RGS-IBG Political Geography Research Group (PolGRG) Biennial Workshop 

19th-20th June 2025, Newcastle University

Practicing Political Geography: Risk, Responsibility, Reciprocity

At a time of global political turmoil, marked by conflicts and environmental crises, the sub-discipline of political geography is as relevant as ever. Responding to the need to understand rapid political transformations and consider how we position ourselves in relation to these, political geographers have critically reflected on and innovated the ways we practice political geography in recent decades – in research, pedagogy, and relations beyond the academy.

However, inherent to considerations of how we practice political geography are risk, responsibility, and reciprocity. In times marked by increasing censorship, violence, and silencing, we need to ask: What risks are associated with political geography? What is our responsibility when we teach and practice political geography? How can we ensure more reciprocal relationships?

The Political Geography Research Group (PolGRG) of the RGS-IBG invites further discussions and considerations on these issues at our biennial workshop, to be held on Thursday 19-20th June 2025, at Newcastle University. The theme of the workshop is, as above, ‘Practicing Political Geography: Risk, Responsibility, Reciprocity’; and we invite abstracts speaking broadly to these issues.

Call for Papers:

The theme is purposely designed broad, allowing diverse reflections ranging on topics that may include (but are not limited to):

• Research practice and methods, including ethics and risk management.
• Risks associated with fieldwork, as well as communicating and sharing findings.
• Responsibilities within the sub-discipline, collectively and individually, including the impact our research seeks to have in the world.
• Reciprocal relations between, inter alia, researchers and researched, students and teachers, with ‘the field’ (however defined), etc.
• Research topics and findings that speak to the political geographies of the world today; or lessons from the past that may inform the practice of scholarly work.

This list is not exhaustive but an indication of the kinds of papers we hope to see at the workshop. Each paper presentation will be 15 mins.

In addition, we invite shorter (6-7 min) submissions for a roundtable on ‘teaching political geography in fraught times’, with reflections on what has worked well, what has been difficult, and what challenges remain to be confronted in teaching political geography in 2025.

Who Can Attend:

The workshop is open to anyone who sees their research as relating to political geography, including established, early-career, and postgraduate scholars. We are particularly eager to ensure that the workshop is a supportive, collegial, and informal space for those at the start of their academic career; and we would like to encourage ‘testing out’ of new papers, ideas, or presentations in a friendly environment.

Workshop Format:

The workshop will include:

• A keynote lecture.
• Roundtable discussions on some of the above topics.
• Paper sessions of 15-minute paper presentations.
• An optional, self-funded conference dinner on the evening of Thursday 19th June.

Participation and Costs:

Participation is free of charge. The workshop will start around mid-day on Thursday, allowing participants to travel that morning; and will conclude late afternoon on Friday.

How to Participate:

• To present, please submit a 250-word abstract to Ingrid Medby at Ingrid.medby@newcastle.ac.uk by 1st April 2025. Confirmation of abstract acceptance will be circulated by the end of April.
• To attend (whether presenting or not), please register via Eventbrite.  The deadline for all to register is 1st May 2025, but early registration would be very helpful.