This August, the picturesque city of Bergen hosted the 10th anniversary of the Bergen Exchanges on Law & Social Transformation. Over the past decade, this conference has become a premier meeting place for scholars and practitioners from around the globe, dedicated to exploring the intricate relationship between law and societal change.
A Decade of Dialogue and Discovery
The Bergen Exchanges has established itself as a hub for rigorous academic discourse and practical insights into how law serves as both an instrument and arena for political contestation. The conference’s multidisciplinary and international nature fosters a unique environment where participants can refine research strategies and methodologies to better understand the multifaceted effects of law and lawfare and how those interplay with such processes as rising inequalities, democratic backsliding, autocratisation and contestations over resources.
Throughout the week, attendees engaged in a series of public discussions that examined the strategic uses of rights and law, and how legal institutions function as battlegrounds for political and social struggles. This year’s discussions were particularly enriching, reflecting on the past ten years while also looking forward to future challenges and opportunities in the field.
Charting the Future of Research: Addressing Inequality Over the Next Decade
The Global Research Programme on Inequality (GRIP) together with LawTransform convened a panel discussion at the Bergen Exchanges to explore the most pressing research challenges in understanding and addressing inequality over the next decade. The event, titled “LawTransform @10 – Research Agenda for The Next Decade: Inequality – Transforming Marginality,” brought together leading scholars to discuss the multifaceted nature of inequality and its implications for society.
Keynote Speaker Malcolm Langford from the University of Oslo set the stage by emphasising the importance of recognising the interconnectedness of different forms of inequality, including economic, political, psychological, and ecological dimensions. He warned against the dangers of a narrow focus on material inequality and called for a more comprehensive approach to addressing this complex issue.
Panelists Don Kalb, Asun St.Clair, Linda Gröning, offered diverse perspectives on the causes and consequences of inequality. Kalb stressed the need to rethink liberal ideology and the assumptions underlying reform efforts, while St.Clair advocated for a relational view of inequality that considers its intersection with other key issues. St.Clair’s emphasis on a relational view of inequality is particularly relevant in the context of ongoing global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. Understanding inequality as a relational phenomenon helps to identify its root causes and develop more effective solutions.
Gröning stressed the role of law in both creating and addressing inequalities, particularly for marginalised groups. The importance of historical perspectives and the devaluation of spaces and people in understanding the dynamics of inequality was highlighted, underlining the need for a more inclusive and equitable approach to development that addresses the root causes of inequality.
The panel discussion also featured insights from the audience, who raised questions about the political use of poverty measures, the coloniality of inequality, and the concept of inequality itself. Participants stressed the need for critical thinking, research, and transformative approaches to address the complex challenges of inequality. The insights from this panel discussion align with recent research on inequality (Oxfam 2024), which has highlighted the increasing disparities between the rich and the poor, both within and between countries. The discussion also reflects growing concerns about the social and economic consequences of inequality, including its impact on health, education, and political stability.
GRIP Coordinator Elina Troscenko concluded the event by highlighting the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations to tackle the pressing issue of inequality. As the world grapples with increasing disparities between the rich and the poor, the insights from this panel discussion offer valuable guidance for future research and action.