Sixth session.
17:15- 19:15. Bus tour around Stavropol
20:00. Dinner
Friday, September 14
8:30. Departure to Adyge-Khabl by bus
10:00 – 11:30. Meeting with the head of
administration of the Adyge-Khabl district, Republic of Karacheavo-Cherkesia
and visit of a former kolhoz.
11:30. Departure to Arkyz.
14:00. Arrival to Arkhyz, lunch.
15:30- 19:00. Walk to the Sophia glade.
20:00 – shashlyk (Caucasian-style barbecue)
at the bank of the river of Bolshoi Zelenchuk.
Saturday, September 15
8:30. Departure to Cherkessk.
10:30 - 12:00. Meeting with one of the
incumbent political leaders of the Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkesia.
12:00. Departure to Kislovodsk. Lunch
on the way
15:00. Arrival to Kislovodsk.
16:00 - 18:00. Bus tour around Kislovodsk
and walk in the resort’s park.
19:30. Reception at the municipality of
Kislovodsk
20:00. Dinner
Sunday, September 16
9:00 - 11:00. Seventh session (working
languages –English and French)
11:00 -13.00. Ascent to the Djinail mountain
range by elevator.
13:00 -15:00. Lunch on the top of the
mountain.
15:30 - 18:00. Eighth session and general
discussion
19:00. Reception at the City Musical lounge
and dinner
Monday, September 17
8:00. Departure to the airport “Mineralnye
Vody”
10:15. Departure to Moscow by plane
12:15. Arrival to Vnukovo airport in Moscow