Solidarity Against Tribalism: the Contemporary Challenge

A 'solidarity' model necessarily stands in opposition to political 'tribalism' and the fragmentation of the human good into diverse and competing programmes. Is it possible to pursue an ideal of solidarity that takes seriously the facts of 'intersectional' injustice and suffering without being trapped in an 'identity politics' that divides or paralyses the work of building a genuinely shared public space? The lecture argues the need for a radical theological foundation for any such aspiration by way of the exploration of understandings of human 'dignity'.

This year the Bampton Lectures will be given by the Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams PC, FBA, FRSL, FLSW. A former Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop of Wales, Rowan Williams has written extensively on faith in the public square. In these lectures, Dr Williams will return to the theme of solidarity, exploring its roots in Catholic Social Thought and exploring how a solidarity-shaped ethic might serve to address some of the issues at the heart of our public life.

The lectures will take place on Tuesday 27 February and Tuesday 5 March 2024. For graduate students, there will be an additional seminar to discuss the themes of the lectures. Further details are available from the Faculty of Theology and Religion.