A Manifesto for the Just City

A Manifesto for the Just City
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THE
SPATIAL
JUSTICE
SJN
NETWORK
PROFESSOR RUSSELL SMITH, WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY, N.C., USA
This is a network of teachers and researchers
concerned with issues of spatial justice.
The network was initiated by myself at
Winston-Salem University in North Carolina,
US. It seeks to develop an international and
interdisciplinary Spatial Justice community to advance
the theory of spatial justice through the development of
concepts and methods by which spatial justice can be
explored individually and comparatively. This network
builds upon existing (but limited) research on spatial
justice through the inclusion of scholars/researchers
engaged in spatial justice research from across the globe.
Through a united, directed and organised network the
goal of advancing the field of study related to spatial
justice can be reached.
For the past several decades, spatial justice has been
presented as a conceptual framework to understand and
address the grave inequalities facing cities, countries
and continents. However, while the concept holds much
promise, the theory of spatial justice is under explored
and the methods by which spatial justice can be studied
are in need of development. The SJ Network is envisioned
to be an entity that will develop conceptual and
methodological innovations in spatial justice research
through a collaborative process which engages scholars
and researchers from around the world (currently
over 90 scholars/researchers at 30 institutions intend
to participate). The SJ Network will contribute to the
development of new research and educational practices
that will expand the concept of spatial justice, bringing it
into curriculums around the world in a coordinated way.
Specifically, the SJ Network will seek to build knowledge
in the following areas: best practices for support of
spatial justice education and practice; respectful
ways to do community-based research using both
qualitative and quantitative scientific research methods;
research projects that are community inspired and of
significance for communities of colour and disadvantaged
communities; and innovative undergraduate and
graduate development programs and strategies.
These activities will lead to a fuller understanding of the
theory of spatial justice, develop new methodologies
for applying/examining spatial justice, and establish a
mechanism by which spatial justice can be measured. The
use of interdisciplinary and international collaboration
envisioned in this RCN will result in the creation of a
comparative model through which spatial justice can
be more fully explored, and generate a repository of
ideas and methodologies for teaching, learning, and
researching spatial justice.
https://spatial-justice.org
By Phil Stanziola - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14636401