The Equiano Project Presents…
Join us in some of Britain’s most breathtaking venues for a series of urgent and thought-provoking discussions. Our landmark 20225 event series will address the most pressing challenges confronting liberal democracies today. Together, we’ll navigate critical topics such as identity, meaning, democracy, and religion—unpacking the complex questions that shape our collective future.

Our inaugural event:

Beyond the Culture Wars: Identity, Immigration and the Contest for the Future

Thursday 16th January 2025, National Portrait Gallery, London

Does Britain face a crisis of identity? From Black Lives Matter in 2020 to the anti-immigration riots of 2024, and, in the run-up to Rachel Reeves’ first Budget, repeated efforts to define ‘working people’, politics has become a contest of identities competing for resources and recognition.

At the heart of this crisis lies the growing prominence of identity politics. Advocates argue that this approach seeks to correct longstanding injustices by amplifying the unique challenges faced by marginalised groups. Critics, however, see identity politics as divisive, essentialising groups into rigid categories and pitting them against one another. Increasingly, some Britons feel that their cultural heritage is being sidelined or even vilified and that some groups receive preferential treatment, leading to a backlash that could fuel far-right movements and heighten racial tensions.

Across the pond, identity politics arguably took a major blow with the re-election of Donald Trump who was bolstered by increased support from Latino and Black voters. But, can any parallels be drawn between the US and Britain? 

These debates over identity are inseparable from the issue of immigration. Over the past few decades, immigration has reshaped Britain’s demographic and cultural landscape. Advocates highlight its benefits, pointing to the contributions of migrants to the economy and cultural diversity. However, public opinion is starkly divided. Surveys consistently show that a majority of Britons believe immigration levels are too high, reflecting a range of concerns, from pressure on public services to fears about cultural change, notwithstanding the debate over asylum and illegal migration.

The immigration debate reflects anxieties about integration too. Critics argue that too many newcomers are resistant to adopting British values (itself a contested concept), leading to the creation of isolated communities rather than a shared national culture. Controversies like the Batley Grammar School affair, where a teacher was forced into hiding after showing a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad in a lesson on free speech, underscore the fraught relationship between liberal principles and the expectations of an increasingly diverse population. 

Some counter that these fears are exaggerated, often stoked by populist politicians and the media, and that integration requires Britain to promote a multicultural vision which celebrates difference. Indeed, the question of how to tell Britain’s historical story—one that acknowledges its complexities without descending into recrimination—remains unresolved.

Underlying these cultural conflicts is the reality of economic stagnation. For many, particularly in the former industrial heartlands, the past two decades have brought little but declining wages, insecure jobs, and crumbling public services. Brexit was, in part, a reaction to this malaise—a demand for control and accountability in the face of economic decline. But the promises of Brexit remain unfulfilled, leaving many still disillusioned and searching for a vehicle for economic and political renewal. 

How might Britain redefine its identity in a way that reconciles competing claims? Can a society as divided as ours rediscover a shared sense of meaning? What does successful integration look like? Should immigration policy be designed to balance economic needs with cultural integration concerns? How do we navigate our increasingly hyperdiverse society? Is Trump’s re-election in America a sign of a troubling new era of illiberalism or a reassertion of working-class agency?

John Gray, philosopher and author of The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism (2023)
Matthew Syed, journalist and author of Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking (2019)
Baroness (Ayesha) Hazarika MBE, Labour peer and Times Radio presenter 
Ayishat Akanbi, fashion stylist and culture critic

This event is invite-only but a small number of places are be available to those with interest and expertise in the subject. Enquire at: hello@theequianoproject.com with ‘January event’ in the subtitle.

We also asked that you answer the below form in the email.

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Why are you interested in attending Beyond the Culture Wars: Identity, Immigration and the Contest for the Future? What specific themes or questions resonate most with you?

Please describe any professional or personal experience that relates to the themes of the event, such as identity politics, immigration, integration, or cultural narratives in Britain.

How do you plan to engage with the discussions and ideas presented at this event? (e.g., sharing takeaways with a wider audience, applying insights to your work, contributing to broader societal debates.)