CFP: Perspectives on Agency and Disadvantage

University of Turku, Finland, July 2–3 2025

This two-day interdisciplinary workshop explores human agency in the context of social interaction and social structure. We invite academics across philosophy, psychology, and related disciplines to present new work on any aspect of the interaction of agency and disadvantage to share theoretical insights, empirical research, and practical social and political applications. The workshop is hosted by the Agency as Experience and Capacity: Social Mechanisms, Political Implications project at the University of Turku, supported by the Kone foundation. The event is organized by Polaris Koi, Anssi Bwalya and Joonas Martikainen.

The keynote speakers are:
Jeanette Kennett (Philosophy, Macquarie University)
Nelli Hankonen (Social Psychology, Tampere University)
Lilian O’Brien (Philosophy, University of Helsinki)

The workshop is about the relationship of agency and disadvantage, broadly conceived. Contributions in philosophy, psychology, and other relevant disciplines, such as social sciences, are warmly welcomed. We are interested in both theoretical and empirical work across topics including, but not limited to, the following:

Agency, disability, and impairment
Political agency and social exclusion
Sense of agency and socioeconomic disadvantage
Supporting agency in disadvantaged populations
The social determinants of self-efficacy
Social injustice and breakdowns of agency
Mental illness and autonomy
Decision-making and disadvantage
Politicized conceptions of agency
Oppression and autonomous action
The social mechanisms of self-control
The self-control ethos and (Western) culture
Social and individual factors shaping agency beliefs
Agency beliefs and real-life outcomes
Agency in the digital age

To be considered as a speaker, please submit an abstract of 500 words as an anonymized PDF file to [email protected] by March 16th. In the accompanying e-mail, please give full author details.

Speaker selection is based on a combination of abstract quality, diversity and fit of topics, and diversity of career stage. Results will be communicated by April 4.

We have space for around 12 papers. The workshop is free of charge for both speakers and audience. Two lunches, coffee, and one dinner are covered for all speakers. While we are unable to cover the travel expenses of all speakers, we are able to cover travel and accommodations for a limited number of speakers based on need. If you wish to be considered for travel assistance, please note that in the e-mail accompanying your submission. This in no way influences the abstract selection process.

The event will be livestreamed, so the audience can also participate online. Information about registration for online and on-site participation will be circulated in April. Updates will be posted on this web page.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Polaris Koi at [email protected]

The event will be livestreamed, so the audience can also participate online. Information about registration for online and on-site participation will be circulated in April. Updates will be posted on the event's web page: https://sites.utu.fi/agencyproject/2025-agency-and-disadvantage-workshop/

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Polaris Koi at [email protected]