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Current Postgraduate Students

Dr Francisco R. Klauser

RCUK fellow, Institute of Hazard & Risk Research in the Department of Geography
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 33 42258
Fax: +44 (0) 191 33 41801
Room number: 238

Contact (email at f.r.klauser@durham.ac.uk)

Biography

2006: Postdoctorate Research Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Durham, awarded by Swiss National Science Foundation
2004-2005: Research Associate, Geography Department, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
2001-2002: Research Associate, Geography Department, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Education

Ph.D. (Geography), Fribourg University, 2001-2005
B.Sc. (Geography) University of Geneva, 1997-2001

Research Interests

Bridging the disciplines of Geography, Sociology and Politics, my work focuses on the complex relationships between ‘cities, security and surveillance’ or in more general terms, on the relationships between ‘space, risk and power’. Following on from this, my work falls into three main research areas:

1 Risk, Security and the City

My research agenda aims to explore the multiple processes and relationships through which current developments in security governance are conditioned (1) and to assess the wider spatial, social, political and economic implications of these developments (2). Particular attention is placed on issues of risk and security in the urban environment. Within these broad objectives, a series of more specific research interests can be distinguished:

  • The influence of policing and securitisation strategies with regard to the transformation (regeneration, splintering, commercialisation, social inclusion/exclusion, etc.) of contemporary urban space
  • The processes at work within local, national and international exchanges and interdependences in security governance
  • The growing functional fragmentation of authority in contemporary security governance in general and the growing importance of private companies and technical experts in security matters more specifically
  • Current trends towards an increasing standardisation of previously tested and subsequently exemplified ‘security-models’
  • The role of space and scale in security governance
  • Places of fear in everyday life

In order to investigate the above, my empirical research focuses for example, on risk and security issues

  • in transport hubs such as airports and railway stations
  • in urban planning and urban regeneration initiatives more generally
2 Geographies of Surveillance

My research aims to explore the complex relationships between surveillance and space from diverse perspectives and on various empirically and conceptually informed grounds. In this respect, surveillance is not only questioned in its security dimension, but more generally understood as an ensemble of heterogeneous practices and techniques for the collection, classification and management of information, that have become intrinsically woven into the texture of everyday life. Areas of interest include:

  • The relationships between the fabrics of cities, urban life and new information and communication technologies
  • The role of surveillance in the production and management of everyday urban spaces
  • The effects of surveillance in terms of social inclusion/exclusion
  • Mapping the ‘surveillance business’
3 Conceptualising Human Territoriality

Inspired by authors such as Henri Lefebvre, Peter Sloterdijk and Claude Raffestin, amongst others, my theoretical work aims at rethinking the concept of human territoriality and its relationship to the concepts of power, territory and sphere/space.

  • Synthesis of French, German and English work on human territoriality as a key concept of human geography

The genealogy of the concept, its links to other concepts such as space or power and its potential to rethink spatial aspects of social life on different geographical scales.

Research Groups

  • Centre for the Study of Cities & Regions
  • Government

Selected Publications

Articles: newspaper

  • Klauser, F. 'Caméras en ville: une efficacité préventive limitée'. 24 Heures. 2006;2.
  • Klauser, F. 'Wachstumsmarkt Videoüberwachung. Videokameras sind kein Wundermittel gegen Kriminalität'. Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 2005;9. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. & Ruegg, J. 'Vidéosurveillance: la sécurité contre les libertés individuelles?'. Domaine Public. 2004;6. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'Der grosse Bruder schaut zu'. Neue Luzerner Zeitung. 2000;3.

