Cites are generally understood as »cradles of democracy«, key locations for political action, pro-democratic and liberation movements. As a result of this, interdisciplinary and international urban research has so far focussed on the relationships between cities and democracy. However, in light of authoritarian tendencies both in Europe and around the world, it is becoming more and more important to examine the interaction between authoritarianism and the city. The conference will therefore bring international urban studies experts from various professional backgrounds together to discuss current forms, strategies and dynamics of authoritarian urbanism.

»Cities are key locations for authoritarian interventions and hotbeds for authoritarian movements. They play a critical role in maintaining and stabilising authoritarian regimes«, explains Dr. Daniela Zupan, Junior Professor for European Cities and Urban Heritage at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. »Our conference aims at deepening our understanding of how urbanism is connected to and influences increasing processes of authoritarianism. A better understanding of this complex relationship is critical to counteracting authoritarian tendencies and developing strategies to reverses them.«

The conference will be held in English and is funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. 

Conference Programme:
https://www.uni-weimar.de/de/architektur-und-urbanistik/institute/ifeu/forschung/jahrestagungen/2023-authoritarian-urbanism/program/

Authoritarian Urbanism: Global Manifestations, Knowledge Exchange and Contestation
Annual conference of the Institute for European Urban Studies
9 to 11 November 2023
Main Building of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Oberlichtsaal, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 6, 99423 Weimar
Conference Language: English
Conference Fee: 30 euros (students and doctoral candidates may attend free of charge)

Register by 31 October 2023 at: https://www.uni-weimar.de/de/architektur-und-urbanistik/institute/ifeu/forschung/jahrestagungen/2023-authoritarian-urbanism/registration/

Questions can be directed to Gabriela Oroz, Faculty Marketing Manager for the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, by phone at (+49 / 36 43 / 58 31 15 or by e-mail at gabriela.oroz[at]uni-weimar.de.