Fide presents its 2nd International Congress on Nationalism, populism, and identities: contemporary challenges
4th, 5th & 6th April 2022
Jesus College, University of Oxford
The objective of this Congress is to bring together a group of professionals with extensive experience in the subjects proposed for deliberation (see below) so that, from different perspectives, drawing on areas of knowledge and expertise from several countries, in-depth discussions and analyses of the issues can take place. Ultimately, the Working Groups will articulate a set of conclusions and recommendations to be published and disseminated among decision-makers, organizations, industry leaders, and experts with a view to their consideration by the competent authorities.
Cristina Jiménez
President of the Fide Foundation
Christopher Muttukumaru CB
Barrister, Bencher of Gray´s Inn and Chair of the International Academic Council
The Congress is being guided by the strategic advice of Fide’s International Academic Council.
The overarching topic of the congress is Nationalism, populism, and identities: contemporary challenges. In the global context, the growth of nationalism and populism is one of the greatest challenges facing not only Europe but also North and South America and the Asia Pacific. This can be a destructive force if it means that states retreat into an isolationist mindset and away from effective multilateral solutions to perceived cross-border problems.
Nationalism is a form of identity politics and is not to be assumed to be always a negative force. However, the increasing tendency towards radical nationalism and in turn exclusionist populism, even when presented as nationalism, constitutes a major challenge to democracy and the rule of law. Populism can undermine trust in institutions and give rise to intolerance within society. Within the European context, and in addition to the broader international context, there are specific, disturbing populist trends in the EU and the EU’s focus has inevitably turned more strongly towards a number of internal challenges which might pose a serious challenge to the EU’s central aims and its adherence to fundamental rights.
A form of nationalism or identity politics is also discernible in the movement in Europe for more devolved powers or for secession and independence. A related question is whether opportunities for devolved administrations on the international stage might provide a dynamic alternative to independence, whether on their own or in conjunction with purely national or sub-regional measures.
Finally, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the greatest economic and health crisis seen in 100 years. Within the EU and beyond it, emergency powers have been used to close borders unilaterally and to restrict people movement on the ground of protection of public health. The problems over the EU’s Covid-19 rescue packages evidenced at the Council meeting in July 2020 have exposed severe fault lines in EU solidarity, leading some commentators to question the future of the common European project.
The congress is organized under the following topics of discussion, for which working groups of relevant experts have been organized to draft the pertinent papers.
Focused on first, identifying the constitutional, legal, and governance features that are the target of populist critique, and secondly, analysing the challenges that populism poses to constitutional systems and the checks and balances that are required to mitigate those threats and, to the extent possible, mitigate populist constitutional crises
The development of effective policies in the field of health by the EU is not only a necessity derived from the pandemic we are experiencing. It is also a challenge that can greatly help the construction not only of a common space in health, but also to stop criticism from nationalist and populist movements against the EU project. The democratic crisis and the risks for the future EU project are directly related to its social agenda and health is, among them, one of the most relevant for citizens. It can be concluded that moving towards an EU with a common framework in health is moving towards an EU with “good health”.
Understanding why liberalism has failed to secure its dominance is key to successfully wage the battles ahead. The liberal order based on the principles of individual freedom, inclusive governance, property rights and free exchange, globalization and multilateralism, has proven beneficial to many but not to all.
The Congress will cover aspects of the impact of nationalist/ populist policies on the funding of South American pension schemes where there have been unexpected calls on funds to deal with the effects of COVID-19
The Congress will also cover other cross-cutting issues, using free-standing panels on EU refugee externalisation policies, climate change issues (with specific reference to the outcome of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 in November 2021 in Glasgow), and misinformation and free speech in modern democratic societies.
Find below the full programme of the Congress.
On the first afternoon, the Congress will be opened. The initial focus will be on the analysis of the main challenges of climate change, including proposals to address those challenges. There will be a separate discussion on Impact of nationalist/ populist policies on the funding of South American pension schemes: the current status quo and proposals for reform. The day will conclude with a high-level keynote speech on the Sri Lankan experience in respect of the climate change issues.
12.00-12:25pm: Congress Registration
12.30 – 2pm: Welcome Lunch (Dinning Hall)
2.30-3.00pm: Reception and Access to the congress sessions (The Bastion)
3.00-4.30 pm: Plenary session- Panel discussion
Net-zero will need huge investment, new technology, support for developing countries, and to overcome the blocking tactics of populists. How optimistic should we be?
