Vol. 2, no. 1. Call for Papers. Water Resilience: Creative Practices—Past, Present and Future
CPCL Issue 2 invites contributions that explore creative practices and cultures of water as well as the physical structures that can promote societal resilience. Today, clean fresh water remains elusive for a good part of humankind. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) identify universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water, as well as equitable sanitation and hygiene, as key goals. Water in rivers, lakes and seas is key to global transportation and under threat from pollution. Moreover, floods and sea-level rise but also changing precipitation patterns and droughts challenge human lives.
Highly recognisable bodies of water and extensive tangible networks of water infrastructure characterize European cities and landscapes. A rich world of narratives, laws, and practices established over centuries has created a complex framework that frames preservation, use and reuse practices today as well as the construction of new fresh and salt-water systems. European choices have shaped colonial and post-colonial practices around the world, making water an indicator of cross-cultural practices.
Researchers have looked at themes of water and heritage but often without recognizing it as an overarching research theme. This special issue posits that water and heritage need to be considered in a connected way. It calls for papers that overcome current disciplinary divides. It aims at arguing that culture plays a key role in people’s engagement with water, water heritage, and sustainable development practices. It invites contributions that place past creative practices connected to water in relation with those of the future, contributions that explore theoretical and methodological investigations and tie them to case studies based on primary analysis. Authors are encouraged to conclude with future oriented proposals on policies, practices, and spaces to create resilient futures for cities, landscapes, and bodies of water.
Contributions will explore (but will not be limited to) the following topics.
European water practices. What are the spatial and conceptual particularities of historical systems for drinking water provision and sewage, and for irrigation and drainage infrastructure in European cities and landscapes? Which regional strategies have proved successful for cities built on water? How have traditional decentralized practices supported local populations? How does private and public water management relate to legal, ecological and economic aspects?
Worldviews and narratives. How have religious, spiritual and other worldviews shaped narratives on water and water heritage? What do these historical practices teach us, for example on environmental pollution and climate change?
Cross-cultural exchange around water. How have private and public actors disseminated and learned from water infrastructures and practices around the globe? What are the remnants in contemporary society and how are they dealt with in policy making, planning, art, or design?
War and peace at a time of changing water systems. Access to water for drinking and transport has long been a key factor in conflicts and wars. What are the physical structures build for and against conflicts around water? Are there examples of water provision that promote and stabilize democracy?
Water at the time of the 4th Industrial Revolution. How does the introduction of new technologies (the internet of things, artificial intelligence) change the relationship of the individuals, nations and corporations to water infrastructures and practices? What can these new technologies mean in terms of renewable and non-destructive energy generation or eco-friendly mobility?
15 Nov 2018 end of submissions
30 Nov 2018 peer-review process and acceptance
30 Jan 2019 end of peer review process and start of copy editing
28 Feb 2019 end copy editing and proofreading
01 Mar 2019 start of article publications
20 Apr 2019 full issue closed
Download CPCL Vol. 2, no. 1 call for papers in PDF
