THEMATIC GROUPS
- Details
- Parent Category: THEMATIC GROUPS
- Category: Planning and Complexity
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
23rd Planning & Complexity Thematic Meeting | 20th year of the AESOP Thematic Group Planning and Complexity
Abstract Submission Deadline (extended): Wednesday, 11 June 2025
[ Download full Call for Papers as PDF ]
THE DYNAMICS OF PANARCHY –
Sensing, Planning and Designing grounded local-regional transformations
27-28 November 2025
Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Planning and design often remain a hierarchical and linear process of planning, implementation and maintenance that meet with increasing political ambitions for inclusion, diversity and the critique of a technocratic agenda to spatial transformations. Initiatives in both practice and research constantly seek to combine both top-down and bottom-up approaches. For example, the recent missions of the European Union to strengthen innovation and development through a combination of overall political leadership and local implementation.
The connection between complexity science and spatial planning has, for at least the last 20 years, put the “the perspective of a world in flow, which feeds dissipative systems, through which these adapt and self-organize more or less continuously” (de Roo, 2018, p.28). However, few researchers and practitioners truly engage with the panarchic dynamic of complex adaptive systems and the theoretical and methodological implications – Non-hierarchical and mutual interaction, self-organization between actors, as well as structures and scales of transformation that follow (Gunderson & Holling, 2002). Furthermore, the transfer of a panarchic and adaptive model, developed for describing ecosystems, to describing social system poses critical questions. Beside adaptation, how do we deal with sustaining a diversity of subsystems? and how do we counteract negative effects such as socio-spatial inequalities and an uneven geographic development?
We invite scholars and scholarly practitioners to contribute with research and initiatives that engage with the dynamics of local-regional spatial transformation and the relations between actors, sectors, levels and scales through the lens of complexity theory, and especially working with panarchy, self-organisation, and the non-hierarchical interaction and dynamics of multi-level planning. How can transformations be more effectively conceptualised theoretically, while being grounded in local-regional realities?
Three avenues are of interest
Designing is in itself an iterative practice between phases of speculation, assessment, and proposing. We are interested in initiatives and studies that engage with design thinking and design practices to move beyond predefined, and often stereotyped visions of sustainable and attractive urban and rural development.
Planning tends to often be seen as a hierarchic and linear process of top-down decisions, regulations and governance. However, it is also a broad repertoire of practices that can create gaps and spaces. We are interested in research that critically engage in how planning can address uneven power relations and seeks radical inclusion and re-configurations that foster diversity and pluralism.
Sensing faces challenges to embark in analyses and interpretation beyond predefined categories and spatial units, e.g. reproducing power relations and spatial configurations. We are interested in approaches that can re-frame our sensing of interdependencies between scales, and that critically analyse the local-regional dynamics of circular systems.
Timeline
- Abstract Submission Deadline: 26 May 2025 extended: Wednesday, 11 June 2025
- Notice of Acceptance: June 2025
- Extended Abstracts Submission & Registration Deadline: 3 October 2025
- Conference in Gothenburg 27-28 November 2025.
Submission details
- Target audience: Early career researchers (e.g. PhD candidates) and seniors (e.g. Professors, Seniors Researchers), practitioners with scholars' interest
- Abstract Length: up to 350 words
- Keywords: Provide 3-5 keywords relevant to your submission
- Contact information: Include your name, affiliation and email.
- References: Provide 3-5 major references relevant to your submission
- Submission: Please e-mail your abstract as a pdf-file to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Keynote speakers
- Jon Norberg: Professor at Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University
- Sara Brorström: Professor Department of Business Administration, Gothenburg University
Organisation and Contact
The event is organised by Nils Björling and the research area Local-Regional Transformations at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden (local organising team 2025) together with Christian Lamker and Jenni Partanen (thematic group coordinators).
Visit the local organisers at:
https://www.chalmers.se/en/departments/ace/research/local-regional-transformations/
References
- de Roo, G. (2018). Ordering Principles in a Dynamic World of Change – On social complexity, transformation and the conditions for balancing purposeful interventions and spontaneous change. Progress in Planning, 125, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2017.04.002
- Gunderson, L. H., & Holling, C. S. (eds.) (2002). Panarchy: Understanding transformations in human and natural systems. Island Press.
- Details
- Parent Category: THEMATIC GROUPS
- Category: Regional Design
The AESOP Thematic Group on Regional Design organizes a Seminar series concerning “Regional design into practices”, an occasion to show and discuss regional design practices around Europe and the world.
We are happy to invite you to join the first approaching appointments:
- April 1st, 2025, h. 16.30 CET “Regional Design for River Agreements: Italian Insights”
- April 29th, 2025, h. 16.30 CET “Regional Design in International Building Exibitions”
Next seminars will concern metropolitan transition and food strategies, strategic and regional planning in Southern Africa, regional design for Future Literacy Labs.
