News | Tuesday, 20th August 2019
University co-hosts Europe’s largest event for sociologists
ESA conference addresses over 50 research areas including globalisation, nationalism and Brexit
Manchester Metropolitan University is co-hosting Europe’s largest event for sociologists this week.
The 14th European Sociological Association (ESA) conference (August 20-23) sees over 3,000 sociologists flock to Manchester for four days of events, debates and research presentations.
Professor of Sociology Gary Pollock is chair of the local organising committee, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Malcolm Press will give an opening address to the conference. Over a dozen University sociologists and criminologists will also present their research.
This year’s theme is ‘Europe and Beyond: Boundaries, Barriers and Belonging’ and will consider contemporary issues, including the effects of globalisation, nationalism, populism, migration and Brexit.
Shaping debate
Welcoming delegates to the ESA conference, Professor Press said: “Sociologists have an important role in helping to shape public discussion and debate, and provide insight into the profound shifts and changes that are taking place both within Europe as well as on other continents.
“Our sociologists play an active role in public debate, gathering and analysing data, providing evidence to shape policy, and working directly with the most vulnerable communities in our society to strengthen understanding of the challenges they face, and the underlying causes of those challenges.”
Professor Pollock said: “We are really pleased to welcome the European Sociological Association conference to Manchester, where we are lucky to have three great universities, each with a strong sociological presence.
“This year’s conference connects with societal problems on a variety of levels. On the one hand Europe as a political landscape experiencing fundamental debates to do with democracy, political legitimacy, institutional trust and the value of science. On the other, the direct experiences of people who routinely and acutely suffer inequalities as a result of both structural limitations and cultural practices.”
Sociologists have an important role in helping to shape public discussion and debate, and provide insight into the profound shifts and changes that are taking place both within Europe as well as on other continents.
The ESA conference features over 700 sessions at both Manchester Metropolitan and the University of Manchester, as well as the opening ceremony and plenaries at Manchester’s atmospheric Bridgewater Hall.
Researchers from the Faculties of Arts and Humanities and Business and Law from the University will participate in panel discussions and present research, on subjects as varied as intergenerational justice, digital music fan communities and the Brexit experience for EU nationals in the UK.
