Identity and a sense of belonging are symbiotic in their nature: they are at the core of our social lives.
The way in which we choose to identify ourselves, or how others identify us, whether in social situations or institutionally, depends on factors such as employment, gender, ethnic background, age and religiosity.
Within this context, our 2018-19 series on 'Identities & Belonging' is exploring:
- How governments can promote the multiple faiths, cultural differences, values, and viewpoints that characterise a pluralistic society
- Whether it is possible for society to accommodate diversity peacefully
- How society can foster constructive cohesion across social classes and different cultures.
We will address these pressing societal and ethical issues through an interdisciplinary exploration of the interplay between increasingly fluid identities and visions of belonging.
You can follow news and updates on the series on Twitter at #CLidentities.
Events in the series
Exploring Identities and Belonging
Cumberland Conversation
18 October 2018
What Should it Mean to be British?
Cumberland Lodge Debate in Mayfair, London
22 October 2018
Race in Britain: Inequality, Identity, Belonging
Cumberland Conference
1-2 November 2018
Commonwealth and International Student Christmas
Residential retreat (for international students studying in the UK)
17-19 December 2018
Democracy in Crisis? Moral and Spiritual Resistance
Workshop in partnership with the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ)
7 January 2019
Difficult Histories and Positive Identities
Cumberland Conference
25-26 February 2019
Working Identities
Cumberland Conference
11-12 March 2019
Understanding & Policing Gangs
Round-table conference
21-23 June 2019
Narrating Identities, Shaping Belonging: Religion and the Media
Media & Public Culture Forum
5-7 July 2019
Look out for further information, coming soon.
Life Beyond the PhD
Residential conference (for doctoral students and early career postdoctoral researchers)
27-31 August 2019
Find out more about this annual event here.
Find out more
Download the series brochure from this webpage for further details of this year's events.
Places at the events are deliberately limited because we aim to ensure a balanced and diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives. However, we welcome all enquiries about attendance.
Take part
To register your interest in participating in our round-table residential conferences, consultations or workshops, please contact our Programme Department at enquiries@cumberlandlodge.ac.uk or call 01784 497796.
Please also share details of the events with friends of colleagues who might be interested. You can keep in touch with all our news and events by signing up to our mailing list for periodic e-newsletters here.
Student bursaries
We offer student bursaries to enable those in third level education with limited financial means to attend our conferences. For an application form and more information please email our Education Officer, Dr Rachel Smillie or Assistant to the Education Officer, Alice Wigley.