RAI Major Conference
Societies Under Stress
University of Sussex 28-30 July 2027
CALL FOR PANELS
CLOSING DATE FOR PROPOSALS 1stDECEMBER 2026
We are entering into an era which appears to be unprecedented in terms of the multiple stresses, whether from famine, economic decline, war, health or climate that countries and often whole groups of countries and their respective societies are exposed to. We hope to encourage a cross-disciplinary dialogue with institutions and departments that have an interest in discussing these pressing questions together. We welcome panels which treat broadly the way that anthropologists and others may study societies under stress: the way that they may react unexpectedly, what happens to human relations, social organisation, and human cultures in such contexts.
There is likewise a pressing need to understand better how, why and with what justification humanitarian intervention may take place. In a rapidly changing world, how do we care for each other locally, nationally and transnationally? Recent fundamental changes in the readiness with which international actions are funded, as well as a deeper appreciation of the complexity of relations between the donor and beneficiaries appear to have given rise to a reticence but with what consequences?
Without in any way wishing to restrict themes that might be covered, proposals would be particular welcome which offer topics in the following areas aimed at stimulating discussion
- How can case studies based on anthropological fieldwork help us understand the consequences of stress on communities?
- How can we develop capacity to understand better what happens in human societies during times of economic contraction; with loss of population; with conflict, often with all these occurring at the same time?
- How do societies cope with pandemics or with threats due to climate change?
- How can societies continue to help one another through humanitarian actions, even as our basic categories (legal and otherwise) of international assistance are being rethought?
- How can we study changes in culture, including material culture, in societies under extreme stress, such as displacement or dispersal?
- How can we understand resilience better? How may societies recover from unusual stress?
- How can we understand better the changing international and transnational frameworks that are aimed at alleviating localised stress?
A panel may consist of conventional paper presentations, or consist of a round-table or workshop. It may include also explorations of film or other multi-modal presentations.
The conference will be in person, with virtual events taking place before hand in order to enable a preliminary discussion of the conference’s themes, and also hear from those who are unable to attend in person to be part of its discussions.
Conference Partners
We are delighted to partner with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Sussex and the Department of Anthropology at Maynooth University.
Inquiries
Inquiries may be addressed to admin@therai.org.uk
Background Notes
The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is the chartered institution for anthropology in the United Kingdom. It organises meeting and events, has a large library at the British Museum, and publishes the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, the journal of record for anthropology in this country. More about its work may be seen here: www.therai.org.uk.
Since 2012, the RAI has been holding large conferences on a theme that is of wide applicability, amongst them Anthropology and Education (2024), Anthropology, AI and the Future of Human Society (2022); Anthropology and Geography (2020); Art, Materiality and Representation (2018), and Anthropology, Weather and Climate Change (2016). More information about these conferences may be found here: RAI Conferences – Royal Anthropological Institute.
We are delighted to return to Sussex having very fond memories of MAGic, a large conference organised by the RAI Medical Anthropology Committee and the EASA Medical Anthropology Network in the university in 2015
Click Here, To go to the RAI Conference Webpages to Submit a Panel.
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