Cultures of Harm: Sexual Violence in Local and Global Contexts

This event will consist of two parts: a lecture and a roundtable discussion.

Lecture

Professor Joanna Bourke will deliver a lecture on Wednesday 22 January, 17:00–18:30 CET, which will explore the cultural dimensions of sexual violence in both local and global contexts. She will discuss how the understanding of sexual violence has evolved over time and across different social environments, and how this reflects broader societal constructions of will, consent, and agency. Professor Bourke will critically examine the binary victim-perpetrator framework, incorporating intersectional factors that affect both victims and perpetrators. By addressing these issues, she offers a perspective that not only deepens our understanding of sexual violence but also points toward societal change and hope for the future.

Roundtable Discussion

The roundtable, on Thursday 23 January, 10:00–12:00 CET, aims to foster an open, interdisciplinary dialogue with Professor Bourke on complex and sensitive topics, including violence, sexual violence, masculinity, crime, and restorative justice. Designed for researchers actively working on or exploring these issues, the session provides an opportunity to deepen their understanding, discuss responses to severe crimes such as rape and murder, and examine societal, legal, and ethical perspectives. The goal is to encourage knowledge exchange and diverse viewpoints on these critical themes, building connections among researchers engaged in related fields.

A maximum of 10 places are available for Max Planck Law researchers and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

To register, please email Cristina Valega Chipoco: c.valega@csl.mpg.de

Joanna Bourke is Professor Emerita of History at Birkbeck, University of London, Professor Emerita of Rhetoric at Gresham College, a Fellow of the British Academy, and an internationally recognized expert in the history of violence. She has published extensively on issues of war, gender, emotions, and pain, with one of her most renowned books being Disgrace: Global Reflections on Sexual Violence. Her work critically examines cultural and societal aspects of violence from a historical perspective and has had a profound impact on debates around violence, crime, gender, and sexuality.