UCL Political Science Events

EDI: Advances, Setbacks and What Comes Next

Episode Summary

Recorded in October 2025, this discussion explores the growing debate around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), examining both its achievements and the increasing political and cultural backlash against it. Featuring experts in human rights, race, gender and LGBTQI+ politics, the conversation considers what EDI means in practice, how it has shaped institutions and society, and what the future may hold for progressive social action. Speakers include Tim Soutphommasane, Francesca Romana Ammaturo, and chair Phillip Ayoub.

Episode Notes

From headlines decrying ‘woke culture’ to a rollback of government support for initiatives in the US and other countries, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) has become a polarising topic. But, beyond the headlines, what does EDI actually entail? What have been its institutional and wider-cultural achievements? How should we understand the growing backlash? And what might the future entail for progressive social action? 

Meet the speakers 

• Prof. Tim Soutphommasane is Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Oxford and Professor of Practice in Human Rights and Political Theory in the Department of Politics and International Relations. He also holds a professorial appointment at the University of Sydney, where, between 2019 and 2022, he served as Director of Culture Strategy. Prior to his return to working in academia, Soutphommasane was Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner between 2013 and 2018. He is also a successful author, having written books such as 'On Hate' (2019) and 'I’m Not Racist But… '(2015).
• Dr. Francesca Romana Ammaturo is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and International Relations at London Metropolitan University. Ammaturo’s research focuses on LGBTQI+ rights and social movements in Europe. Her forthcoming book, 'The Politics of Pride Events: Global and Local Challenges' (2025), challenges Eurocentric narratives of progress, modernity and human rights by examining the complex relationship between Pride and modernity while addressing pressing issues such as accessibility, grassroots activism and environmental sustainability. 
• Chair: Prof. Phillip Ayoub is Professor of International Relations in the UCL Department of Political Science, and a globally leading academic in the field of politics and gender. 

Recorded 9 October 2025