Critical Matters: The Crucial Role of Raw Materials
Oil, cobalt or silver. Critical raw materials have and will shape our future. And the exploitation of resources is nothing new. From the battery in your phone nowadays, to silver trade centuries ago. How can we ensure a just and sustainable supply in the future?
In this Studium Generale program series, organized in collaboration with The Hague Humanity Hub, we explore the crucial role of raw materials from a historical, geopolitical, and technical perspective. On three Wednesday evenings we will bring together academics and practitioners, and delve into the world of critical raw materials.
Three Wednesday evenings in The Hague.
- Wednesday 28 October, 11 November and 18 November
- From 17:30 - 19:00.
- You can sign up for each session below.
28 October: Extraction and Empires: A history that hasn't ended
How did resource extraction build empires, and how much has really changed since?
In this opening session of our three-part series on critical raw materials, Prof. dr. Catía Antunes (Leiden University) traces the long history of how empires sustained themselves through the extraction of resources, drawing on striking examples across the centuries. She connects that past to the present, showing how little the underlying logic of extraction has shifted, and how similar patterns are still visible now that the world races for the critical minerals that power the energy transition.
Following the keynote, Antunes is joined by Marius Troost (Both ENDS) for a panel discussion on the injustices bound up in the extraction of critical raw materials today: who bears responsibility for them, and how NGOs and other actors can best aim their efforts to have the greatest impact. The panel will be moderated by Brian Jacobs.
Afterwards there is time for drinks and a networking reception.
Time, Date and Signing-up
🗓 Wednesday 28 October
🕠17:30 - 19:00
📍The Humanity Hub, Fluwelen Burgwal 58, Den Haag
Attendence is free, please sign-up in advance.
11 November: Who Pays the Price? Regional perspectives
What are the global effects of the extraction of critical raw materials on regions world wide?
In this second session in the series on critical raw materials, we look at how the run on critical raw materials affects regional and local communities. Together with Jeleel Balyaminu, MSc and Dr. Soledad Valdivia Rivera we draw parallels between Latin-America and Africa. We explore what the global demand for critical raw materials means for communities and how it creates new geopolitical power structures. What is the role China plays? And how do we look at possible human right violations involved.
Jeleel Balyaminu is currently doing a PhD at the African Studies Centre Leiden. His research is on Natural Resource Governance and Socio-Cultural Conditions in Africa: From Policy to Practice.
Soledad Valivia Rivera is Assistant Professor at the Institute for History at the Department of Latin America Studies. She focusses among others on the state and social movement relations in Bolivia.
Afterwards there is time for drinks and a networking reception.
More speakers will be announced soon.
Time, Date and Signing-up
🗓 Wednesday 11 November
🕠17:30 - 19:00
📍The Humanity Hub, Fluwelen Burgwal 58, Den Haag
Attendence is free, but please sign-up in advance.
18 November: Closing the Loop: A sustainable future
How can we create a just and sustainable future?
In this final session we delve into the more technical aspects of critical raw materials. If these materials continue to remain essential, how can we extract them in a sustainable way? What are the possibilities of extracting them within Europe and is it possible to recylce these materials? In this final session we discuss the possibilities and challenges for a just and sustainable future.
Speakers will be announced soon.
Time, Date and Signing-up
🗓 Wednesday 18 November
🕠17:30 - 19:00
📍Amare, Spuiplein 150, Den Haag
Attendence is free, please sign-up in advance.
