to
St John’s College
St John’s College, Cambridge CB2 1TPNine postgraduate and recent doctoral scholars share their work across panels on political mythology and legitimation, religion and identity in politics, and church–state regimes. Advance registration required (fee applies). Lunch & refreshments will be included.
“Equal justice under law” is the inscription on the front of this imposing building. Photograph by Getty Images (September 2023), licensed by Unsplash+.
About
This one-day Pre-Conference brings together postgraduate researchers and established scholars to explore the intersections of religion, constitutionalism, and political identity — held in advance of the Political Theologies of Constitutions, the Rule of Law, and the Common Good conference (23–24 April).
Featuring three thematic panels on foundational myths and political legitimacy, religion and the common good, and the relationship between church and constitution, the event draws participants from across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Each panel is facilitated by a Cambridge-affiliated scholar, offering structured feedback alongside open interdisciplinary exchange across diverse religious, national, and academic traditions.
Learn more about our panelists, chairs, and schedule below. All paper titles are working. A final programme will be released to registrants in early April.
Practicalities
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Advance registration is required and we anticipate that registration will open in the first week of March. There is a £15 registration fee.
Please reach out to the organisers if the fee poses a challenge to you, or if you have questions about this event.
Schedule
10:00 Orientation and refreshments
10:05 Panel: The role of foundational myths in political legitimization
Chair: Dr Jenny Leith, Faculty of Divinity & Lecturer in Christian Ethics, Westcott House, Cambridge
- Lukas Kaarby (Cambridge)
Before founding: Augustinian founding in Western political imaginary - Dimitrije Teodosic (Belgrade)
State-building myths as the foundation of the geopolitical identity of Balkan nations: from the sacred to the secular - Mishael van Luipen (Amsterdam)
Generational myths and the shifting constitutional order
11:35 Lunch
12:30 Panel: Religion and identity in the politics of the common good
Chair: Prof Esra Özyürek, Sultan Qaboos Professor of Abrahamic Faiths & Shared Values, Cambridge
- Stephen Dolan (St Mary’s)
National identity through religious history: the fundamental law of Hungary and the making of a Hungarian - Yenny Delgado (Lausanne)
Decolonial political theology in Abya Yala: reclaiming native political participation - Amen Gashaw (Cambridge)
Christomorphic pluralism: a Schleiermacherian approach to religious freedom
14:00 Coffee break
14:25 Panel: Constitutions in the church, church in constitutions
Chair: Prof Pamela Slotte Russo, Professor of Religion and Law, Åbo Akademi;
visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge in 2026
- Stephen McNulty (Boston)
“A war that has already been won?” (Re-)receiving American constitutionalism at the Second Vatican Council - Jeton Mehmeti (Graz)
Between secularism and laïcité: political theologies of religious neutrality in Kosovo’s constitution - Camila Salcedo (KU Leuven)
Nyerere as an answer to America’s postliberal discontents
15:55 Closing remarks
16:00 Close
Organisers and sponsors
This event is organised by Amen Gashaw and Lukas Kaarby who are both postgraduate students in the Faculty of Divinity. It is supported by the main Political Theologies conference hosts.
The event benefits from a small grant from the Cambridge Interfaith Research Forum, as well as crossover support from Political Theologies.
Contact
Amen Gashaw