CONF: Space & The Event

Interdisciplinary workshop "Space & The Event" of the Social and Cultural Geography Group in the Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London, 2 Gower Street, London, 26 May 2010, 2.00-6.00 pm

Concepts of 'the event' have taken on an increasingly important role in recent continental political thought in the work of Badiou, Deleuze, Derrida, and Heidegger, amongst others. Although these concepts of 'the event' are multiple and resist consensus all have become central to debates on the nature of political transformations, the political importance of ontological questions, the relationship between order and sovereignty, and the renewed interest in political theology. Whether they have been articulated in relation to appropriation, becoming, rupture, or otherwise, these ideas have largely focused on explicitly temporal understandings of 'the event'. This workshop aims to discuss how 'the event' may be read spatially, and what possibilities this may open for re-thinking radical politics. What effect might an examination of 'the event' have on our understanding of the relationship between space and politics? Conversely, how could a consideration of spatial politics effect our assessment of the nature, scope, and relevance of 'the event'? What bearing does the relationship between space and 'the event' have on other crucial relationships such as between politics and the political, difference and universality, transcendence and immanence, and spatial boundaries and political subjectivities? It is hoped that this discussion may create openings for new understandings of political strategy and spatial practices and enriched conceptions of 'the event'.

The workshop brings together a select interdisciplinary group of academics and graduate students, drawn from across geography, political theory, philosophy, and international relations to consider the relevance of this approach to concepts of 'the event'. General discussion will open out from a series of short papers by speakers addressing the theme in relation to their own work and theoretical approaches: Mustafa Dikeç (Royal Holloway) will discuss Jacques Rancière, Alberto Toscano (Goldsmiths) will discuss Alain Badiou, and, provisionally, Marcus Doel (Swansea University) will discuss Deleuze and Badiou, with J.D. Dewsbury (University of Bristol) acting as respondent.

Please note that this is a closed event with very limited seating available. If anyone wishes to attend or would like any further information on the event, please contact the convenor, Rory Rowan (Royal Holloway): r.h.rowan@rhul.ac.uk

Access to the Gower Street building requires a code which can be obtained at the issue desk of Royal Holloway's building on the corner of Gower Street and Montague Place.

Light refreshments will be provided during at a mid-point break in the programme.