"Engineering Destruction: Militarization and the Economy of War" Conference

The Ibrahim Abu Lughod Institute of International Studies extends an invitation: 

"Engineering Destruction: Militarization and the Economy of War" Conference

The conference sheds light on militarization and its rapid expansion and global impact, particularly in light of the brutal genocide perpetrated by the Zionist enemy against the Palestinian people, which has extended to include the people of our region and populations standing in solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The conference examines the structural, economic, and military relationships that contribute to the militarization of today's world, and its violent impact on populations. 

The program features professors, researchers, and activists who will discuss the ‘engineering of destruction’ carried out by state and non-state actors, as well as the role of military and security companies in restricting and reshaping societies, and transforming public and private spaces into locations for further control and surveillance. The conference will be divided into several on-campus and online sessions, including "The Political Economy of War,” “Carceral Regimes,” "The Militarization of Urban Space," and "Resistance and Solidarity." The program also includes a roundtable discussion with released Palestinian prisoners.  

The conference will take place on June 16–17, 2025, and is jointly organized with the Arab Council for the Social Sciences, the Security in Context network, and the National Pedagogical University in Colombia. The sessions will be held in hybrid format, both on Birzeit University’s campus and online, with simultaneous interpretation available in Arabic, English, and Spanish.  

The conference’s concept note can be found through this link, and the English program.

We kindly ask you to confirm your participation by registering through the following link here

The final program and conference booklet will be shared shortly.