The Power of a Warm Welcome

Venue: Basement , Copland Theatre

Presenters: Professor Uma Kothari

As part of the Faculty of Science Dean's Lecture Series, Professor Uma Kothari from the University of Manchester discusses public representations of refugees and the forging of everyday humanitarianism.

News bulletins, television documentaries, newspaper articles, radio programmes and all forms of social media are debating the ‘refugee crisis’. How does this unprecedented media coverage influence our understandings of refugees and shape the form and extent of the humanitarian response? How can we interpret and challenge ideas and meanings that generate powerful, and often negative, connotations around terms such as ‘migrant’ and ‘refugee’?

This presentation begins by briefly examining the history and power of such representations before exploring how current images and texts can simultaneously reinforce global inequalities and forge global solidarities. It examines how dispositions towards refugees can change, leading to an outpouring of compassion and acts of kindness.

We are arguably positioned at a critical moment, one that is replete with potential to shape future inter-generational and cross-cultural understanding through new forms of everyday humanitarianism. In this context, Professor Kothari will conclude by highlighting the politics and power of a warm welcome, suggesting that it can profoundly impact on a refugee’s perception of place and people, forging longer lasting affiliations and promising the development of a future sense of belonging.

Image Credit: Edu Aguilera (Flickr)

from
https://events.unimelb.edu.au/events/7696-the-power-of-a-warm-welcome