The Culture and Politics Research Group (CPRG) brings together scholars interested in power, conflict, and ideas. CPRG's aim is to build a collaborative community of scholars.
CPRG is a space for postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members to discuss the impact of selected readings on their research and thinking. They also consider joint projects and share ideas.
Texts discussed are published or developing studies of power relations in culture and politics. Subject matter includes:
- the role of ideas and intellectuals,
- ideological groups and social movements,
- popular opinion and the public sphere,
- revolution and political change,
- war and social violence.
This year’s theme is Encounters with Critical Theory.
Format
- The group meets four times a term.
- Participants read a pre-selected text before each meeting. The text can be a published academic article, book chapter, or drafts by group members. See details of this term's readings below.
- Sometimes guest speakers or group members are invited to present their projects
- Discussions are open, rigorous, and challenging.
Convenor and contact
Click here to join the CPRG mailing list.
For more details on participation and involvement, please contact the convener, Santiago Vargas-Acevedo sv471@cam.ac.uk.
The CPRG team is Zeina Al-Azmeh (za268), Patrick Baert (pjnb100), Hazem Kandil (hk376), Sebastian Raza Mejia (slr75) and Santiago Vargas-Acevedo (sv471).
Michaelmas 2025 Upcoming Meetings
Venue: Sociology Board Room, Free School Lane
Monday 27 October | 14.00 - 15.00
Reading: Chambers - Politics of Critical Theory
Monday 10 November | 14.00 - 15.00
Reading: Kellner - Critical Theory & Crisis of Social Theory
Monday 24 November | 14.00 - 15.00
Reading: Luc Boltanski- O n Critique (Ch1 and Ch2 until page 22)
Image: 'Change the Politics' by Joanna Penn [CC BY 2.0