City 2.0: Forging a new urban outlook?

Monday 18 June, 6:45pm start

Alastair Donald, Mindy Gofton, Martin Bryant and Lisa Raynes will introduce a discussion on the lure of the social city and what role it can play in regenerating city space.

‘Open source cities’; ‘smart cities’; ‘intelligent cities’. The choice of prefix may change, but enthusiasts seem increasingly convinced that digital technologies are transforming not only the nature of communication, but also the way we design, build, use, and interact within cities. On awarding the TED 2012 prize to The City 2.0, the organisers disputed the idea that this city of the future was a ‘sterile utopian dream’. Rather, they argued, we are seeing a real-world upgrade, tapping into humanity’s collective wisdom to create places of ‘beauty, wonder, excitement, inclusion, diversity, life.’

There are many other claims made for new technologies. Hewlett Packard’s version of City 2.0 asserts that the Information Age is reinventing the city for scalability and sustainability. IBM argue that intelligent technologies are turning neighbourhoods into ‘manageable ecosystems’. According to engineers Arup, new malleable systems increase citizen awareness of the relationships between activities, neighbourhoods, and wider urban systems. Unlike the inflexible, monolithic 20th century city, the Smart City, they say, is a place that citizens collectively modify.

Individuals and the state

Mon 16, Tue 17 or Wed 18 July

Inderjeet Parmar and others will introduce a discussion about the changing role of individual philanthropy, foundations and Non-Governmental Organisations in the development of politics and international relations

Many of the important institutions in our society have some historical connections to philanthropists of the recent industrial and financial past. From the Portico Library on Mosley Street in Manchester to the Port Sunlight village on the Wirral, there's been a desire by people of substance to do use their wealth to have an impact in changing society for the better. This isn't an English thing, but can been see as a trend internationally, as pointed out in some detail by Professor Inderjeet Parmar in his latest book 'Foundations of the American Century'.

Bill Gates is joining a long list of success western business people, and more so Americans than British of late, who have setup foundations to do good with the wealth at their disposal. The world John Rokefella established his foundation in seems a far cry from the world we find ourselves in today, so with foundations and philanthropy still widespread, it is worth considering what has changed - in the parts of society being 'helped', and perhaps more importantly, in the purpose and motivation of those giving and helping. Also, to what extent have the seemingly ubiquitous Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's) taken over from the private individuals and foundations in the provision of help in developing society's best interests outside of the direct functions of the state?

Is there a new Renaissance in the Arts?

Wednesday 12 September

Tiffany Jenkins, and others (to be confirmed) will introduce a discussion on what's behind the perceived renaissance in the arts.

The pin-up boy of New Labour’s Cool Britannica, Damien Hirst, doesn’t seem so hot these days, with his £36,800 souvenir painted skulls on sale at the Tate gallery art shop coming across as a tad pricey in these recessionary times. Periods of economic decline though, often create a buoyant market for the arts as investors move their money away from longer-term productive investments. In times like these we usually hear the cry ‘art is only for the rich’. Yet that may hold true within the confines of the market, but there is evidence that people do value art, and recessionary periods also see a rise in attendance at galleries and museums, even when those institutions charge for admission (e.g. see here).

Disabled by society, enabled by the legacy?

Monday 17, Tuesday 18 or Wednesday 19 September 2012

Dave Clements and others will assess how perecptions of disability are changing and how the paralympics will affect those views

It is widely reported that attitudes towards, and discrimination of, people with disabilities are getting worse. Institutional abuse revealed in recent scandals points to the shocking treatment some disabled people still face. The charity Scope argued that London’s Paralympics would ‘play a positive role in raising the profile of disabled people’. Chris Holmes, LOCOG Director of Paralympic Integration, predicted a ‘step-change in attitudes towards and opportunities for disabled people’. Has society become more hostile, as campaigners claim, or are we just more sensitive about the words people use? While the games may lead to greater participation in sport, will they have any impact on wider attitudes or on participation in the public sphere? Has the treatment of people with disabilities really changed for the worse anyway? Are some people still disabled by society?

Tolerating Autonomy

Tuesday 02 October

Frank Furedi will introduce a discussion by arguing that despite its frequent rhetorical use, 21^st century western society does not take the classical liberal ideal of tolerance very seriously.

Even its advocates are far too often guilty of applying a double standard and practice their tolerance very selectively. This selective orientation towards tolerance often legitimises attitudes and behaviour that are decidedly intolerant. Although people rarely acclaim intolerance by their illiberal behaviour they are often surprisingly censorious and unforgiving towards beliefs and views that challenge their assumptions. Matters are made worse by the confusions that surround the meaning of this term. Tolerance is often used in ways that would shock and surprise the philosophers and thinkers who developed this concept.

The introduction and discussion aims to clarify and elaborate the meaning of tolerance for the current era.