Conference on Post-liberal Politics – Concepts and Ideas

In association with Kent’s Centre for Critical Thought, the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent is convening a conference on “Post-liberal Politics – Concepts and Ideas”

The focus will be on critique of economic and social liberalism and on alternatives that are fundamentally different from the anti-liberal ideas of populists on the extreme right such as UKIP or the Front National.

David Lammy MP will be the keynote speaker on Monday 23rd June 2014 at 10.30am, followed by a panel discussion.

Other confirmed speakers include:

• Dr Albena Azmanova, BSIS
• Phillip Blond, ResPublica
• John Gaffney, Aston
• Lord Glasman, Labour
• David Goodhart, Demos
• Dr Chris Holmes, Warwick
• Dr Amarjit Lahel, Aston
• Prof. John Milbank, Nottingham
• Dr Jon Wilson, KCL

Conference material, a light lunch and coffee will be provided.

Why Post-Liberalism?

The financial crisis since 2008 and various riots since the early 2000s have called into the question the liberal consensus that defines the centre-ground of British and European politics. Liberalisation seems to have maximised the freedoms and opportunities of the few while leading to greater inequality, poverty, exclusion, discrimination and social fragmentation for the many. However, critiques of liberalism and alternatives to liberal politics are coming to the fore.

The aim of the conference is to examine the post-liberal critiques of liberalism and explore some of the key concepts of post-liberalism, notably reciprocity, mutuality, virtue and vocation. By combining some lectures and short presentations with long panel discussions, the aim of the conference is to have a lively exchange of ideas and a robust debate about post-liberal politics.