10th Urban and Regional Research Network (URRN) Symposium
BEYOND BINARIES: MULTIPLE SPATIAL CONNECTIONS
October 15-17, 2025 | Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla
Urban and regional concepts are frequently discussed through binary oppositions such as urban–rural, center–periphery, local–global, public–private, planned–organic, qualitative–quantitative, and micro–macro. In examining these issues, researchers often tend to classify spaces and phenomena within predefined and conventional categories. Although assigning concepts to one end of a binary may not be the primary objective, cities, regions, institutions, individuals, and households ultimately become characterized through these limited classifications. Yet, in a rapidly changing world, the conceptual frameworks that shape our spatial thinking increasingly fail to capture the far more complex, layered, and intertwined relationships that extend beyond such dichotomies.
These multiple spatial connections are shaped by economic and political challenges, emerging forms of social organization, dominant planning policies, digitalization, climate change, and migration. As the number of interacting factors increases, a unique and largely unexplored spatial context emerges. Understanding this dynamic context requires rethinking the actors, institutions, theories, concepts, and methods through which spatial processes are interpreted.
The effects of these transformations, observed across many countries worldwide, are also evident in Türkiye. New institutional formations in urban and regional research, the search for analytical and data collection methods beyond conventional approaches, and attempts to develop new theoretical frameworks all provide compelling evidence of this shift.
One of the key issues to be examined concerns how the accepted boundaries between phenomena become blurred and, more importantly, how these boundaries are crossed and new relationships are established through such interactions. By encouraging innovative, non-deterministic thinking that moves beyond rigid binaries, this perspective offers an important means of revealing spatial potentials that do not conform to established stereotypes. Contemporary spatial studies—particularly those seeking multipolar, comparative, and cosmopolitan approaches to urban theory—aim to challenge traditional explanatory hierarchies and redirect the trajectory of urban theory. Often described as the democratization of urban theory, these approaches are also regarded as promising directions in academic scholarship because they embrace a far richer plurality of perspectives.
The 10th KBAM Symposium aims to stimulate discussion on how cities, regions, and other geographical spaces can be understood beyond binary frameworks through more inclusive perspectives. Under this theme, the symposium invites planners, academics, researchers, and designers from various sectors to contribute critical and innovative perspectives on emerging forms of spatial connectivity. Interdisciplinary contributions are welcomed from fields including geography, regional planning, urban studies, architecture, sociology, economics, public administration, and related disciplines. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:
- The (Re)Production, Perception, and Use of Space
- Permeable Boundaries and Hybrid Spaces
- New Forms of Representation, Communities, and Socialities
- Comparative Urban Policy, Planning, and Local Governance
- New Actors, Institutions, and Forms of Organization
- Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence, New Technologies, and Methods
- Globalization and Migration Studies
- Climate Change and Disasters
- Global Urban and Regional Studies
- Sectoral Restructuring, Degrowth, and the Circular Economy
- New Perspectives in Housing Studies
- Urban Interfaces and Heterotopias
Through the theme “Beyond Binaries: Multiple Spatial Connections,” the symposium seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for discussing the pluralistic, dynamic, and relational nature of urban and regional spaces. We warmly invite researchers from diverse disciplines to contribute to this discussion and to explore new ways of understanding spatial connections at the 10th KBAM Symposium.
IMPORTANT DATES
| Symposium Announcement | 9 April 2025 |
| Abstract Submission | 10 May 2025 (extended from 27 April 2025) |
| PhD Workshop Application | 10 May 2025 (extended from 27 April 2025) |
| Notification of Accepted Papers | 30 May 2025 (extended from 26 May 2025) |
| Submission of Accepted PhD Workshop Papers | 1 September 2025 |
| Full Paper Submission | 1 September 2025 |
| Symposium | 15–17 October 2025 |
APPLICATION
Those wishing to participate in the symposium are required to upload a 200–400 word abstract by 10 May 2025 via the symposium’s abstract submission system: https://kbam.metu.edu.tr/bildiri-ozeti-gonderme/
PUBLICATION
Papers presented at the symposium will undergo an editorial review process and be published in the Proceedings of the 10th Symposium of the Urban and Regional Research Network (KBAM). Inclusion in the proceedings volume is optional and subject to the authors’ preference; however, all accepted abstracts will be published in the Book of Abstracts of the 10th Symposium of the Urban and Regional Research Network (KBAM). Papers submitted to the PhD Workshop will not be included in either publication.
Authors of papers presented at the symposium may also submit their work for publication in either İdealKent – Journal of Urban Studies or PLANARCH – Design and Planning Research. To be considered, papers must be developed into full journal articles and submitted by the specified deadline. All submissions will be subject to the respective journal’s standard peer-review process.
REVIEW PROCESS
The KBAM Symposium is a peer-reviewed academic event. Papers accepted for presentation will be selected following a double-blind review by at least two independent reviewers. In cases where the two reviewers provide conflicting recommendations, the submission will be evaluated by a third reviewer.
