Planning in the Face of Fascism - PN Conference

Name: Planning in the Face of Fascism - PN Conference
Start: 2026-05-08T08:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-10T15:00:00-04:00
Location: University of Toronto

Schedule

Fri, 08 May, 2026 at 08:30 am to Sun, 10 May, 2026 at 03:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

University of Toronto | Toronto, ON

Planning in the Face of Fascism
PN's 50th Anniversary Conference
Toronto/Tkaranto, May 8-10, 2026
Call for Submissions
Planners Network, a network of progressive planners, academics, students and activists based in North America, also known as Turtle Island, and beyond, is seeking proposals for the conference celebrating its 50th anniversary: Planning in the Face of Fascism. The theme of this conference engages the pressing political challenge confronting progressive people around the world, namely, the global resurgence of the phenomenon popularly known as fascism. While there are of course still academic debates on the proper name to grasp the nature of the current conjuncture, it is clear that the various situations in which planners work—in relation to forces of state, economy and people—are being decisively shaped by comparatively varied combinations of authoritarianism and the far right. These contexts are now thoroughly permeated by strands of fascist politics and ideology, notwithstanding the obvious differences between the present state of the world and the conditions that led to classical European fascisms. Under the present circumstances, the progressive principles affirmed by Planners Network have come under unprecedented threats and they are in urgent need of not only vigorous defence but also organized radicalization.
Planners Network therefore invites conference contributions that address the question: how can progressive planners remain true to their vocation in our time of fascism? More specifically and with reference to Planners Network’s Statement of Principles, we are now compelled to ask: as planners resolved to moving away from extractive (neo)colonialism and toward abolition and decolonization; as planners dedicated to moving away from environmental catastrophe and toward climate justice; as planners committed to moving away from patriarchy and toward feminist liberation; as planners organized to moving away from racial capitalism and toward egalitarian socialism; and as planners aligned with social movements transforming society in order to achieve equity and liberation for all oppressed peoples, what kinds of planning theory and practice do we envision today? What planning is to be done here and now?
Planning in the Face of Fascism is open to diverse contributions addressing these questions while advancing the Planners Network’s mission of progressive planning. The organizers of this conference welcome paper sessions, roundtables and workshops devoted in particular (but not limited) to the following broad range of planning topics: borders, policing, surveillance and urbicide; occupations, encampments, protests, popular mobilizations, social movements and radical municipalisms; struggles over land uses, private property, public space, urban design, public and free transit, affordable housing and climate change; planning education, corporatization of universities and professionalization of planning; critical reflections on infrastructures of care, networks of solidarity, social reproduction, gender relations, indigenous sovereignty, colonization/decolonization, imperialism, nationalism, class struggle, internationalism and the Palestine exception in planning.
Those who wish to present their work at Planning in the Face of Fascism are encouraged to submit one of three kinds of proposals by emailing [email protected] with the subject line ‘PN2026 Proposal’ by December 5, 2025:
Papers (15-20 minute presentations).
Paper proposals must include the presenter’s name, email, organizational affiliation (if applicable), title and abstract (maximum 200 words).
Sessions (90 minutes, including three or four papers followed by a moderated discussion with audience participation).
Session proposals must include the names and emails of the session organizer and (three or four) paper presenters, their organizational affiliations, title of the session, titles of (three or four) papers and an abstract including a rationale for the session and brief descriptions of the papers (maximum 300 words,).
Roundtables/Workshops (90 minutes, led by one or more facilitators, opening with a few brief statements by the proposers or designated presenters, followed by guided discussion with audience participation).
Proposals for roundtables/workshops must include the name(s) and email(s) of the organizer(s) and designated participants (if applicable), their organizational affiliations, a title and an abstract describing the purpose, form and content of the proposed activity (maximum 300 words).
The conference organisers will communicate their decisions on proposals submitted on time by January 31, 2026. Individual paper proposals will be grouped into thematically coherent paper sessions of three or four (15 or 20 minute) presentations by the organizers, who may also make minor modifications to proposed paper sessions, roundtables and workshops in order to make the conference as inclusive as possible while ensuring overall focus. In addition to the paper sessions, roundtables and workshops, Planning the Face of Fascism will also feature keynote sessions devoted to the history of Planners Network and the conference theme, tours of Toronto highlighting progressive planning and urban political activism and a moderated open forum on urban political activism, in which participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences from various cities and collectively brainstorm strategic initiatives for progressive planners and activists today. Time for substantive informal conversation, meals and socialization will also be integrated into the conference program.
Planning in the Face of Fascism conference will take place in person over three days, May 8-10, 2026 (Friday morning to Sunday afternoon), at the University of Toronto, located in downtown Toronto, Canada. It is expected that conference participants will attend the entire conference—rather than merely their own session—in collaborative and critical spirit. Confirmed conference participants will be expected to register for the conference on or before March 31, 2026, by paying one of the following registration fees via the conference webpage: http://bit.ly/4n6m0HU (to be updated):
Professionals and tenured academics: $100
Low-income/students: $25
Other participants: pay what you can
Sponsors/donors: contact [email protected]
The conference organizers have secured a limited number of subsidized accommodations in University of Toronto student residences for conference participants, for May 7-11, 2026. Rates for these rooms and other suggestions on accommodation and travel arrangements will be provided via email by January 31, 2026, to those whose proposals are accepted for the conference program. The conference website will be updated with relevant information by January 31, 2026. Logistical questions concerning conference attendance may be directed to [email protected].