Christchurch’s political science experts are leading conversations about terrorism, refugees and inclusive societies in
the context of a community forever changed by the terrorist attack on two city Mosques on 15 March.
The University of Canterbury’s (UC) Political Science and International Relations department will host over 100 visitors
from around the country and overseas for the New Zealand Political Science Association (NZPSA) Conference on the 27 to
29 November.
The conference themes of “community, security, humanity” will explore the possibilities of inclusive politics in this
country and in the wider world, minority representation, the role of the media in politics, and the hotly contested
politics of free speech and hate speech.
“This conference, which is the biggest annual gathering of politics scholars in New Zealand, offers us an opportunity to
reflect on what we’ve learned and what we still need to learn following the March 15 attack,” conference chair and
Senior Lecturer of Political Science and International Relations Dr Jeremy Moses says.
“We can no longer pretend New Zealand exists in a bubble, separate from the violent politics of the rest of the world.
And this is not just about political scientists solving the problems of the world; it’s also about reflecting on our own
assumptions about politics that form our research and teaching. We all need to talk about what needs to change and what
our responsibilities are in creating healthier, more sustainable politics in New Zealand and beyond, and conferences
like this are the ideal place to start those conversations.”
Featured conference speakers include Christchurch City Council Mayor Lianne Dalziel;Lead coordinator of the Women’s
Organisation of the Waikato Muslim Association Allyn "Aliya" Danzeisen; Imam of Al Noor Mosque Gamal Fouda; Head of the
School of Political Science and International Studies and Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the University of
Queensland Katharine Gelber; Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman; and Director of the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at UC
Associate Professor Te Maire Tau.
The Political Science and International Relations department also supported Kurdish film-maker, writer and refugee
Behrouz Boochani’s visit to Christchurch to discuss his book No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prison on 29 November, in collaboration with UC’s Media Journalism and Communication department, the WORD Festival, Amnesty
International, the UNCHR, All Right? and Great Scott.
In this environment, it is also necessary to come to terms with Australia’s hostile and divisive treatment of refugees
over the past 20 years, Dr Moses says.
“Australia’s offshore detention policy is nothing new – it has been in place since 2001 and is unfortunately seen as a
template to follow by other countries in the European Union and the United States. Anti-refugee sentiment has been the
defining force in Australian politics for two decades and myths about being ‘flooded by refugees’ persist. This is
despite the fact that globally, 80% of refugees are in countries neighboring their own.”
“We see echoes of this in New Zealand politics, media and social media – so we are definitely not immune to such
attitudes here. While successive Australian Governments have a lot to answer for, we also have to look at the
persistence of racist, anti-refugee sentiment and attitudes in Christchurch and New Zealand. This is not something we
can afford to sweep under the rug.”
NZPSA 2019 Conference: Community, Security, Humanity
On the afternoon of 15 March, 2019, a gunman attacked two Mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 innocent civilians and
wounding many more. The reverberations from this horrific act of terrorism have overturned many assumptions about New
Zealand politics and society, generating vital debates about the nature of our community, the ways we think about
security, and our broader sense of humanity.
NZPSA 2019 presents an opportunity to consider how this violent rupture impacts on and transforms our way of thinking
about politics locally and globally. These themes emphasise both differences and commonalities; the recognition that
each community is composed of many different communities, all sharing the common expectation of a reasonable degree of
security and dignity.
Submissions and speakers were invited from all areas of comparative politics, political theory, international relations,
media and politics, and New Zealand politics.