Nationalism
What does it mean to belong—and who decides? Join The Philosophers’ Yard for an evening exploring the promises and pitfalls of nationalism, featuring two thought-provoking talks, interactive breakout sessions, and live poetry from Birmingham Poet Laureate, Ayan Aden.
Our first talk comes from Dr Katie Tonkiss, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Aston University. Katie’s research explores citizenship, statelessness, migrant detention, and the construction of families across borders.
Talk description:
For many people, nationalism plays an important role in how they see themselves and others. It can bind people together with shared symbols, stories and even duties. For some it creates a sense of belonging, trust and civic responsibility. But nationalism also has a darker side: it draws lines between ‘us’ and ‘them’, excluding those who don’t fit its definition. In this talk, we’ll explore the power of national identity to unite, and the dangers of letting it divide. Can nationalism ever be truly inclusive – or is exclusion built in?
Our second talk is by Dr Masoumeh Iran Mansouri, Associate Professor in Computer Science at the University of Birmingham and co-founder of the Critical Cultural Robotics Network.
Talk description:
There’s a growing push to give robots social and cultural behaviours so that people find them more likeable, trustworthy, and comfortable to be around. But most attempts to make robots “cultural” rely on the idea of national cultures. In this talk, I question that assumption. I examine whether culture can really be reduced to nationality and why roboticists so often make that connection. I also explore what it would mean for robots to “have” culture at all, and whether we even want robots to have culture defined in this way.
Who are these events for?
Our events are open to everyone—whether you’re a student of philosophy, completely new to the subject, or simply curious. Each gathering is designed to offer something for all, with space to listen, learn, and share ideas in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere
Ticketing
Please note that there are three ticketing options available via Eventbrite:
General admission, £8
Donation ticket, where you can select how much to pay
If paying for a ticket is not financially feasible for you or our ticketing system presents some other barrier, please contact thephilosophersyard@gmail.com. We have a small number of free tickets that will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, no questions asked.
As a registered charity, all revenue generated from tickets will go, in full, towards supporting Philosophers' Yard events and activities.