Humanity at a Crossroads Symposium

From Archive to Influence: Rediscovering Edward Said’s T.S. Eliot Memorial Lectures given at Kent which formed the basis for his seminal book 'Culture and Imperialism'.

Saturday 16 May 2026, 11:00-17:00

Humanity at a Crossroads Symposium

Hear Palestinian intellectual Edward Said in his own voice, as we play excerpts from the original recordings of his lectures delivered at the University in 1985.

Together we will explore emerging debates on Palestine, West Asia, the legacies of empire, the role of the intellectual, and the global importance of Humanism. Expert academics from many fields, including Prof Wadie Said, will discuss the enduring influence of Edward Said's ideas on the most urgent questions of our times, and how his thinking still shapes how we understand culture, power, and empire in 2026.

With special guest Professor Wadie E. Said, Professor of Law at the University of Colorado School of Law, speaking about his father's legacy.

Explore Special Collections & Archives at the University of Kent


We hold audio recordings of Edward Said's 1985 lectures delivered at the University of Kent which have been preserved and digitised by our Special Collections and Archives team. Our colleagues in Templeman Library manage the University’s unique and distinctive collections so that they are accessible for the benefit of teaching, scholarship and society.  

See more from Special Collections and Archives Check our our Edward Said Inspired Reading list

Programme of the day

11:00 - 11:15 / Welcome & introduction 

11:15 - 11:30 / Hear from Edward Said: extracts from oral archive of his T S Eliot lectures given in 1985 at the University of Kent 

11:30 - 12:30 / Academics respond to Said's ideas today:

  • Wadie Said (University of Colorado School of Law)
  • Khawla Badwan (Department of Languages, Linguistics and TESOL, Manchester Metropolitan University)
  • Basma El Doukhi (School of Social Sciences, University of Kent)
  • Shahd Hammouri (Kent Law School, University of Kent)
  • Haifa Mahabir (School of Humanities, University of Kent) (joining online)

12:30 - 13:15 / Buffet lunch provided & archive material and academic publications available for viewing.

13:15 - 14:45 / BREAKOUT 1:

The Legacies of Empire: Intellectual Traditions, International Law, and the Unravelling World Order

Discussion of the legacies of Empire and the current changes to the world order and decay of International Law, with dedicated references to Said and Marxism. Expanding to other relevant issues such as the Palestinian question, Ireland, and Said and Philology. Led by Shahd Hammouri (Kent Law School, University of Kent), speakers: Kaveh Abbasian (School of Arts, University of Kent); Hala Hanina (Affiliation TBA); Conor McCarthy (Department of English, Maynooth University)

The global importance of Humanism: Imperial Contradictions from Culture to Institutions

Explore one of the core problems that Said investigates in Culture and Imperialism, namely how "Britain’s great humanistic ideas, institutions, and monuments" could co-exist "so comfortably with imperialism". This will include a discussion of Humanism today - in its cultural, institutional and governmental forms - in an age of neo-imperialism. Led by Matt Whittle (School of Humanities, University of Kent); speakers: Haifa Mahabir (School of Humanities, University of Kent) (joining online); Subhadip Mukherjee (School of Humanities, University of Kent)

The Role of the Public Intellectual in activism and advocacy

Scholar-led roundtable discussion about times of genocide, censorship, silence, accountability, positioning, and active solidarity. Led by Basma El Doukhi (School of Social Sciences, University of Kent), speaker: Khawla Badwan (Department of Languages, Linguistics and TESOL, Manchester Metropolitan University).

14:45 - 15:00 / Comfort break & refreshments provided

15:00 - 16:30 / BREAKOUT 2:

The Legacies of Empire: Borders, Labour, and the Reproduction of Colonial Power Today

Discussion on the re-enactment of colonialist practices in border policies and strategies, focusing on refugees, extraction and labour. Led by Maria Ridda (School of Humanities, University of Kent); speakers: Haifa Mahabir (School of Humanities, University of Kent) (joining online); Jasmin Diab (Department of Communication, Mobility and Identity, The Lebanese American University (joining online); Razia Shariff, CEO of Kent Refugee Action Network.

The global importance of Humanism: Palestine, Universal Rights, and the Politics of Solidarity

Discussion on themes related to The Universality of Human Rights, Palestine as a human experience, Humanism and solidarity. The Crucial question that for the panel is how to truly decolonise Western imagination. Led by Maria Drakopoulou (Kent Law School, University of Kent); Thanos Zartaloudis (Kent Law School, University of Kent) (pre-recorded presentation); Jessica Elias (Kent Law School, University of Kent); Khawla Badwan (Department of Languages, Linguistics and TESOL, Manchester Metropolitan University); Conor McCarthy (Department of English, Maynooth University)

The Role of the Public Intellectual in activism and advocacy

Student-led roundtable discussion with students to discuss academic rights and freedom of expression, plus the daunting task of scholarly response-ability, and voice in academia. Led by Basma El Doukhi (School of Social Sciences, University of Kent); speakers: Julie Lecomte (student in School of Humanities, University of Kent); Roberto De Vogli (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova) (joining online)

16:30 - 17:00 / Final session including remarks by Wadie Said.

Confirmed speakers include:

Unable to attend but want to hear more?

If you can't attend this in person symposium on 16 May at the University of Kent in Canterbury, but would like to hear about the content discussed on the day, please complete this simple online form to share your email with us so we can send you any post event write ups or recordings when available.

Sign up to receive post-event email