Social Theory and the Politics of Austerity

A round table session from Discourses of Dissent, an event part funded by the Social Theory Centre, exploring how social theory can help us understand the politics of austerity. How do theoretical justifications of austerity work to constrain public debate? How does the current government’s incongruous blend of neoliberal realism and superficial progressivism relate to what went before it? What resources can we find in social theory to critique the coalition’s agenda and its relationship to the wider crisis of late capitalism?

What are we defending when we defend public universities?

Steve Fuller talking about public universities at Discourses of Dissent, an event part-funded by the Social Theory Centre which took place in February 2011.

Public Universities and Public Futures

A round table session from Discourses of Dissent, an event part funded by the Social Theory Centre, investigating how academic research, with a particular focus on social theory, might help us articulate and work towards a positive vision of shared futures which escape the discursive constraints which have defined the public life of the UK since the 1980s.

The session explored the practical resolution of the tensions facing the university system. What are the most pressing issues faced by universities? Is a satisfactory resolution of these tensions possible without radical reform? Is there a need to move beyond critique?

Speakers: Steve Fuller, Dan Hind and John Holmwood

Social Theory and the Politics of Austerity

A round table session from Discourses of Dissent, an event part funded by the Social Theory Centre, exploring how social theory can help us understand the politics of austerity. How do theoretical justifications of austerity work to constrain public debate? How does the current government’s incongruous blend of neoliberal realism and superficial progressivism relate to what went before it? What resources can we find in social theory to critique the coalition’s agenda and its relationship to the wider crisis of late capitalism?

What are we defending when we defend public universities?

Steve Fuller talking about public universities at Discourses of Dissent, an event part-funded by the Social Theory Centre which took place in February 2011.