Research seminar with Sari Hanafi: "Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology"

Abstract:

While the social sciences continue to promote liberal and progressive ideas, how can we explain the persistent shift of many voters toward the right? How do we account for the paradox that, at a time when our language has arguably never been more inclusive and less discriminatory, our cities remain deeply segregated? In the light of peter Magyar election in Hungary, can liberalism accommodate conservatism? In my recent book Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology, I seek to answer these questions by examining how liberals themselves have, in certain respects, distorted the principles of liberalism. Rather than relying on conventional social science explanations—such as the argument that right-wing and far-right populism has simply “lured” voters—the book turns the lens inward. It asks whether part of the problem lies within the liberal and progressive camp itself. The central argument is that responsibility for the chilling climate of polarization does not rest on one side alone. Both camps have contributed, in different ways, to the deepening divides and the emergence of a tense and fragmented political landscape. I examined four themes to show how they have been addressed by symbolic liberals and how the dialogical liberal project that I defend can mitigate their effects. In this talk I will focus on the tension between the Swedish state’s ideals and its policy of removing children from supposedly abusive parents

Bio:

Sari Hanafi is Professor of Sociology, Director of Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies and Chair of the Islamic Studies program at the American University of Beirut and a fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS). He was the President of the International Sociological Association (2018-23). Among his recent authored books: Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology. In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of San Marcos (the first and the leading university in Lima- Peru – established in 1551). In 2022, he became International fellow of the British Academy.