Global Production Networks: Debates and Challenges

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Global Production Networks Debates and Challenges
Neil Coe Martin Hess Geography School of
Environment Development

• A Geographical Political Economy Research Group
  (GPERG) Workshop
• 25-26th January 2007

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Welcome!

• Sponsored by GPERG
• Gavin Bridge Rachel Barker
• Noel Castree Ian Cook
• Neil Coe Lisa Ficklin
• Peter Dicken Tomas Frederiksen
• Martin Hess Ross Jones
• Jennifer Johns Brad Journeaux
• Erik Swyngedouw David Lier
• Kevin Ward Piotr Niewiadomski 
• Vincent Pattison
• Sue Starling

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GPERG Research strand 1 Corporate Networks

• The focus of this strand is on understanding and
  explaining the following
• Global production networks
• Corporate organisation, governance and
  restructuring
• Restructuring in the manufacturing and service
  industries
• State/market boundaries

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GPERG Research strand 2 Governance

• The focus of this strand is on understanding and
  explaining the following
• Regulation and commodification
• Urban and regional economic development
• The governance of firm activities
• Shifting geographies/scales of state activity

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GPERG Research strand 3 Nature and Resources

• The focus of this strand is on understanding and
  explaining the following
• Neoliberalism and the production of nature
• Environmental governance
• Green Marxian political economy
• Extractive industries and the emergence of new
  resource geographies
• Political economies of environmental change

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GPERG Research strand 4 Work and employment

• The focus of this strand is on understanding and
  explaining the following
• Local labour market restructuring
• The expansion of temporary staffing
• The restructuring of the employment relationship
• The possibilities of living wage campaigns

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Round table introductions
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Workshop structure Day 1

• Session 1
• 2.00-2.30pm Welcome and introduction Neil Coe
  and Martin Hess (GPERG)
• 2.30-3.30pm GPNs and multi-level institutional
  frameworks Richard Whitley (Manchester Business
  School)
• 3.30-4.00pm Tea
• Session 2
• 4.00-5.00pm GPNs and non-linearity Alex Hughes
  (University of Newcastle)
• 5.00-6.00pm GPNs and complex governance Tim
  Sturgeon (MIT Industrial Performance Center)
• 7.30pm Workshop dinner (Stock Restaurant,
  Manchester)

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Workshop structure Day 2

• Session 3
• 9.00-10.00am GPNs and multi-scalar
  standards Khalid Nadvi (IDPM, University of
  Manchester)
• 10.00-11.00am GPNs and labour Andrew Cumbers
  (Geography, Univ. of Glasgow)
• 11.00-11.30am Coffee
• Session 4
• 11.30am-12.30pm GPNs and consumption Suzanne
  Reimer (Geography, Univ. of Shampton)
• 12.30-1.00pm Discussants comments
• Peter Dicken (GPERG)
• 1.00-2.00pm Sandwich lunch and departure

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The context
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Workshop objective

• To push forward key conceptual and theoretical
  debates concerning global production networks and
  their impacts on territorial development

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The workshop themes

• 1. Dealing with multi-scalar regulatory and
  institutional contexts?
• 2. Conceptualising non-linear network formations?
• 3. Theorising complex governance structures?
• 4. Exploring the role of standards in GPNs?
• 5. Opening a space for labour, and labour agency?
• 6. Bringing consumption fully into our
  understandings?

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Three important caveats

• The themes are not all-encompassing
• The themes are not independent
• Emphasis on common challenges rather than
  splitting the difference!!

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Rules of engagement!

• Workshop format with plenty of time for debate,
  discussion and reflection
• 30 mins presentations, 30 mins discussion on each
  theme

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Outcomes and outputs?

• Workshop website
• Create/strengthen networks of contacts
• Journal of Economic Geography Special Issue
  early 2008