Notes on the first Takhayyul Conference “Poetics and Politics of Imagination” (UCL, December’22)

Takhayyul Project’s first conference aims to offer a fresh perspective that will force our conceptual limits beyond the tropes of rationality-irrationality dichotomy in understanding contemporary populist politics by carefully addressing that such an approach requires detailed and deep ethnographic field research. The conference aimed to contribute to the literature on the contemporary forms of populist politics through the lens of the mythical, charismatic, and affective forces that are built and draw on the political imaginations of societies. The conference brought together scholars of Muslim societies and Islamist movements from diverse fields under the umbrella of several questions; How can we expand our understanding of the formation of various populist Islamist political milieus through a focus on longing, nostalgia, dreams, desire, and other subjective, psychoanalytical, emotional, aesthetic facets of everyday life? How do imaginative and emotive references shape and steer the ideals of prosperity? If any, what are the obstacles to those ideals in the formations of narratives around hope and a better future?

The conference started with Prof Moore’s address during which she underlined the significance of the Takhayyul Project for the Institute of Global Prosperity. She highlighted that the project expands our understanding of culture by breaking away from Eurocentric epistemologies which have posed a serious obstacle to an inclusive and egalitarian vision of the world. She further explained that the project also expands the geographical scope of the institute, with its focus on 11 East European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian countries. 

The entire event was met with great success.  Attendees, speakers, and audiences alike provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, both on social media and in person. Participants found the conference to be both thought-provoking and valuable. We were excited to see the fantastic line-up of scholars and panels lined up at this two-day conference. The ambition the Takhayyul team is offering seems to be shared with a wide range of scholars across disciplines. We had the honour of hosting speakers from several different countries, across and beyond the Balkan-to-Bengal complex, as the project focuses on. We were honored to have hosted prominent names, including Professor Deniz Kandiyoti (SOAS), Professor Homa Hoodfar (Concordia University), Dr. Deepra Dandekar (ZMO), Dr. Ala’a Shehabi (UCL), Dr. Samuli Schielke (ZMO), and Dr. Ammara Maqsood (UCL) as discussants. The conversations, discussions, and Q&A further promoted interdisciplinary thinking, bringing together scholars of history, sociology, anthropology, political theory, and from a range of area studies.

Takhayyul conference has demonstrated that this project is not merely an academic one, but one with broader benefits. With the conceptual and intellectual exchanges it enables, the project allows for nuanced accounts of the way imaginative and affective elements impact people’s attitudes and opinions. Indeed, although the members of the Takhayyul Research Team focus on the imaginative landscapes specifically across Islamic populist movements, its contribution is quite global. For two days, we have, collectively, both challenged the existing terminologies and limited tropes, and offered new, more positive, and more interconnected ones.

It takes quite a bit of effort to create a new language, new thinking practices, and categories, and have a transformative effect in the broader literature. The entire Takhayyul Team is very much aware of the challenge and up for it.  The high quality of presentations and the engaging discussions that took place were particularly praised. In addition, the conference featured a diverse range of speakers and topics, providing attendees with a well-rounded and comprehensive exploration of the theme of imagination and its relationship to politics and prosperity.

We are grateful to everyone who participated and contributed to its success. We are already looking forward to our next conference and the opportunity to continue fostering meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas.