Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the radical transformation of the IRR. To celebrate our history, past, present and future we created a series of events, projects and activities as part of IRR50.
The IRR was proud to present New Circuits of Anti-racism – an IRR50 conference on racism, imperialism and new lines of resistance. On Saturday 15 October 2022, a range of thinkers, scholar-activists and campaigners from the UK, the United States and beyond gathered at King’s College London for a day of reflection, action and imagination. We collaborated with Surviving Society for an exclusive series of podcasts which can be listened to and downloaded below. You can also watch each session via our YouTube channel at this playlist.
1. The revolutionary act: Jenny Bourne, Colin Prescod & John Narayan
Episode one is a conversation on the transformation of the IRR and what the work has entailed since. With Jenny Bourne, Colin Prescod and John Narayan.
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2. The influence of A. Sivanandan’s ideas
A panel on the influence and the continued relevance of A. Sivanandan’s key works. With Suresh Grover, Miriyam Aouragh, John Narayan, Priya Guns and Jenny Bourne.
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3. Radical internationalism and shifts in the global order
This panel charts some of the shifts that are happening to the global world order – the decline of western hegemony, war and imperialism, crises in capitalism – and asks what is the impact of such changes, and what does it mean to be a radical internationalist today? With Rafeef Ziadah, Akram Salhab, Liz Fekete, Avery Gordon, Birkbeck School of Law
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4. New Lines of Black Resistance in the US: undoing racial capitalism and the carceral state with Barbara Ransby and Derecka Purnell
A key note conversation with Barbara Ransby, historian, writer and long-time activist based in Chicago and Derecka Purnell, human rights lawyer and social justice organiser based in the US. Chaired by Surviving Society’s Chantelle Lewis and IRR’s Sophia Siddiqui.
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5. Anti-racist organising today
A roundtable discussion with key anti-racist organisers who have recently co-written important new books on anti-racism, abolition, feminism and the role of the academy. With Azfar Shafi, Ilyas Nagdee, Remi Joseph-Salisbury, Laura Connelly, Shanice McBean and Jasbinder S. Nijjar
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6. Bonus reflection with Liam Shrivastava, Sophia Siddiqui and Chantelle Lewis
Liam, Sophia and Chantelle reflect on the political climate today and the role of anti-racist organising in contemporary society.
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The Institute of Race Relations would like to thank everyone who made IRR50, culiminating in this conference, such a success. In addition to appreciating the generosity from the IRR’s general supporters, we would particularly wish to thank the following: Rainbow Collective, Faisal Hussain and Sujata Aurora for support with promotion and marketing; Surviving Society for post-conference podcast creating and the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust for support for turning conference proceedings into the above content, as well as a forthcoming special issue of Race & Class.