We are delighted to welcome Dr. Henry Wai-chung Yeung as our next colloquium speaker on Monday 13th March.
Dr. Yeung is Distinguished Professor at the Department of Geography and Global Production Networks Centre, National University of Singapore.
Beyond situated knowledges in human geography: “theorizing back” and making (Southern) theory work
Drawing on his forthcoming book manuscript Theory and Explanation in Geography (contracted with the RGS-IBG Book Series for 2023/2024 publication), Dr. Yeung’s presentation reflects critically on the normative stance of theory building and epistemological practices in contemporary human geography, in particular feminist and postcolonial geographies.
Despite the widely acknowledged importance of recognizing one’s situatedness and positionality in geographical knowledge production, the development of reverse discourses in order to theorize back at situated knowledges emanating from Western Europe and North America remains a daunting epistemological challenge in human geography.
Dr. Yeung argues that the recognition of situated knowledges is necessary but perhaps insufficient in theorizing back at and advancing social science understanding of complex socio-spatial worlds. Reflecting on his work in the co-development of the theory of global production networks, he explains how the key concept of “strategic coupling”, grounded in the transformative material realities of East Asia, has been conceived and deployed to theorize back at dominant conceptions of endogenous regional development in Western theories and to “speak back” to mainstream Anglo-American human geography.
Pushing further this situated discourse of global economic geographies, he believes there are necessary reflexive steps for making the theory of global production networks work better, as a “Southern” theory, in explaining the recent “troubles” with global production networks, deglobalization, and decoupling during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
This event will take place in-person and on Zoom, on Monday 13th March from 4:00pm – 5:30pm Pacific.
No registration is necessary for in-person attendance, in Geography Room 215D.
Please register to receive Zoom meeting details.
A fully captioned recording of the event, including a transcript of the discussion, will be sent to all registrants afterwards. Please register in advance if you cannot attend and wish to receive these materials.
If you need any additional support in accessing this event, please contact mary.halton@ubc.ca
