Inclusive Societies Conference

Professor Rowland Atkinson and Zoe Williams from The Guardian discuss some the issues that have emerged from the conference.

Zoe Williams, columnist for the Guardian and New Statesman describes the 'problem' with society today, discussing Game of Thrones and the upper squeezed middle on the way.

Professor Rowland Atkinson is the Research Chair in Inclusive Society at the University of Sheffield, and his interdisciplinary research crosses the boundaries of urban studies, sociology, geography and criminology. In this presentation, Professor Atkinson describes some of the fascinating urban social problems resulting from gentrification, and the super-rich in UK residential life.

This presentation draws upon research within working class communities in Nottingham and East London, families who rely upon public services, welfare benefits and social housing and since 2010 are being subject to harsh cuts in their welfare benefits through austerity policy linked to the banking crash of 2008. Lisa addresses the key argument that there has been a significant change in representation of how working class people have been negatively re-branded and stigmatised over the last 30 years, and forces working class people from the most interesting and popular places to live in the UK.

Sophie Body-Gendrot, a Ph.D from Sciences-Po, Paris, is a Professor of Political Science and American studies at the Sorbonne and Director of the Center for Urban Studies. This keynote talk describes some of Sophie's interdisciplinary research into urban areas, and concludes with what works in the 'inclusive city'.

Professor Rowland Atkinson introduces some of the themes that will be discussed during the conference.