Annual Postgraduate Research Conference 2024

In a global age of social upheaval, political instability and environmental crisis, it is perhaps easier than ever for political and social movements to present a challenge to the status quo. In this context, how are political movements adapting? Are state actors becoming less tolerant of dissent from citizens? What does the future hold for civil resistance?

The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice Postgraduate Research Conference 2024 features four panels, discussing themes of contentious politics, civil resistance, and state responses to socio-political movements. Attendance is free but registration in advance is crucial to guarantee your place.

Proceedings will begin with a keynote address from Professor Quassim Cassam, Dept. of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, followed by panel discussions and the presentation of papers, and closing remarks from Professor Richard English, Director of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute For Global Peace, Security and Justice.

Liberation Philosophy

By Quassim Cassam.

In A Theology of Liberation, the Peruvian priest and theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez describes liberation theology as one which ‘does not stop with reflecting on the world, but rather tries to be part of the process through which the world is transformed’. Inspired by liberation theology, some philosophers in Latin America developed a ‘liberation philosophy’ that was intended to contribute to the liberation of the oppressed. However, these philosophers found it difficult to explain how their philosophy could be liberatory. One might prefer to think of philosophy as meliorative, as improving human lives, rather than as liberatory. In that case, the challenge is to explain how philosophy can be meliorative. This lecture will reflect on whether philosophy can or should try to be liberatory or meliorative and on what it would take for it to improve the human condition. A liberatory or meliorative philosophy must have a theory of change– a theory of how it can make a difference – and acknowledge the extent to which the guidance it offers must be co-created if it has to have any credibility. Above all, it must avoid simplistic and one-dimensional interpretations of notions like oppression and liberation. The mission of this lecture will be to develop a realistic theory of change for philosophy.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

If you have any dietary requirements or access needs, please contact the Mitchell Institute in advance of the event at [email protected].

Registration opens at 8:45am

Keynote Address: 9:20am

Panel 1: 10:15am - 11:30am

Panel 2: 11:45am - 1:00pm

Lunch

Panel 3: 1:45pm - 3:00pm

Break

Panel 4: 3:20pm - 4:35pm

Closing Remarks are 4:40pm - 5:00pm

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Moot Court, School of Law, Queen's University Belfast, University Square, Belfast, United Kingdom