Knowledge Economy and Sociospacial Polarisation

Each group should present their literature overview in approximately 15 minutes. It should prepare a short hand out and put it in the weblog to permit the transcontinental partner to access it.

1.) The presentation should include a short summary of main concepts and ideas which should be directed to the key question of the seminar: The relationship between the knowledge economy and socioeconomic polarisation. Relating two apparently separated topics, as well as geographically separated cities is an endeavour of bridge-building in different aspects. The presentation should focus on aspects that relate to this question.

2.) The group should undertake a proper reflection relating the respective literature to the following key concepts: (economic and social, rich and poor, centre and periphery, freedom and equality, efficiency and justice, competitiveness and inclusion. This second part of the presentation is important to permit focussing our discussions. Bridge-building means overcoming simple forms of thinking in dualism and dichotomies) and transforming this approach in a dialectical relationship which links aspects that seem to have nothing in common.