April 6 – 8, 2018

Oregon State University

Corvallis, Oregon

The Opening Space for the Radical Imagination conference, co-sponsored by the Institute for Anarchist Studies, will explore formats to address, fabricate and discuss social transformation that challenge the standard model of an academic conference. The conference invites participants to create a common space for radical imagination and social justice that goes beyond a skill-share for radical organizers. Radical Imagination invites us to engage in a profound critique of what seems obvious (radical = that goes to the roots of something) and to explore alternative ways of living together – producing, loving, shaping spaces and time, inhabiting the land, working, using, struggling. It is an appeal to decolonize social relations and the dominant imaginaries that justify oppression and injustice. Radical Imagination is not just about dreaming alternative futures. It lures us into embodying alternatives in practices, actions, and thinking.

The keynote talk, called “Dreaming New Futures: Sci-Fi and Social Change” is by Walidah Imarisha, co-editor of Institute for Anarchist Studies (IAS) book, co-published with AK Press, Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements and author of IAS/AK Press book Angels with Dirty Faces: Three Stories of Crime, Prison, and Redemption. Walidah’s talk will be at 7pm on Friday, April 6th, in Milam Hall 026. Walidah will also do an “All Organizing is Science Fiction Workshop” on Saturday, April 7th, from 10am – 12pm, in MU 208.

Also featured is Kevin Van Meter, author of the IAS/AK Press book Guerrillas of Desire: Notes on Everyday Resistance and Organizing to Make a Revolution Possible. Kevin’s talk is called “Signs of Life?! Self-Activity, Social Reproduction, and Survival Under Capitalism in the US,” and will be at Westminster House from 10am – 12pm, also on Friday, April 6th.

Kristian Williams, IAS member and Perspectives on Anarchist Theory editor and collective member, and author of Between the Bullet and the Lie: Essays on Orwell new from AK Press, will speak on “Pessimism in Politics: Orwell’s Dilemma” from 1:15pm to 3:30pm on Saturday, April 7th in MU 211.

Hillary Lazar, IAS writing grant recipient and author of Until All Are Free: Black Feminism, Anarchism, and Interlocking Oppression, published by the IAS’ journal, Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, will speak on “‘That Deeply Human Sentiment:’ A Conversation about Love, Solidarity, and Revolutionary Praxis” in Milam Hall 301 on Friday, April 6th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm and “Until All Are Free: Interlocking Oppression Theories and Building Solidarity in Our Movements” on Sunday, April 8th, from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in MU Horizon.

And Arun Gupta, author of A War of All Against All: A Review of Taking Sides: Revolutionary Solidarity and the Poverty of Liberalism, published by Perspectives on Anarchist Theory, will speak on “Policing, Protestantism, and Property” from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Saturday, April 7th, in Milam Auditorium.

There are also many other exciting presentations and workshops, and you can check out the schedule here!

Take a minute and register for free for the Radical Imagination conference here!