Carceral Liberalism Symposium

As the world confronts fascism, authoritarianism, imperialism, and genocide, this two-day symposium brings together scholars, organizers, and artists to address the limitations of liberal responses.

UIC faculty, including …
Susila Gurusami
Helen Jun
Patrisia Macías-Rojas
Nadine Naber
Nicole Nguyen
A. Naomi Paik
Dasha Pruss
Atef Said
Barbara Sostaita
Ash Stephens
David Stovall
Julian Thompson
Soledad Velasco

in conversation and community with …
Lisa Bhungalia – University of Wisconsin-Madison
Roderick Ferguson – Yale University
Demita Frazier – Founding member Combahee River Collective
Bridget Kenny – University of the Witwatersrand
Ilā Ravichandran – University of Washington Tacoma
Dylan Rodriguez – University of California Riverside
Lana Tatour – University of New South Wales
Damon Williams – Respair Media
and more.

In recent years, critical scholars have used the term “carceral liberalism” to explore the repressive foundations of liberal regimes and the contradictions of neoliberal reforms that combine limited social support with expanded state violence.

Do liberal cities, states, and institutions protect vulnerable communities from repression? Do they extend protections to all or rely on criminal records, political docility, and wage discipline to determine the limits of liberal acceptability? What can be done to push beyond these limits and center the humanity of the most vulnerable? What can we learn about carceral liberalism from cities across the United States today? What can we learn from mid-20^th century fascist and colonial regimes? And what can we learn from struggles for liberation in South Africa, Palestine, and across the global South?

The first day of the symposium will involve intimate conversations among a small group of faculty, students, artists, and organizers.The second day will feature open public discussions on carceral liberalism in an age of fascism.

Co-organized by Andy Clarno (University of Illinois Chicago) and Korey Tillman (Northeastern University). With funding from the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes, the UIC Institute for the Humanities, the UIC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the UIC Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, and UIC Social Justice Initiative.