N-AERUS – Network Association of European Researchers on Urbanization in the South is a trans-disciplinary network of researchers and practitioners working on urban development in the global South, which was established in March 1996 (www.n-aerus.net). 

N-AERUS understand that role of the state in urban development in the Global South remains relevant for academics and practitioners. N-AERUS also acknowledge the rich variety of research addressing and witnessing the transforming relationship between the state, private sector and civil society. After decades of experiences with neoliberal forces and counter-movements in cities we want to explore with scholars around the World the impacts of neo-liberal urban policies and post-neo-liberal urban movements and revisit how the state engages with private sector and the civil society, especially with marginalised urban communities in regard to urban development. 

During 27. – 29.10.2022, the N-AERUS organizes a conference about the role of the state in urban governance called “Transforming Role of State in Addressing Inclusive Urban Development.” It will be a hybrid event hosted by Urban and Rural Planning Discipline of Khulna University, Bangladesh and Department of Sustainable Cities and Communities, University of Kassel, Germany (http://www.uni-kassel.de/go/sustainable-cities-and-communities).

In the 21st N-AERUS conference, we invite contributions including following thematic areas but not limited to:

• Theme 1: Beyond neoliberal urbanisms in the Global South: What are the current urban development discourses and contemporary multi-level governance models? How do national governments and global cities compete and reclaim their positions in a global context?
• Theme 2: The role of the state in urban rehabilitation and transformation: What are the current cases of urban redevelopment interventions on a scale from authoritarian to participatory and inclusive approaches, including the state vis-à-vis self-help activism;
• Theme 3: Counter-movements to neoliberal urbanism: What are the scope and impact of alternative urban movements including the rights discourse and culture? What are the viable examples of partnerships among actors?
• Theme 4: Neo-Keynesian response to the pandemic: What are the recent experiences of national and local government recovery interventions in cities in post-COVID phase?

N-AERUS hopes to attract your interest to submit an abstract about your former or current research here until 31.05.2022 and disseminate this call among your colleagues who might be also interested in the topic. For more information please see attached call, contact naerus2022@gmail.com or visit the website www.n-aerus.net.