Books: authored

Books: sections

  • Klauser, F. Claude Raffestin: Ausblicke und Nachwirkungen. In: Klauser, F. Claude Raffestin: Zu einer Geografie der Territorialität. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag; 2010:139-155.
  • Klauser, F. Territorialität als Theorie und Programm. In: Klauser, F. Claude Raffestin: Zu einer Geografie der Territorialität. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag; 2010:9-20.
  • Klauser, F., Ruegg, J. & November, V. 'Airport Surveillance between Public and Provate Interests: CCTV at Geneva Airport'. In: Salter, M. Politics at the Airport. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press; 2008.
  • Klauser, F. 'FIFA Land 2006TM: Alliances between Security Politics and Business Interests for Germany's City Network'. In: Architectures of Fear. Barcelona: Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona; 2008.
  • Klauser, F. 'Spatial Articulations of Surveillance at the FIFA World Cup 2006TM in Germany'. In: Franko Aas K. & et al. Technologies of Insecurity. London: Routledge; 2008.
  • Klauser, F. 'Beschränkte Nachhaltigkeit der Videoüberwachung als präventives Instrument der Revitalisierung von Problemräumen'. In: Zurawski, N. Sicherheitsdiskurse. Angst, Kontrolle und Sicherheit in einer 'gefährlichen' Welt. Frankfurt: Verlag Peter Lang; 2007:61-73.
  • Klauser, F., November, V. & Ruegg, J. 'Surveillance et vigilance dans la sécurité routière. L’exemple de l’autoroute de contournement à Genève'. In: Roux, J. Etre vigilant. L'opérativité discrète de la société du risque. Saint-Etienne: Publications de l'Université de Saint-Etienne; 2006:33-45.
  • Klauser, F. 'Videoüberwachung als Raumaneignung?'. In: Hempel, L. & Metelmann, J. Bild-Raum-Kontrolle. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp; 2005:189-203.
  • Klauser, F. 'La vidéosurveillance de l’espace public: Nouvelle forme d’appropriation spatiale?'. In: Vodoz, L. NTIC et territoires, Enjeux territoriaux des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication. Lausanne: Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes; 2001: 87-94.

Journal papers: academic

  • Klauser, F. Splintering Spheres of Security: Peter Sloterdijk and the Contemporary Fortress City. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. 2010;28.
  • Giulianotti, R. & Klauser, F. Sport Mega-Events, Security and Risk Management: Towards an Interdisciplinary Research Agenda. Journal of Sport and Social Issues. 2010;34.
  • Klauser, F. Überwachungskamera. ArchPlus. 2009;191/192:127.
  • Yu, Y., Klauser, F. & Chan, G. Governing Security at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. International Journal of the History of Sport. 2009;26:390-405.
  • Klauser, F. Interacting Forms of Expertise in Security Governance: The Example of CCTV Surveillance at Geneva International Airport. British Journal of Sociology. 2009;60:279-297.
  • Klauser, F. Lost Surveillance Studies. A Critical Review of French Work on CCTV. Surveillance and Society. 2009;6:23-31. (Additional information)
  • Klauser, F. 'Difficulties in Revitalising Public Space by Video-Surveillance'. European Urban and Regional Studies. 2007. (Additional information) (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'Disturbances in the Sensory Experience of the City: CCTV and the development of an unreal urban parallel world'. The Senses and Society. 2007;2:173-188. (Additional information) (View publication online)
  • Ruegg, J., Klauser, F. & November, V. 'Du citoyen et de la civilité. Réflexions à partir de l'exemple de la vidéosurveillance'. Lien Social et Politique. 2007;127-139. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'Akzeptanz der Videoüberwachung in öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln der Schweiz'. Verkehr und Technik. 2005;108-110. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'CCTV of Street Prostitution in Switzerland'. Urban Design Forum. 2005;UDFQ72. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'A Comparison of the Impact of Protective and Preservative Video Surveillance on Urban Territoriality: the case of Switzerland'. Surveillance & Society. 2004;2:145-160.
  • Ruegg, J., November, V. & Klauser F. 'CCTV, Risk Management and Regulation Mechanisms in Publicly-Used Places: a Discussion Based on Swiss Examples'. Surveillance & Society. 2004;2:415-429.
  • Klauser, F. 'Die Entwicklung einer Sicherheitsstadt'. Digma. 2004;4:22-27. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'Die Veränderung der urbanen Territorialität infolge der Videoüberwachung des öffentlichen Raumes'. Geographica Helvetica. 2004;106-118. (View publication online)
  • Klauser, F. 'La vidéosurveillance comme mécanisme de production disciplinaire de l’espace public. Une analyse empirique et théorique: l’exemple de la ville de Genève'. Bulletin de l’Association de Géographes Français. 2004;631-645.
  • November, V., Klauser, F. & Ruegg, J. 'Risques sous surveillance: une analyse géographique de l’utilisation de la vidéosurveillance'. Ethique publique. 2002;4:153-164.

Reports: official

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