Acknowledgement of the enormity of the many socio-environmental, agricultural, food, health and related ‘planetary emergencies’ confronting us today has provoked a growing chorus of calls for urgent action. In the face of such urgency, it seems that there is less and less (obvious) time for pause and reflection. Moreover, both from within and directed at the social sciences, there are many who argue that it is time to dispense with or move beyond critique. From Latour’s 2004 question ‘has critique run out of steam?’ to more recent commentary, it may seem that the value of critique and critical thinking is no longer obvious, even in many social sciences. Instead, we are told, we must focus our attention on identifying and formulating constructive alternatives and/or solutions to the planetary emergencies currently haunting us.
Category Archives: Research
Call for papers for special issue on ‘City region foodscapes’
This is a call for papers for a special issue about ‘City region foodscapes’ of the open access journal Sustainability – Section Sustainable Urban and Rural Development.
There is increasing broad recognition that food is an integral part of the urban agenda. Cities in different parts of the world are developing policy and programme initiatives related to urban food provisioning. The 2007-2008 food price hikes, and climate-induced disruptions to food supply, have triggered a call for more resilient urban food systems. In addition, alarming increases in diet-related ill-health require cities to ensure access to sufficient, affordable, healthy and safe food to their population. Continue reading
SCORAI Working Group on Community, Collective Action, and Alternative Pathways calls for new participants
By Flora Sonkin, Jordan Treakle and Robert Orzanna,
A diverse group of scholars participated past summer in a series of special sessions on the theme of “Re-embedding the Social: New Modes of Production, Critical Consumption, and Alternative Lifestyles” that was part of the annual conference of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics held at the University of California Berkeley. In the aftermath of the conference there was considerable interest in trying to maintain momentum and extend the circle of participation. Continue reading
Oratie Bettina Bock aan RUG over bevolkingsdaling en leefbaarheid in Noord Nederland
Prof. dr ir Bettina Bock
Op 20 september a.s. houdt Bettina Bock, universitair hoofddocent bij de leerstoelgroep Rurale Sociologie van Wageningen Universiteit, haar oratie als bijzonder hoogleraar aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG) met als titel ‘Leegte en Ruimte; over bevolkingsdaling en leefbaarheid in Noord Nederland‘.
In de discussie over bevolkingsdaling en leefbaarheid ligt de nadruk doorgaans op leegte. Leegte die ontstaat als voorzieningen verdwijnen en de leegte die blijft als mensen verhuizen. In haar oratie stelt Bettina Bock naast leegte ook ruimte aan de orde. Ruimte voor vernieuwing en verandering, én ruimte voor nieuwe inzichten die ontstaat als we van perspectief wisselen en nieuwe vragen stellen. Lees verder het persbericht van RUG. Continue reading
Capital Selecta: Global Food Security
WUR students attending CFS negotiations in 2015
In October RSO will offer a 3 ECTS Capita Selecta course called Global Food Security: Linking theory and practice.
The course offers the opportunity for students to learn more about international food security governance through lectures, assignments, and by attending the annual meeting of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome.
The schedule (subject to change) is:
- Tues Oct 11 17:30-19:30 Lecture- Introduction to Global Food Security Governance
- Thurs Oct 13 17:30-19:30 Lecture- Introduction to the Committee on World Food Security + potluck dinner
- Oct 15-22 Excursion to the CFS in Rome
- Nov 1st 17:30-19:30 Presentations of final assignments
Registration is limited and open to students with a proven interest in food security, international development, and/or global governance. Interested students should send a CV and letter of motivation to jessica.duncan (a) wur.nl
Please note students are expected to cover the costs of travel (airfair, accomodation (we will likely reserve a large apartment via AirBnB), and food). Student course coordinators are working to secure funding to help reduce these costs.
Rural Sociology Wageningen University 