Panel on Comparative Urban Governance, Joint Program of the Sections on State and Local Government Law and Comparative Law, AALS Annual Meeting, Saturday January 4, 2014 (2:00 to 3:45 PM)

Network member Fernanda Nicola (AU-WCL) has passed on this announcement, which may be of interest to readers attending the AALS Annual Meeting this weekend in New York City:

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DESCRIPTION

International law and global governance regimes are increasingly shaping the legal framework within which U.S. cities, states and metropolitan regions are operating. International institutions such as the World Bank are likewise influencing the governance approach of cities in developed countries in an effort to attract foreign investment and to make those cities more equitable, efficient, and sustainable. At the same time, scholars and local policymakers in every part of the world are looking abroad for new ideas, best practices and models to approach urban governance in light of changing fiscal realities and the variety of challenges that accompany increasing rates of urbanization across the world.  Sustainable development, adaption to climate change, among other challenges, necessitates that cities and regions be innovative and nimble in their approaches to these issues.  Comparative studies of urban governance regimes and policy innovations are important tools in shaping local and regional responses to urban growth, development and sustainability.

FIRST PANEL The City in Global, International and Comparative Settings

This panel explores different legal regimes from which cities derive their power and whether international law and institutions add a new layer of governance. How does and should international and comparative law address cities, regions or sub-national governments as new emerging actors in this field?

Saskia Sassen, Columbia University/London School of Economics

Richard Ford, Stanford Law School

Nadav Shoked, Northwestern Law School

Daniel B. Rodriguez, Northwestern Law School

Chair: Sheila Foster, Fordham Law School (Chair State and Local Government Section)

SECOND PANEL Comparative Perspectives on Urban Governance, Development and Sustainability

This panel focuses on how scholars and policymakers engage in cross-national comparisons to assess different urban governance and planning models. What is the relevance of comparative law in determining what type of economic development agenda is more suitable to a specific geographic environment? How can interdisciplinary tools be utilized to establish some entry points for cross national comparisons? How can learning from other countries’ experiences enrich our understanding of what cities can or should not do?

Matt Glasser, Legal Vice-Presidency, World Bank

Prya S. Gupta, Southwestern Law School

Andrea McArdle, City University of New York School of Law

James A. Kushner, Southwestern Law School

Chair: Fernanda Nicola, AU-Washington College of Law (Chair Comparative Law Section)