IKOS PhD seminar: 'For a critical use of the concepts of Identity, Culture and Religion in contemporary research in political and social sciences'

The seminar aims to propose a critical use of these concepts and will show how this critical approach allows for a better understanding of the fields of research. Our approach is as much pragmatic as it is theoretical: how to better understand a field of research, how to fine-tune analyses on topics that have been already largely covered by previous research and how to draw practical  conclusions on "hot" current issues.

A very wide range of research on contemporary issues (migration, radicalisation, political mobilization, populism, nationalism, fundamentalism, multi-culturalism, minorities, gender etc.) makes an abundant use of the three concepts of "identity," culture," and "religion." But these concepts are often considered as self-evident and tend to refer to each other. Identity is often used to "soften" a reference to religion, while religion, when not correlated to a cultural identity, is often referred to in negative terms (fundamentalism, radicalism). The expression "cultural identity" attributed to a community is rather redundant (what about a non-cultural identity?). By definition cultural studies tend to consider religion as an intrinsic part of culture, which is particularly evident in the field of "multi-culturalism".

The course will be a combination of keynote lectures and discussion of texts. Participants are required to write a paper where they reflect on how their own research connects with or relates to the required reading (see reading list below). The papers are presented and discussed during the course. 

Who can apply?  Open for all

Convener: Professor Olivier Roy, European University Institute in Firenze and Postdoctoral Fellow at Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages Maria Birnbaum

Application

Sign up by e-mail to kari.andersen@ikos.uio.no within 4 March.

ECTS Points:

This PhD course will give from 1 ECTS point for participation, and 3 ECTS points for participation and paper presentation.

Reading list

Published Jan. 16, 2019 1:50 PM - Last modified Dec. 6, 2022 3:36 PM