Panel chaired by: Derrick Wyatt QC, Emeritus Professor of Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, Emeritus Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford and formerly a member of Brick Court Chambers, London. Member of Fide’s International Academic Council.
Panelists:
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4.30-5.00 pm: Tea / Coffee The Bastion
5.00-6.00 pm: Plenary session- Panel discussion
Impact of nationalist/ populist policies on the funding of South American pension schemes: the current status quo and proposals for reform
Panel chaired and moderated by Ángel Martínez-Aldama, President of the Spanish Association of Investment and Pension Funds (INVERCO).
Opening and welcome by Juan Ramón Caridad, Member of the Board of Fide Foundation
Panelists:
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6.00-6.45 pm: Keynote Session: Sri Lankan experience of climate change issues – Keynote Speaker: HE Saroja Sirisena, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom
7.15-7.30 pm: Jesus College Hall
7.30-9.15 pm: Welcome Dinner
On the second day, the Congress will start with a keynote speaker Rt Hon Sir John Mummery, formerly a member of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales on the legal profession in England and Wales, followed by several panel discussions on nationalism and populism at the national level, nationalism, populism, and the economy, Constitutional, legal and governance questions in the context of nationalism, and finally a panel discussion on refugees, nationalism, and externalization policies.
09.15-09.30 am: Tea / Coffee The Bastion
9.30-10.00: Keynote Session: The legal profession in England and Wales; how Gray’s Inn fits into the legal landscape; why and how Gray’s Inn values international collaboration – Keynote speaker- Rt Hon Sir John Mummery, formerly a member of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. Bencher of Gray’s Inn (member of the governing council).
10.00-10.55 am: Panel discussion: Working Group: Nationalism and populism at the national level
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11.00-11.30 am: Coffee break – The Bastion
11.30-12.25 pm: Panel discussion: Working Group: Nationalism, populism, and the economy (1)
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Sub-group 1: Globalisation and Populism.
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12.30-1.30 pm: Lunchtime – Dining Hall
1.40-2.45 pm: Panel discussion: Working Group: Nationalism, populism, and the economy. (2)
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Sub-group 2: The Future of the EU Project
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3.00-3.30 pm: Coffee Break – The Bastion
3.30-4.25 pm: Panel discussion: Working Group: Nationalism, populism, and the economy. (3)
Subgroup 3: Populism and Inequality
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4.30-5.45 pm: Panel discussion: Working Group: Constitutional, legal and governance questions in the context of nationalism
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5.50-6.45 pm: Panel discussion: Challenges to the EU: refugee externalization policies: nationalism and humanitarianism.
Panelists
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7.00-7.30 pm: Evening drinks – Dining hall
7.30-9.15 pm: Dinner – Dining hall
During the third day, the Congress will be focused on the analysis of nationalism in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic; Covid and the European Union, misinformation, and free speech in modern democratic societies; and presenting the preliminary conclusions from the working groups.
07.15-08.00 am: If the weather permits, delegates may be invited to join a walk around central Oxford, leaving from the front entrance of the College on Turl Street.
09.00-09.15 am: Tea / Coffee The Bastion
9.30-10.00 am: Keynote Session: EU, COVID, and nationalism – Keynote speaker- Professor Ulla Neergaard, Professor in EU Law, University of Copenhagen. President of the Danish Association of European Law
10.00-10.55 am: Panel discussion: Working Group: Nationalism in the context of the Covid 19 pandemic.
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11.00-11.30 am: Coffee Break – The Bastion
11.30-12.30 pm: Panel on Misinformation and free speech in modern democratic societies
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From 12.30-1.30 pm: Lunch – Dining Hall
1.30-2.15 pm: Parallel working groups on Nationalism, populism, and identities: contemporary challenges.
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2.15-2.30 pm: Closure of the Congress by the Directors of the Congress
2.30-3.00 pm: Coffee – The Bastion
Find below all the participants of the Congress.
Among them, International Academic Council (IAC) members, Constructive Friends (IAC members who work closely and provide strategic advice to the WGs directly), Directors of the Congress’ Working Groups (WG), members of the WG, and the speakers of the free-standing panels.
Important note: All members of the Working Groups and panels participate in an individual, non-institutional capacity, although we reflect each participant with their current position in the different working documents to better identify them.
Victoria Dal Lago
Academic Coordinator, Fide Foundation
Cristina Arribas
Co-Coordinator, Fide Foundation
If you’d like to register for this congress of get in contact with the Congress’ Coordinators, please fill out the following questionaire.
