Our 2020 conference focuses on “New Leadership for Global Challenges”, while also encompassing the broad range of development studies interests. Our aim is to investigate where and how leadership is emerging at global, regional and local levels to address critical issues such as climate emergency, identity-based inequalities, poverty, violence, ill-health, resource plunder, and digital surveillance.

Going virtual for 2020

The Coronavirus pandemic has shown as never before the extent and depth of interconnections between us and the vital importance of solidarity and mutual support. We couldn’t meet in person as a DSA community in 2020, but we did not want to lose the opportunity to gather and learn from each other. Rather, we want to explore new ways to share experience and work more effectively together.

Council therefore decided that DSA2020 would be held as a virtual, online conference. While we will miss the direct contact of meeting in person, we hope that going virtual may have positive outcomes, in terms of both the environmental impact and equalising the potential for participation between global North and South.