Knowledge for the War Machine? A Roundtable on Militarization in Universities

The Re-Imagining the University series is part of the Contesting Governance Platform. After successfully concluding our film screening events, we are continuing to offer a space for dialogue over what the university is and what it could and should be. In this context, we, a group of students and staff, are proud to announce our upcoming roundtable event: Knowledge for the War Machine? 

Knowledge for the War Machine?

Money for independent research and higher education is being cut. Money for the war machine is not. The AWTI advisory council has recommended that Dutch universities collaborate more closely with the Ministry of Defence. The new coalition government wants to channel up to €2 billion of the defence budget into universities.

Militarization doesn't arrive through tanks. It enters through funding opportunities, research projects, presentations and the language of "resilience", "security", and "innovation."

How are Dutch universities becoming militarized? How do we make sense of the current political moment without falling into the logics of the war machine? How does military logic enter our everyday language? How is our academic freedom being influenced? Where does Utrecht University stand in all of this? Who makes the decisions? And what can we, as students and staff, do about it?

This event is part of the Re-Imagining the University series, hosted by Contesting Governance. After a series of films with rich discussions, we invite you to this event with a roundtable format. 

During this event, we will hear from Dr. Lauren Gould (Conflict Studies, Utrecht University), Mark Akkerman (Stop Wapenhandel), the Progressive Student Alliance (Tilburg University), and the SRVU Student Union (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) with further contributions from activists and researchers, followed by open discussion, and collective thinking on how to mobilise against the militarization of our universities.

Practical information

• Doors open at 16:45, the event starts at 17:00. 

• The event is open to the public and will be held in English. No prior knowledge required.

• Food and drinks will be provided during the event and there will also be an opportunity to connect with other attendees after the event.

• Please register for the event through the link below.