The Ethics of Citizenship in the 21st Century

All conference proceedings will be held in Aula 30, 2nd floor of Edificio Central, University of Navarra.

Since the emergence of the Athenian polis over two millennia ago, the concept of citizenship has played a central role in the self-understanding and internal organization of Western societies. However, with the advent of an increasingly fragmented and globalized world, in which the traditional locus of citizenship, the state, seems to be increasingly threatened in its social relevance and power by global economic actors from without, and by moral, religious, and political tensions from within, the future of citizenship as the proverbial “glue” of society seems to hang in the balance. This conference aims to investigate the meaning and value of citizenship in the modern world, with a view to developing ethical ideals of citizenship and public life adapted to contemporary institutions and social practices. Questions to be explored include: What are the virtues that define, or ought to define, the good citizen? Should the central paradigm of citizenship remain state and nat ion-based, or should we adopt a more pluralistic and/or cosmopolitan approach? What role, if any, should religion play in the definition of citizenship? Is it possible to reconstruct an ideal of citizenship that is both ecumenical among diverse cultures and worldviews and simultaneously “thick” enough to capture our imaginations and loyalty? Indeed, to what extent, if at all, should we continue to rely on traditional political categories such as citizenship to guide our public life?

The conference will bring together scholars who study the practice of citizenship from a variety of different perspectives, and is designed to foster serious dialogue and conversation among participants. For each paper, the presenter will have 45 minutes to present, followed by a critical response of approximately 15 minutes, and 30 minutes of open discussion among all of the participants. If you are interested in attending the conference, please contact David Thunder ([email protected]) so that we can make an accurate estimate of the number of participants. Below, please find a preliminary schedule:

Friday 30th May

9:30 Conference Registration

10:00 Introduction by David Thunder

10:15 “What is it Like to Be a Good Citizen?” - Simon Keller (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand)

11:45 Coffee Break

12:15 “The Affective Dimension of Citizenship in a Changing World” - Emma Cohen de Lara (Amsterdam University College, University of Amsterdam)

13:45 Lunch Break

15:45 “Autonomy and the Attitude of Toleration” - Ryan Davis (Harvard University)

17:15 Coffee Break 17:30 “Varieties of Citizenship and the Moral Foundations of Politics” - Bill English (Harvard University)

18:55 Conference Sessions Conclude

Saturday 31st May

10:00 “Conscientious Citizenship: A Philosophical Examination of Conscience Claims in the Public Sphere” - Angela Miceli (University of Navarra, ICS)

11:30 Coffee Break

12:00 “From Social Practices to Reflective Agency: A Postsecular Ethics of Citizenship?” - Paolo Monti (Università Cattólica del Sacro Cuore, Milan)

13:30 Lunch Break

15:30 “The Creative Dimension of Citizenship and Its Neglect in Law-Based Paradigms of Justice” - David Thunder (University of Navarra, ICS)

17:00 Conference Sessions Conclude