CFP: The Politics of Critique

What is the meaning of critique today?

Riot, revolt, protest, occupation: the current historical conjuncture is marked by the confluence of multiple crises and the (re)emergence of oppositional activity against the political and economic status quo.  In defiance of the powers that seek to entrench inequality, movements across the world have emerged to act as living forms of critique.  Yet what we understand as critique - and what we understand as its politics – remains a pressing question.  We must therefore ask: what might the politics of critique mean for societies experiencing seismic shifts in light of the crises of the past decade?

This conference challenges engaged intellectuals to think though the revolutionary heritage in light of the extraordinary changes of the past decade.   It is an opportunity to look back in order to look forward; to situate ourselves theoretically and politically in relation to emergent forms of struggle and resistance; to re-imagine the stale binary of reform and revolution;  to question the relationship between theory and praxis; to rearticulate and reinvigorate the politics of critique.

We invite researchers from across the humanities and social sciences, particularly post-graduate students, to contribute to this interdisciplinary conference with papers that explore the above themes.  The event is the culmination of a year long seminar series which featured lectures from well known participants and commentators on the role and place of critique in contemporary society. These include Benjamin Noys, Saul Newman, Mark Devenney, Nina Power, Diana Coole, Alan Finlayson, Sarah Franklin, Costas Douzinas, and Howard Caygill.  Alongside keynote addresses, the conference will include both panel sessions and themed workshops convened by one or a combination of academics.

Abstracts of around 300 words should be sent to [email protected] no later than 2nd May 2012.  Presentations should be 20 minutes in length.  Conference fee is £40, which includes inter-session refreshments.

This event is hosted in collaboration with:

CAPPE (Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics, and Ethics)  
CRD (Centre for Research & Development)