Attachment to Place in a World of Nations - Charles Maier | Danielle Allen | Paul Romer | Aziz Rana

Over the last two centuries, the nation-state has risen to become the dominant territorial unit of governance, law, economy, and culture. So it remains even in today’s globalized order. Yet for much of world history, other modes of structuring political space prevailed, from great dynastic and religious empires to independent cities, tribal confederations, and local communities. Even today, many people across the globe continue to define their identities in relation to other forms of “attachment to place.” How have diverse forms of place-based identity shaped the political world we live in today? And how do they enrich, complicate, or challenge contemporary democratic societies that are built upon the nation-state system?
On October 5th, the Clough Center launches our year-long exploration of “Attachment to Place in a World of Nations” with a four-part colloquium, featuring an exceptional cast of contributors from a diverse array of disciplines. The colloquium begins with an opening keynote address by renowned sociologist of religion Karen Barkey (Bard), who will speak on “The Vicissitudes of ‘Attachment to Place.” It continues with a panel discussion between Charles Maier (Harvard), an international political historian, and Mohammed Hashas, a historian of Islamic thought, who will offer insight into the past and present role of “place” in the politics of Europe and the Middle East. A dialogue with Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Romer (Boston College) follows, on the nature of citizenship and its connection to place. Finally, the colloquium concludes with a keynote address by the eminent political theorist Danielle Allen (Harvard), on democratic citizenship in the contemporary U.S. Clough Center Faculty Affiliates will preside during each session as discussants and moderators.
This event will be introduced by Jonathan Laurence, Clough Center Director and moderated by Clough Center Faculty Affiliates: Natana Delong-Bas (Theology Department), Paolo Barrozo (BC Law), Chandra Mallampalli, (Clough Center Visting Fellow), and Aziz Rana (BC Law).