The University of Ottawa and UN-Habitat are inviting submissions to present a paper, poster, or to organize a workshop, forum or panel at the 2015 International Conference on Chinese and African Sustainable Urbanization (ICCASU), to be held in Ottawa (Canada) on 24 and 25 October 2015.
Over the last several decades China and many African countries have experienced significant and rapid urbanization processes. The accelerated pace of China’s urbanization will have substantial impacts on the country’s urban systems that differ from those of other developing states. The challenges and opportunities in China’s cities provide unique insight into urbanization processes in other developing regions, particularly that of Africa. Recent Chinese investments in many African countries not only significantly impacts economic development on the continent, but they also have important implications for urban development strategies and policies. As such, a discussion of China’s urbanization outcomes is both meaningful and practical for policy-related decision-making in African states.
This conference will focus on urbanization challenges in China and African states, as well as China’s exportation of its urbanization strategies to Africa. Organizers anticipate considerable insight resulting from academic research and practical applications, particularly toward the enhancement of sustainable urbanization which can be used to confront potential and existing challenges in urbanization across the world. This conference will thus provide a platform for scholars, professionals, policy-makers, experts and the private sector to exchange views on the state of current urbanization in China and many African countries from an international perspective. The capital of Canada has been chosen as the site for this conference, as it provides an opportunity for a diverse array of scholars, practitioners and policy-makers to share their experiences of urbanization in the countries of focus from a particularly Canadian perspective. This workshop also provides an opportunity for participants to contemplate the shifts in Canada’s approach to development and urbanization in African states, particularly under the leadership of its most recent government, and the ways in which Chinese engagement in African states differs from, and even acts as a substitute for diminishing western engagement. The urbanization experiences of other regions are also welcome for the discussion. Scholars and practitioners across disciplines are invited to submit a paper, a poster, to organize a workshop, forum or specific panels corresponding with the themes listed in the ‘Call for Papers’ section.
For more information, visit the conference webpage here.
