Exploring "the Precariat": an interdisciplinary conference
A conference convened by the crime, resistance and security research cluster, School of Applied Social Science
University of Brighton
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Exploring issues from Guy Standing's book The Precariat: the New Dangerous Class, key themes at this conference include:
- Precariousness: Policies and politics;
- Security, control and the precariat;
- Precarious experiences and lived realities.
Speakers so far confirmed include:
- Guy Standing
- Robert MacDonald
- Tracy Shildrick
- Bridget Anderson
- Wendy Fitzgibbon
- Simon Hallsworth [TBC]
- Jacqui O'Reilly
- John Lea
- Peter Squires
- James Treadwell
Whether one agrees with Guy Standing's analysis of the origins of the Precariat: the New Dangerous Class, or not, it is difficult to overlook the emergence of new social and political preoccupations with precariousness – and its implications, within contemporary 'broken', unequal, fragmenting, punitive or neo-liberal society/ies.
Accordingly this day conference will seek to interrogate the various dimensions of precarity that characterise the 'fault lines of the social', whether they be rooted in choice, circumstance or condition; experiences of inclusion or exclusion; discrimination, marginality or resistance; divisions of race, sex, age, gender or identity; or reproduced through the political practices of states, the operation of labour markets or more diffuse cultural or inter-personal processes.
The aim of the day is to offer a critically constructive engagement with the broad themes of Standing's argument both exploring and applying his ideas. We approach this from perspectives informed primarily by criminology, sociology and policy studies but aim to develop a genuinely inter-disciplinary dialogue. Although Standing has signalled the arrival of the 'precariat' as a 'new dangerous class' this is not our only concern: we are as interested in the consequences of 'precarity' be they crime, criminalisation and division, as we are with under-standing the production of 'precarious lives' and the struggles, resistances and conflicts that these entail.
In due course, as in the case of our earlier symposium on Wacquant event, we will be hoping to publish the papers from the symposium in an edited book.
The conference will take place in the Checkland Building, on the Falmer Campus of the University of Brighton, on Wednesday 12 September 2012 from 9am to 5pm.
Guy Standing will open proceedings with a keynote address to be followed by 12-15 invited contributions and concluding with a discussion panel.
Cost for the day : £50 including lunch and refreshments.
Numbers will be limited. To book a place call Peter Squires or Denise Martin or send a cheque (made payable to University of Brighton) or request an invoice:
SASS conferences
School of Applied Social Science
University of Brighton
Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9PH
P.A.Squires@brighton.ac.uk, 01273 643479
D.Martin@brighton.ac.uk, 01273 644591
For further details or enquiries contact Peter Squires, P.A.Squires@brighton.ac.uk, 01273 643479.
