【Seminar（3/1）】SRC Survival Strategies Studies Seminar “Informality in Eurasian spaces (and beyond)”

Date： 1 March 2024 (Fri), 10:00-11:30 (GMT+9)

Speaker： Abel Polese (Dublin City University)

Title： Informality in Eurasian spaces (and beyond): from economic to governance approaches

Venue： Room 403, Slavic-Eurasian Research Center (SRC), Hokkaido University, and online via Zoom

Registration for online participation：https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApce2srjspEtNO2TETtWrGunqawkrx5LJN#/registration

Language： English

Organizer： Platform for Explorations in Survival Strategies (SRC)

Contact： Tomohiko Uyama < uyama[at]slav.hokudai.ac.jp>([at] read as @)

Abstract： Based on evidence collected in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and corroborated by findings from other world regions, this seminar will look at the way informality (here defined as “the art of bypassing the state”) can be regarded through at economic but also socio-cultural lenses. Footing on Gudeman’s distinction between the market and the society, we will look at different form of informal practices to engage with a governance interpretative framework. Informality is certainly a phenomenon that originates in economic, or even monetary, practices. However, often the significance and impact of such practices goes beyond its economic one. Informality can be regarded as a feedback mechanism and a tool that can help us evaluate the quality of governance at the national or regional level as well as a way to propose solutions to issues that the government has overlooked or is unable to identify.

Suggested readings： “Informality in Ukraine and beyond: one name, different flavours”
“What is informality? (Mapping) ‘the art of bypassing the state’ in Eurasian spaces – and beyond”