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SUMMARY:Workshop on Island Economies and Ecological Planning in the Philippines
DESCRIPTION:Call for Papers\n  \nWorkshop on Island Economies and Ecological Planning in the Philippines\n  \nThe Young Scholars Initiative\, in collaboration with partner scholars and institutions\, invites applications from young scholars to participate in a two-day workshop on “Islands as Laboratories: Ecological Planning and Heterodox Economic Thought for Sustainable Development in the Philippine Archipelago.” The workshop will take place at the University of the Philippines Los Baños\, in collaboration with the Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning (DCERP). \n  \nThe workshop will bring together early-career researchers\, doctoral scholars\, advanced master’s students\, young faculty members (within 5 years of PhD.)\, and policy-oriented researchers working on islands\, ecological planning\, political economy\, development\, land\, tourism\, resilience\, and heterodox economic thought. Participants will be selected through a competitive call and will present their ongoing research under the proposed workshop themes. \n  \nThe Philippines offers a particularly rich setting for rethinking the relationship between ecology\, planning\, and economic development. Its archipelagic geography makes small islands more than geographical units. They are bounded but highly connected spaces where land\, livelihoods\, tourism\, climate vulnerability\, public infrastructure\, ecological limits\, and economic policy meet in immediate and visible ways. Islands reveal\, often with exceptional clarity\, the central question that animates this workshop: what does development actually cost\, ecologically\, historically\, socially\, and economically\, and who bears that cost? \n  \nThe workshop approaches islands as laboratories not in a narrow experimental sense\, but as living social\, ecological\, and economic spaces where inherited development models are tested\, contested\, and reworked. It asks how small island economies can pursue sustainable development without reproducing extractive forms of growth\, ecological degradation\, social displacement\, or tourism-dependent vulnerability. It also asks what mainstream economic analysis often misses when it treats land\, coastlines\, ecosystems\, labour\, culture\, and community life as separate variables rather than as interdependent conditions of survival and development. \n  \nThe workshop is located at the intersection of three broad intellectual concerns. First\, it draws on urban and regional planning\, small island studies\, and ecotourism to understand the concrete spatial and ecological realities of Philippine islands. Second\, it brings in heterodox and post-Keynesian approaches to economic growth\, resilience\, demand\, distribution\, and development policy. Third\, it situates land\, property\, value\, and social policy within a longer history of economic thought\, asking how islands and island ecologies have been valued\, undervalued\, or misvalued within development discourse. \n  \nVenue\nThe workshop will take place at the University of the Philippines Los Baños\, hosted in collaboration with the Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning \nThis venue is especially appropriate for the workshop theme\, given its strong connection to environment and community resource management/ planning\, natural resources conservation\, ecological planning\, and sustainable development. Locating the workshop at UP Los Baños will allow discussions on island ecologies\, land\, livelihoods\, spatial planning\, and heterodox economic thought to be grounded in an institution deeply engaged with environmental and developmental questions. \n  \nProposed Themes\nWe invite papers that engage with one or more of the following themes\, but not limited to. \n1. Small Islands\, Planning\, and Sustainable Development\nPapers may examine island-based urban and regional planning\, spatial governance\, land-use change\, infrastructure\, local institutions\, coastal settlements\, disaster risk\, and the limits of conventional development planning in archipelagic settings. \n2. Ecotourism\, Livelihoods\, and Local Economies\nWe welcome work on ecotourism\, community-based tourism\, livelihood diversification\, informal economies\, cultural economies\, and the tensions between tourism-led development\, ecological protection\, and local autonomy. \n3. Land\, Property\, and Ecological Valuation\nPapers may explore how land\, coastlines\, forests\, fisheries\, commons\, and ecosystems are valued in policy\, law\, markets\, and community life. Contributions may also examine compensation\, displacement\, enclosure\, land conversion\, and the social function of property in island contexts. \n4. Heterodox Economics and Island Development\nWe invite papers using post-Keynesian\, institutional\, ecological\, feminist\, Marxian\, dependency\, structuralist\, or other heterodox approaches to study economic resilience\, public investment\, distribution\, employment\, industrial