Engin Isin is a key contemporary thinker of citizenship. Over the past four decades, he has challenged traditional views of citizenship as a legal status granted by the nation-state and instead re-defined it as struggle. 

Isin writes about how people can exercise political agency through disruptive “acts of citizenship” aimed at countering domination and promoting emancipation. You are invited to a lunch conversation with Isin on the contested meanings of citizenship.

Event format

During this lunch seminar, Isin will explain some of the theoretical and methodological challenges of writing his most recent book, Citizenship (2024), considering the tumultuous historical moment in which we are living. This will be followed by an open conversation, where you can share your take on citizenship (from dismissing to radicalizing it), and the difficulties you may also find in grappling with it.

A light vegetarian lunch will be served.

About the speaker

Engin Isin is Professor Emeritus of International Politics at Queen Mary University of London.