Debt in the UK: Faith-Based and Secular Responses
Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building, LSE
Monday 10th December 2018, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Since the financial crisis, the roles of the state and religious organisations in British public life are changing. Faith-based organisations are key providers of relief to those in debt, often while criticising the debt economy as an underlying cause of poverty and inequality. Campaigns around international debt saw new coalitions between faith-based and secular organisations.

In this public panel talk, held by LSE Anthropology in partnership with Theos and St Paul’s Institute, we ask if similar alliances could be built to confront the harms of personal debt. What common ground do religious and secular civil society organisations have in identifying the challenges of debt and providing solutions? How far do faith-based and secular analyses of personal debt in the UK today converge and intersect? What are their differences?

We start from a common recognition that debt is not just a numerical, contractual or technical issue, but also a deeply moral one involving human social relations. Our talks will explore the moral implications of debt as a social issue.

Speakers include:

• Ryan Davey, Research Fellow in Policy Studies, University of Bristol and Visiting Fellow in Anthropology, LSE
• Mohammed Abdel-Haq, Director of the Centre for Islamic Finance, University of Bolton
• Tim Jones, Head of Policy, Jubilee Debt Campaign
• Barbara Ridpath, Former Director, St Paul's Institute
• Nathan Mladin, Researcher, Theos Think Tank
• Deborah James, Professor of Anthropology, LSE (Chair)

There is step free access into the lecture theatre, but if you have any accessibilitiy needs please let us know by emailing: institute@stpaulscathedral.org.uk