policy\, climate finance\, and development constraints in small island economies. \n5. Climate Vulnerability\, Resilience\, and Public Policy\nPapers may address climate adaptation\, disaster preparedness\, sea-level rise\, food and water security\, ecological restoration\, public finance\, local governance\, and the political economy of resilience in island communities. \n6. History of Economic Thought and Archipelagic Development\nWe encourage papers that revisit classical\, institutional\, heterodox\, or Global South traditions in economic thought to rethink the conceptualisation of islands\, land\, nature\, value\, scarcity\, and development. \n7. Smart Cities\, Technology\, and Appropriate Innovation in Island Contexts\nContributions may examine whether smart city frameworks\, digital tools\, renewable energy systems\, grassroots innovations\, or appropriate technologies can support sustainable island development\, and under what institutional and social conditions. \n8. Comparative Island and Archipelagic Perspectives\nWhile the workshop is grounded in the Philippine archipelago\, comparative papers from Southeast Asia\, the Pacific\, South Asia\, the Caribbean\, Africa\, and Latin America are welcome\, especially where they help clarify broader questions of island political economy\, ecological planning\, and sustainable development. \n  \nKey Questions\n  \nThe workshop will be organised around the following guiding questions but not limited to: \n\nHow should sustainable development be reimagined when the ecological limits of small islands are taken seriously?\nWhat do small islands reveal about the limitations of mainstream economic planning and growth models?\nHow are land\, ecology\, labour\, culture\, and community life valued or devalued in small island development?\nCan ecotourism\, smart development planning\, and green investment avoid reproducing extractive development models?\nWhat can heterodox economics contribute to the study of island resilience\, public policy\, and ecological transition?\nHow can small islands become sites of democratic planning\, social justice\, and ecological repair rather than merely spaces for tourism\, real estate\, or climate experimentation?\n\n  \nWho Can Apply\nApplications are invited from young scholars\, including doctoral researchers\, advanced master’s students working on thesis projects\, early-career researchers\, young faculty members\, and policy researchers or practitioners with a strong research orientation. \nWe especially encourage applications from scholars based in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. \n  \nFormat of the Workshop\nThe workshop will be held over two days. Selected participants will present their papers or extended research proposals in thematic sessions. Each presentation will receive comments from senior scholars and peer participants.  \nParticipants are expected to read selected papers in advance and actively contribute to discussions across the two days. \n  \nSubmission Guidelines\nApplicants should submit the following: \n\nTitle of the proposed paper\nAbstract of 300–500 words\nShort biographical note of 100–150 words\nInstitutional affiliation and contact details\nDraft paper at a later stage\n\nAbstracts should clearly indicate the research question\, theoretical approach\, empirical case or material\, and how the paper speaks to the workshop theme. \n  \nImportant Dates\nDeadline for abstract submission: 1st November 2026\n Notification of acceptance: 10th November 2026\n Submission of draft papers or extended notes: 30 November 2026\n Workshop dates: 9-10 December 2026\n Venue: University of the Philippines Los Baños\, Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning \n  \nOrganising Team\nThe workshop will be organised by the History of Economic Thought Working Group and the East Asia Working Group of Young Scholars Initiative\, INET\, in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Los Baños\, Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning. \nThe workshop will receive intellectual guidance from scholars working across urban and regional planning (environmental planning)\, small island studies\, ecotourism\, heterodox economics\, land policy\, political economy\, and the history of economic thought. \n 
URL:https://heske.wisdmlabs.net/event/workshop-on-island-economies-and-ecological-planning-in-the-philippines/
LOCATION:The Department of Community and Environmental Resource Planning (DCERP)\, College of Human Ecology\, Los Baños\, Laguna\, 4031\, Philippines
CATEGORIES:An in-person event
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SUMMARY:Zimbabwe’s Reconfigured Political Economy: Implications in Research\, Theory\, and Public Policy
