The Elaine Stavro Distinguished Visiting Scholar in Theory, Politics & Gender Studies was created to introduce Trent students to leading speakers in humanities and social sciences and significantly build on the University's reputation for interdisciplinary programs. The Visiting Scholar will provide students, faculty and members of the community with exceptional access to eminent scholars and people engaged in theory, politics and gender studies.
The Future of Abolition
Dr. Catherine Kellogg
Professor, Political Science, University of Alberta
Wednesday, October 30
- 6:30 p.m.
Student Centre 1.20, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, K9L 0G2
Lecture Abstract
In Black Reconstruction, W.E.B. Du Bois coined the term “abolition democracy” and argued that slavery was not abolished, but still existed in the form of mass incarceration. As Du Bois argued, there could be no meaningful abolition of slavery without the establishment of institutions – including those of political economy – designed to bring those who were formerly enslaved into political and social life. On his view, the tragedy or failure of reconstruction in the US was that these were not the institutions built. Instead, the white ruling class set about to build a shadow form of enslavement in the form of the criminal justice system. As such, the abolition of slavery is not yet accomplished.
About Dr. Catherine Kellogg
Dr. Catherine Kellogg is a professor of Political Science, at the University of Alberta, who specializes in political theory and is the author of Law’s Trace: From Hegel to Derrida. She co-edited a special issue of TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies on Carceral Logistics and co-edited Neoliberal Contentions: Essays in Honour of Janine Brodie. Kellogg has also published numerous articles and book chapters on Arendt, Hegel, Derrida, Malabou, Benjamin, Nancy, and Agamben. Her work has appeared in journals including Law, Culture and the Humanities, Philosophy & Social Criticism, Law and Critique, Cultural Values, Theory and Event, The Comparatist, and Philosophy Today. She is currently working on two projects - a book-length study on ‘Cruelty and Sovereignty: Abolitionism Today’ and a study of historical methods training in political theory.