Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Planet Earth on the background of blurred lights of the city

Global Challenges and Social Justice

Events

May 15

2nd Annual Research Festival on Global Challenges and Social Justice

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 - 11:00 to Friday, May 17, 2024 - 15:00

Online and in-person, Library seminar rooms 1&2

We would like to invite you to join the GCSJ Research Festival on Global Challenges and Social Justice. The festival will bring together a variety of speakers and formats to showcase exciting OU research and give researchers a platform to exchange ideas and expand their networks.

Jun 5

Academic researchers on Fixed Term Contracts (FTCs): human investment versus neoliberal precarity

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 - 12:00 to 13:15

Online

OU speakers will reflect on how they have pursued better job security and career development for research staff on Fixed Term Contracts (FTCs).  In engaging OU procedures, their efforts have faced a conflict between two employment models: human investment versus neoliberal precarity.  

Jun 12

GCSJ Roundtable: Alcohol, Violence and Harm

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - 12:30 to 13:30

Hybrid - Campus in the Hub Theatre & Microsoft Teams

This panel will explore Alcohol-related violence and its significance to global harm

Jun 14

GCSJ Seminar series: Toothless tigers? Regional organisations and democracy promotion

Friday, June 14, 2024 - 12:00 to 13:00

Online, via Microsoft Teams

Since the end of the Cold War, a growing number of regional organisations (ROs) around the world have formally adhered to democracy as common norm and have adopted institutionalised mechanisms to promote, protect and defend it.

Jul 12

GCSJ Seminar series: Mothers, boys' circumcision and a new politics of harm in Kenya

Friday, July 12, 2024 - 12:00 to 13:00

Online, via Microsoft Teams

We explore how Kenyan mothers are becoming involved in male circumcision, which is usually a men-only space. The talk examines new ideas about cultural rights, genital cutting, and harm in the law and ethics in Kenya.

Past Events

GCSJ seminar series: Decentring the human in social science research

19th April 2024

The 'animal turn' has been gathering pace in the social sciences in recent years, with a profusion of critical perspectives emerging that question the anthropocentric roots of the social sciences themselves. This seminar brings together scholars from varying disciplinary backgrounds who share a common concern to unlock the potential of social science research to expand our understanding of who and what counts as part of 'the social'.

How to communicate key findings to policy makers and politicians

26th March 2024

In this session Simon Usherwood will be sharing tips and tricks on how to communicate research findings effectively to policy makers and politicians.

The Religious Toleration and Peace (RETOPEA) H2020 project

15th March 2024

This session reflects on the project Religious Toleration and Peace (RETOPEA), and its ‘Docutube’ method.

GCSJ seminar series: Making sense of global China

28th February 2024

The roundtable presents ongoing work of the REDEFINE project based in SSGS. Our take on the political economy of global China moves beyond the grand geopolitical narratives to explore the often long-standing and hidden processes of connection.

GCSJ Seminar series: Irreversible enlightenments

23rd February 2024

At least from Hegel on, indeed perhaps since Plato and Aristotle, philosophers have cherished the idea of a form of rational progress that is rationally irreversible

GCSJ Methods surgery

29th January 2024

The Centre for Global Challenges and Social Justice (GCSJ) aims to connect PGR students with experienced researchers in the format of a ‘methods surgery’ where practical challenges, obstacles, tips and tricks can be discussed.

Global Extinction Rebellion Research

26th January 2024

The seminar invites short papers from scholars across the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences who are currently researching and writing about the Extinction Rebellion movement, as well as cross-fertilising and intersecting climate activist networks, like Fridays for Future or Just Stop Oil.

Vernon Lee, Polymath and Anti-War Activist

26th January 2024

Vernon Lee (the nom de plume of Violet Paget) was a prolific thinker and writer, active during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In this seminar, Derek Matravers will talk about the rediscovery of her philosophy; Shafquat Towheed will talk on Lee on pacifism and non-violent resistance; and Sally Blackburn-Daniels will discuss her views on conscription, heroism, and waste.

Community-led Policy Innovation for Local Food-Growing

17th November 2023

Community-led Policy Innovation for Local Food-Growing is a seminar that will present a pilot study funded by the OSC programme.

A Global Fund for Social Protection: Lessons from the diverse experiences of global health, agriculture, and climate funds

26th October 2023

This webinar aims to present experiences of setting up global funds across the health, climate and agriculture sectors. Participants will reflect on the lessons to be learnt that can guide further thinking about the implementation of a prospective global fund for social protection.