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n Background and Context\n\nSince about 2000\, especially with the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) and\, a few years later\, the ‘indigenisation policy’\, Zimbabwe’s political economy has undergone a very complex and multifaceted transformation. This complex transformation was characterised by Professor Raftopoulos as the ‘re-configured political economy ‘\, a political economy now dominated by highly informalised processes of accumulation. This informality is evident in rapid periphery-urbanisation; informalised mining (‘chikorokoza’); transportation systems (‘mushika-shika’); insecure land tenure for resettled farmers; cross-border trading; the ‘tuck shop’ and ‘pavement’ economy; money changers (‘siphateleni’) seeking arbitrage from volatile currency inflation; and informal money lenders (‘chimbadzu’). \nRecent developments have further deepened and accelerated these trends \nAs of 2025\, the informal economy accounts for an estimated 76% of Zimbabwe’s GDP\, with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) reporting that 76.1% of establishments sampled in the 2025 Economic Census were largely informal. According to the Reserve Bank\, the largely unregulated informal sector generates approximately US$14.2 billion annually\, an amount comparable to the formal sector. This represents a significant expansion from earlier estimates\, signalling a rapid decline in the formal economy as more businesses flee rising taxes\, excessive bureaucracy\, and policy instability. The formal retail and wholesale industries have been particularly hard hit\, with many businesses shutting down as manufacturers and suppliers prioritise the informal sector. Formal retailers face a severe imbalance: they generate around 80% of their revenue in local currency\, while most suppliers demand payment in US Dollars\, creating an unfair trading environment. Additionally\, businesses require over 32 licences to operate legally\, significantly increasing operational costs. The intellectual and public policy lens that dominated the 1980s\, 1990s\, and partly the early 2000s\, which focused on ‘linear’ democracy and governance contestations\, is no longer adequate to grasp these transformations and how they interpenetrate the political power matrix. These changes are evident in the rapid informalisation of the economy. \n\n New Developments in Zimbabwe’s Political Economy\n\n2.1 Currency and Monetary Policy \nZimbabwe has experienced significant monetary developments since the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency in April 2024. The IMF’s 2025 Article IV Mission reported that tighter monetary policy has helped stabilise the local currency and reduce inflation. Annual inflation closed 2025 at 15 per cent\, significantly outperforming the 30 per cent end-period target. However\, significant downside risks persist\, notably from a potential return to monetary financing\, and the gap between the official willing-buyer willing-seller rate and the parallel market rate remains at around 20 per cent. The repeal of Statutory Instrument 81A of 2024\, which had mandated the formal sector to use the official rate\, has contributed to an increase in dollarisation and informality. \n2.2 Land Reform and Compensation \nThe land question remains central to Zimbabwe’s reconfigured political economy. In April 2025\, the government made the first compensation payments to white farmers whose farms were expropriated under the FTLRP\, covering 378 farmers and totalling USD 3.1 million in cash and USD 307.9 million in government bonds. This is part of the IMF’s conditions to restructure the country’s large foreign debt. However\, the compensation process has been fraught with challenges. One farmer who was promised US$800\,000 compensation received less than US$8\,000. The Valuation Consortium valued improvements on farms at US$5.2 billion\, while the Commercial Farmers’ Union arrived at US$10 billion figures that remain unresolved. Recent research has also examined land reform as a transformative social policy instrument\, reconfiguring gender relations and creating pathways for women’s economic empowerment in rural economies. Longitudinal research conducted in Goromonzi and Zvimba districts (2015–2017 and 2022–2024) has provided critical insights into the social policy dimensions of land reform. \n2.3 Mining and Natural Resources \nThe mining sector has undergone a remarkable transformation. Artisanal and small-scale miners now supply 68% of the gold delivered to Fidelity Gold Refinery. Miners once dismissed as “Chikorokoza Chapera” have become central to national output. The government is shifting policy from crackdown to support\, with measures under consideration including the establishment of gold service centres to provide technical support. Artisanal miners were key to achieving 2024’s gold output of 36 tonnes and are expected to play a major role in meeting the 2025 target of 40 tonnes. In June 2025\, the government gazetted the long-awaited Mines and Minerals Bill\, 2025\, which provides an unprecedented opportunity to create a progressive and inclusive framework for the mining industry. However\, significant challenges remain. Studies supported by the World Bank estimate that more than 50\,000 small-scale miners operate across Zimbabwe. Environmental risks are severe: artisanal miners face chronic exposure to toxic