On 19-20 June, the Political Geography Research Group (PolGRG) welcomed political geographers from near and far to Newcastle for its biennial workshop.
The theme this year was ‘Practising Political Geography: Risk, Responsibility, and Reciprocity’. In times marked by increasing censorship, violence, and silencing, the workshop sought to ask questions such as: What risks are associated with doing political geography? What is our responsibility when we teach and research political geography? And how can we ensure more reciprocal relationships in our practice?
With nearly 50 participants across the two days, the workshop saw the above topics and more addressed through presentations and roundtables. The event started with a panel discussion focusing on teaching political geography and highlighted the challenges faced as well as examples of innovative teaching practices.
The panel was followed by two paper sessions, focusing on the broad themes of ‘Embodied Research, Knowledge and Questions of Ethics’ and ‘Environment, Energy, and Resources’; before the group embarked on a guided walking tour of Newcastle’s political geographies and histories. The walking tour was inspired by Professor Rachel Woodward’s research on military geography – whose support we’re grateful for – and was led by Dr Olivia Mason, who offered some local political geography insights.
The second day of the workshop started with a careful and thought-provoking ‘keynote conversation’ between Professor Jen Bagelman (Newcastle University) and Dr Aya Nassar (Durham University), centring on the themes of the workshop. This was followed by two paper sessions, ‘Rescaling the State and Power’ and ‘Risk, Responsibility, Researching Violence’; before the workshop closed with a panel reflecting on ‘Researching political geography in times of violence, censorship, and difference’. The latter included reflections from and on Gaza, Russia, and university-campuses.
As a committee, we would like to extend a thank-you to everyone who engaged with the above questions and themes with such care and thought; and for making the workshop a success!
