The 9th NORSA Conference “Regional Outcomes of Global Challenges in the Nordic Countries” organised by the Institute of Sociology at the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, in partnership with Vilnius University and the Nordic Division of the Regional Studies Association, took place in Vilnius between 2nd– 3rd May 2024. The conference was kindly supported by Vilnius City Municipality Administration and the Regional Studies Association.
The conference featured three invited plenary speakers: Jiri Blazek (Charles University, Czech Republic) presented on the roles of system-level agency on the development of regional industries. Maria Tsouri (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway) highlighted the relationships between innovation networks and green transition and the final plenary presentation was by Tiit Tammaru, (Tartu University, Estonia) on trends of counter-urbanisation in the context of digital transition and decreasing urban housing affordability.
Delegates represented all countries of the RSA’s Nordic Division (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden) as well as further afield with guests from Hungary and Poland. The conference presented opportunities to discuss and debate the most recent issues concerned with regional studies and regional policy in Northern European countries and ample networking opportunities resulting in strengthened scientific links across the Baltic Sea and beyond. Plenaries and paper sessions were accompanied by social events such as an informal pre-conference get-together, a conference dinner, a visit to the premises of Vilnius City Council for great views over the city and an energising walking tour with more vistas over the city.
Researchers from the Institute of Sociology presented 7 papers at the conference:
- The Geographical Aspects of the Lithuanian and Hungarian Electoral Systems (Tamás Kovalcsik, Dovydas Vidzbelis);
- An Insight Into Lithuania’s Housing Needs and Issues (Jolanta Aidukaitė, Kristina Senkuvienė, Rūta Ubarevičienė);
- Development of Residential Construction in the Post-socialist Decades: Case of Vilnius and Budapest (Balázs Szabó, Donatas Burneika);
- Riga and Vilnius: Socio-spatial Dimensions of Rivalry of the Biggest Baltic Cities (Zaiga Krisjane, Donatas Burneika, Maris Berzins, Simona Ščerbinskaitė);
- Lithuanian Cities: Decades of Decline and Glimmers of Stability (Gintarė Pociūtė-Sereikienė);
- Migration Flows in Peripheral Rural Places of Lithuania: Searching for Sustainable Opportunities (Edis Kriaučiūnas, Donatas Burneika);
- Can New Settlers Change the Development Trajectories of Peripheral Territories? The Case of Lithuania: Based on the Opinion of Local Communities (Viktorija Baranauskienė, Donatas Burneika, Edis Kriaučiūnas, Rūta Ubarevičienė);
- Urban-rural Disparities in Childlessness Among Men in Lithuania (Daumantas Stumbrys, Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė);
- Attitudes Towards Male Voluntary Childlessness in Scandinavia and Baltic Countries (Vaida Tretjakova, Daumantas Stumbrys).
We would like to thank the team of the Department of Regional and Urban Studies at the Institute of Sociology for their contribution to the organisation and success of the conference!
A NORSA conference is organised every other year in a Nordic country by a member of the NORSA Division. Details on the NORSA Division and its activities can be found at www.regionalstudies.org/network/norsa
Photos: G. Pociūtė-Sereikienė, V. Baranauskienė, Regional Studies Association.