pollution\, with TB rates among artisanal miners estimated at 7\,400 cases per 100\,000 people\, staggeringly 30 times higher than the national average. There are also reports of miners extending tunnels under businesses and housing premises and fatal accidents due to lax safety enforcement. \n 2.4 Urbanisation\, Housing\, and Urban Transport \nZimbabwe’s urban areas face a housing deficit exceeding 1.5 million units. Escalating urbanisation\, driven by the unrelenting informal economy and commodification of housing\, continues to shape the urban landscape. In January 2025\, the Local Government Minister halted an impending demolition of over 5\,000 housing units\, rebuking the Harare City Council. However\, the challenge of illegal land allocations has intensified with the rise of land barons – powerful individuals and networks who illegally subdivide and sell land\, often without providing any basic services. These land barons have proliferated in Harare’s peri‑urban areas\, exploiting the high demand for housing and the state’s inability to deliver serviced stands. Their activities have led to the proliferation of unplanned settlements\, which are subsequently targeted for demolition. In 2024 and early 2026\, residents in suburbs such as Sunridge\, as well as other areas like Hatcliffe\, Hopley\, and Epworth\, faced traumatic demolitions of their homes. These demolitions\, often carried out with little or no notice\, have left thousands homeless and destitute\, reigniting painful memories of Operation Murambatsvina (2005) and raising serious questions about the state’s commitment to the right to adequate housing. A parliamentary report has highlighted the precarious living conditions in informal and peri‑urban settlements\, which are entirely disconnected from municipal infrastructure\, lacking water\, sewer systems\, roads\, schools\, and clinics. The government’s failure to fully operationalise the National Housing Fund\, established to finance bulk infrastructure\, has been identified as a critical bottleneck. The Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities utilised only 15.2% of its budget in 2024 due to late fund disbursement. \n2.5 Migration and Diaspora Engagement \nDiaspora remittances have surged dramatically\, rising from US$922 million in 2019 to US$2.58 billion in 2024\, a 195% increase. Inflows are projected to reach US$2.72 billion in 2025 and exceed US$2.75 billion by 2026. For the first time\, the United Kingdom has overtaken South Africa as Zimbabwe’s largest remittance source\, accounting for 28.6% of total inflows (approximately US$779 million) in the first quarter of 2025\, compared to South Africa’s 27.5% (US$748 million). This shift is partly attributable to the increasingly hostile environment faced by Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa\, where recurrent xenophobic attacks\, including the recent violent incidents in townships such as Alexandra and Diepsloot\, have intensified insecurity and prompted some to relocate to more stable destinations. This shift also reflects changing migration patterns: a growing number of professionals have relocated to the UK\, significantly boosting remittance inflows. The United States contributed 11.2% (US$305 million) and Australia 5.5% (US$150 million). Remittances were a main income source for 16% of migrants\, typically received monthly and used for household needs. In December 2025\, the government conducted a workshop to strengthen diaspora engagement and bilateral labour migration agreements\, seeking to maximise the contributions of Zimbabweans abroad. \n2.6 Technology and Digital Transformation \nZimbabwe’s digital transformation is accelerating rapidly. As of mid‑2025\, the country boasts an internet penetration rate of 81.8% and a mobile penetration rate exceeding 102%\, figures that rival some of Africa’s most connected nations. The rollout of 5G\, a 513% surge in satellite subscriptions\, and the government’s Last Mile Broadband Connectivity Project are closing the rural‑urban digital divide. The entry of Starlink into the Zimbabwean market\, which became operational in mid‑2024 and has since expanded its coverage across much of the country\, has been particularly impactful. Its high‑speed\, low‑latency satellite internet service has provided a viable alternative to traditional fibre and mobile broadband\, especially in rural and remote areas where terrestrial infrastructure remains limited\, and has attracted significant uptake among businesses\, educational institutions\, and households. Mobile money has transformed daily commerce\, with 96% of all transactions now digital\, positioning Zimbabwe among Africa’s leaders in financial inclusion. The government is working on expanding Digital Public Infrastructure under NDS2\, with AI readiness as a core priority. The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026–2030) has been approved\, and a US$400\,000 Innovation Hub has been unveiled to accelerate digital transformation. The growing adoption of Starlink\, alongside other satellite-based services\, underscores the