Looking forward to meeting you next Tuesday at this link: https://meet.google.com/jvw-byec-viy
- Details
- Parent Category: THEMATIC GROUPS
- Category: Planning and Complexity
THE DYNAMICS OF PANARCHY –
Sensing, Planning and Designing grounded local-regional transformations
27-28 November 2025, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
23rd Meeting of the AESOP Thematic Group Planning and Complexity
[ Download Save the Date as PDF ]
Planning and design often remain a hierarchical and linear process of planning, implementation and maintenance that meet with increasing political ambitions for inclusion, diversity and the critique of a technocratic agenda to spatial transformations. Initiatives in both practice and research constantly seek to combine both top-down and bottom-up approaches. For example, the recent missions of the European Union to strengthen innovation and development through a combination of overall political leadership and local implementation.
The connection between complexity science and spatial planning has, for at least the last 20 years, put the “the perspective of a world in flow, which feeds dissipative systems, through which these adapt and self-organize more or less continuously” (de Roo, 2018, p.28). However, few researchers and practitioners truly engage with the panarchic dynamic of complex adaptive systems and the theoretical and methodological implications – Non-hierarchical and mutual interaction, self-organization between actors, as well as structures and scales of transformation that follow (Gunderson & Holling, 2002). Furthermore, the transfer of a panarchic and adaptive model, developed for describing ecosystems, to describing social systems poses critical questions. Beside adaptation, how do we deal with sustaining a diversity of subsystems? and how do we counteract negative effects such as socio-spatial inequalities and an uneven geographic development?
We invite scholars and scholarly practitioners to contribute with research and initiatives that engage with the dynamics of local-regional spatial transformation and the relations between actors, sectors, levels and scales through the lens of complexity theory, and especially working with panarchy, self-organisation, and the non-hierarchical interaction and dynamics of multi-level planning. How can transformations be more effectively conceptualised theoretically, while being grounded in local-regional realities?
Three avenues are of interest:
- Designing is in itself an iterative practice between phases of speculation, assessment, and proposing. We are interested in initiatives and studies that engage with design thinking and design practices to move beyond predefined, and often stereotyped visions of sustainable and attractive urban and rural development.
- Planning tends to often be seen as a hierarchic and linear process of top-down decisions, regulations and governance. However, it is also a broad repertoire of practices that can create gaps and spaces. We are interested in research that critically engage in how planning can address uneven power relations and seeks radical inclusion and re-configurations that foster diversity and pluralism.
- Sensing faces challenges to embark in analyses and interpretation beyond predefined categories and spatial units, e.g. reproducing power relations and spatial configurations. We are interested in approaches that can re-frame our sensing of interdependencies between scales, and that critically analyse the local-regional dynamics of circular systems.
References
- de Roo, G. (2018). Ordering Principles in a Dynamic World of Change – On social complexity, transformation and the conditions for balancing purposeful interventions and spontaneous change. Progress in Planning, 125, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2017.04.002
- Gunderson, L. H., & Holling, C. S. (2002). Panarchy: Understanding transformations in human and natural systems. Island Press.
Timeline and Call for Papers
- Call for abstracts will be sent out in March with expected submissions in late May 2025.
- Notice of acceptance: late June 2025.
- Conference in Gothenburg 27-28 November 2025.
Organisation and Contact
The event is organised by Nils Björling and the research area Urban and Regional Transformation at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden (local organising team 2025) together with Christian Lamker and Jenni Partanen (thematic group coordinators).
- Details
- Parent Category: THEMATIC GROUPS
- Category: Urban Futures
Up-coming soon: #AESOP TG Urban Futures - Online Workshop: Who says future? Acting subjects and the construction of futures. Join us in February - March - April to discuss with colleagues the perspectives on futuring in different contexts. For an overview of dates and speakers, see picture below. To register please follow the link provided here. For comments, please be in touch. More information will be provided closer to the event. Peter Ache and Thomas Machiels
- Details
- Parent Category: THEMATIC GROUPS
- Category: Public Spaces and Urban Cultures
(Re)producing everyday life
Contesti. Città, Territori, Progetti No 1(2024)
edited by Chiara Belingardi, Gabriella Esposito De Vita, Stefania Ragozzino, Tihomir Viderman
- AESOP TG ETHICS, VALUES & PLANNING COLLOQUIUM 10: "The Last Urban Utopia: The 15-Minute City" with Alain Bertaud
- SPECIAL ISSUE PUBLICATION: "Exploring conformorality in planning debates"
- Call for Expressions of Interest to host the Thematic Group’s Meeting 2024-2026: "Public Spaces, Urban Cultures, and Hope"
- RADICALLY ALTERNATIVE VIEWS ON SPATIAL PLANNING AND LAW: KROPOTKIN, HAYEK, KELSEN
