Karlstad
Schweden
The purpose of this symposium is to gather academics who share a sense of urgency and responsibility to study the practices and effects of contemporary manifestations of power, politics, and governing. The symposium is directed towards scholars broadly working with anti-foundationalist perspectives, such as – but not limited to – Discourse Theory, Governmentality Studies, Science and Technology Studies, and Assemblage Thinking.
This free-to-attend symposium is hosted by the PPG research group at Karlstad University. Together we seek to explore themes and questions related to knowledge interventions from anti-foundationalist perspectives. How do we contribute to relevant and impactful research in these times of turmoil? How do we develop and strengthen our conceptual and analytical repertoire? How do we protect and defend our normative and analytical foundations in academia?
The program includes a central keynote on this theme and three panels with invited speakers that will approach this topic from three broad empirical entry points: Space, Technology, and Marketization. Participants will also work in collaborative workshops to deepen the discussions further through collective work. In conjunction with the symposium, a PhD Course will be organized for a maximum of 10 participants.
When: 21-22 of August 2025, (23 of august if you also participate in the PhD course)
Where: Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
Cost: Both the symposium and the course are free of charge, including lunches, coffee and a dinner. Please note, however, that the number of places are limited.
Please follow the link for more information about both the symposium and the PhD course.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: WILLIAM WALTERS
William Walters is a Professor of Political Sociology, jointly appointed in the Departments of Political Science and Sociology & Anthropology at Carleton University, where he also served as the FPA Research Excellence Chair (2019–22). His academic background includes an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Imperial College London, followed by graduate studies in political science at City University of New York and York University, Toronto.
His research spans political sociology, political geography, citizenship studies, security and insecurity, and Foucault studies. Over the years, he has examined topics such as unemployment, supranational governance in Europe, migration, and, more recently, secrecy. A central theme in his work is the effort to denaturalize social experiences and categories, analyzing their intersections with various political dynamics.