Justice at the End of the Supply Chain: Interrogating Amazon’s Logistical Urbanism from the Cloud to the Curb

Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

Armin Beverungen - Speaker

Maja-Lee Voigt - Speaker

Ulf Treger - Speaker

    In this talk we presented some of the findings of the research project „Automating the Logistical City“. Amazon has become a key actor in remaking our cities in the image of what the architectural theorist Matthew Stewart has called „Amazon Urbanism“. We try to trace this Amazon urbanism in its everyday operations of last mile delivery. Here the mundane impact of Amazon on cities becomes apparent, in the way it organizes logistical labour, develops algorithmic architectures, and occupies and refigures space. At the centre of our attention are how Amazon changes labour regimes and algorithmically manages logistical labour, how it enrols particular logics and practices of coding and machine learning (such as competitions) in its operations, and how this impacts urban space. We will in particular draw out questions of justice along the three dimensions, and point to the ways these are entangled, for example with regards to questions of algorithmic justice in labour management or spatial justice in relation to migrant labour.
    21.02.2024

    Event

    DELIVERY EXCEPTION: SUPPLY CHAIN JUSTICE & RECONCILIATION

    21.02.2421.02.24

    Online, United States

    Event: Other