On both sides of the Atlantic, drug use is a highly contested issue in urban public space. During this roundtable, participants will discuss and analyze the medical, political, and spatial aspects of governing intoxicating substances in New York, Berlin, Amsterdam, and beyond. How have conflicts around public drug use impacted the social and cultural fabric of cities in the late 20th and early 21st centuries? How are urban policies intertwined with addiction treatment and police interventions of contested sites? For this roundtable, they will bring together experts from the US and Europe, to explore the ways in which particular user groups (such as ethnic minorities) have been targeted or treated differently, and assess the impact of drug policy strategies on the wellbeing of users. Are there noticeable differences or similarities between US and European strategies and approaches? Furthermore, what kind of opposition and activism have they generated? How does the governance of drug use play into forms of urban exclusion, marginalization, and integration - particularly in relation to issues of gender, class, race, and disability? Roundtable with inputs by Gemma Blok (Open University, Netherlands), Samuel K. Roberts (Columbia University, New York), Matthew Vaz (CUNY, New York), Frederieke Westerheide (Halle University Halle). Moderation: Stefan Hohne (KWI Essen). The roundtable format will allow the audience and panelists to exchange ideas and experiences in an informal setting - sitting around a large table.
New York City, NY; NYC