shifting dynamics of connectivity in Zimbabwe\, yet persistent affordability barriers mean that the digital divide remains entrenched. The relationship between technology\, informalisation\, and economic development therefore requires further scholarly attention. \n\n Implications for Research\, Theory\, and Public Policy\n\nThe changes in Zimbabwe’s political economy since 2000 have had profound impacts on the field of social sciences. Scholars within disciplines such as economics\, political science\, sociology\, rural and urban planning\, anthropology\, economic history\, political economy\, and development studies have been prompted to re-evaluate their approaches\, methodologies\, and research agendas in response to these developments. Overall\, the progress and challenges in Zimbabwe’s political economy since 2000 have stimulated interdisciplinary research and debate within the social sciences. Scholars have engaged with a wide range of issues\, drawing on diverse theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to deepen our understanding of Zimbabwe’s complex socio-economic and political realities. \n\n Workshop Objectives\n\nWe welcome contributions from scholars working on Zimbabwe’s reconfigured political economy to advance the following objectives: \n\nFoster cross-disciplinary dialogue on Zimbabwe’s political economy.\nEvaluate the impacts of recent socio-economic and political changes.\nIdentify priority areas for future research.\nGenerate policy-relevant insights for inclusive development and social justice.\nEmpower young scholars by providing a platform to showcase their work.\n\n  \n\n Thematic Areas\n\nContributions can focus on\, but are not necessarily limited to\, the following themes: \n5.1 Natural Resources and Mining \n\nThe mining sector and economic development\nResource governance and revenue management\nEnvironmental impacts of mining activities\nArtisanal small-scale miners (ASMs)/Chikorokoza\nFormalisation of the artisanal mining sector\nThe Mines and Minerals Bill\, 2025 and its implications\nHealth and safety in the artisanal mining sector\n\n5.2 Social Policies and Human Development \n\nEducation and health sector reforms/changes\nSocial protection and poverty alleviation strategies\nGender and social equity issues\nThe impact of informalisation on social service delivery\nEducation’s declining value as a social mobility tool\n\n5.3 Economic Reforms and Policies \n\nFiscal and monetary policies\nThe ZiG currency and inflation dynamics\nFinancial challenges and money changers (‘siphateleni’)\nPublic sector reform and privatization\nEmergence of Savings clubs and SMEs\nTuck-shop economy and cross-border trading\nFormalisation of the informal economy\nTax policy and the informal sector\n\n5.4 Agriculture and Land Policy \n\nOutcomes of the land redistribution program\nAgricultural productivity and food security\nSustainable land management and rural development\nLand compensation and its implications\nGender dimensions of land reform\nSocial policy dimensions of land reform\n\n5.5 Urbanisation\, Housing\, and Urban Transport \n\nUrban growth and housing policies\nHousing cooperatives\nInformal settlements and urban poverty\nUrban transport (‘mushika-shika’)\nThe legacy of Operation Murambatsvina\nTitle deeds and land tenure in urban areas\nThe National Housing Fund and infrastructure development\n\n5.6 Migration and Diaspora Engagement \n\nPatterns and impacts of migration\nEngagement with the Zimbabwean diaspora\nRemittances and their economic implications\nShifting migration patterns\nProfessional migration and brain drain\nSouth African immigration policy and its effects on Zimbabwean migrants\nXenophobia and migrant vulnerability\nThe South Africa‑Zimbabwe remittance corridor\nEconomic contributions of migrants to the South African labour market\nProfessional migration and brain drain\n\n5.7 Technology and Innovation \n\nThe role of technology in economic development\nDigital transformation and e-governance\nOnline work/gig economy and technology hubs\nFinancial inclusion and mobile money\nAI readiness and the National AI Strategy\nBridging the digital divide\n\n\n Workshop Details\n\nThe workshop will be held in person in Harare (Venue might change to Marondera)\, under the auspices of the Young Scholars Initiative and the Public Affairs Research Institute in Africa (PARI-Africa)\, formerly the Institute of Public Affairs in Zimbabwe (IPAZ)\, on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December 2026. \n  \n\n Publication\n\nPapers presented at the workshop will be published either in an edited volume or a special issue. More details about the publication will be provided during the course of the workshop. \n  \n 
URL:https://heske.wisdmlabs.net/event/zimbabwes-reconfigured-political-economy-implications-in-research-theory-and-public-policy-2/
LOCATION:Marondera University Of Agricultural Science and Technology\, P.O. Box 35\, Marondera\, Zimbabwe\, Marondera\, Mashonaland East\, 00263\, Zimbabwe
CATEGORIES:An in-person event
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