Nationalism

What does it mean to belong—and who decides? Join The Philosophers’ Yard for an evening exploring the promises and pitfalls of nationalism, featuring two thought-provoking talks, interactive breakout sessions, and live poetry from Birmingham Poet Laureate, Ayan Aden.

Our first talk comes from Dr Katie Tonkiss, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Aston University. Katie’s research explores citizenship, statelessness, migrant detention, and the construction of families across borders.

Talk description: For many people, nationalism plays an important role in how they see themselves and others. It can bind people together with shared symbols, stories and even duties. For some it creates a sense of belonging, trust and civic responsibility. But nationalism also has a darker side: it draws lines between ‘us’ and ‘them’, excluding those who don’t fit its definition. In this talk, we’ll explore the power of national identity to unite, and the dangers of letting it divide. Can nationalism ever be truly inclusive – or is exclusion built in?

Our second talk is by Dr Masoumeh Iran Mansouri, Associate Professor in Computer Science at the University of Birmingham and co-founder of the Critical Cultural Robotics Network.

Talk description:There’s a growing push to give robots social and cultural behaviours so that people find them more likeable, trustworthy, and comfortable to be around. But most attempts to make robots “cultural” rely on the idea of national cultures. In this talk, I question that assumption. I examine whether culture can really be reduced to nationality and why roboticists so often make that connection. I also explore what it would mean for robots to “have” culture at all, and whether we even want robots to have culture defined in this way.

Who are these events for?

Our events are open to everyone—whether you’re a student of philosophy, completely new to the subject, or simply curious. Each gathering is designed to offer something for all, with space to listen, learn, and share ideas in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere

Quotes from past attendees:

The discussion was beautifully constructed and it was an absolute joy to engage with people in so many different ways

It’s an amazing space that encourages conscious thinking and expression. I love it, thank you!

These events are amazing, I love them! Keep it up - it makes the world better 🙂

Ticketing

Please note that there are three ticketing options:

• General admission, £8
• Donation ticket, where you can select how much to pay
• If paying for a ticket is not financially feasible for you or our ticketing system presents some other barrier, please contact [email protected]. We have a small number of free tickets that will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis, no questions asked.

As a registered charity, all revenue generated from tickets will go, in full, towards supporting Philosophers' Yard events and activities.

Find out more about The Philosophers's Yard or about our other philosophy events on our website.

Info: Ayan Aden is a British Somali poet, cultural strategist, and community builder shaping the future of poetry and representation in the UK. As Birmingham Poet Laureate (2024 - 2026), she uses language as both art and infrastructure- creating systems, platforms, and festivals that centre identity, healing, and creative empowerment. Through initiatives like Somalinimo UK, the British Somali Poetry Collective, and the Birmingham Poetry Network, Ayan reimagines how culture can be built collectively, ethically, and with purpose. Her work stands at the crossroads of art, policy, and people transforming poetic vision into sustainable change.

Info: Katie Tonkiss is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Aston University. Her work explores (non)citizenship and belonging. Through her research Katie has explored topics including statelessness, migrant detention and anti-border activism. Most recently her work has focused on the social construction of the family across borders. Katie’s research has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the British Academy and the European Commission.

Info: Masoumeh Iran Mansouri is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham. She has several complementary research interests, ranging from developing AI-driven algorithms for robots operating in unstructured environments to exploring topics at the intersection of cultural theories and robotics, as well as critical approaches to understanding the impact of AI on society, how this is contested, and the alternative forms of AI that might be possible. She is the co-founder of the Critical Cultural Robotics Network at the University of Birmingham.

Info: After the talks, attendees can join breakout sessions to explore the ideas further. Katie’s session invites participants to reflect on symbols of nationalism and how they communicate belonging or exclusion. Masoumeh’s session asks if you were to programme a robot with some notion of culture, what you would choose to include (or exclude).

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