The 2026 Annual Plymouth Critical Criminology Conference, titled "Rage Against the 'Machines': Feeling and Challenging Systems of Normalisation and Oppression," is a premier academic gathering hosted by the University of Plymouth. This conference serves as a vital platform for scholars, activists, and practitioners to explore the intersection of emotion, technology, and systemic control within the field of criminology.
The "Machines" referenced in the theme are the institutional practices, bureaucratic routines, legal frameworks, and social norms that produce compliance and marginalization while appearing neutral or inevitable. The event specifically invites a deep dive into how these systems serve specific power structures and how they can be reimagined or resisted through the lens of critical affect and political rage.
Key areas of discussion include "Technological Machines"—focusing on algorithmic governance, predictive policing, and AI-driven surveillance—and "Institutional Machines," which examines the expansion of carceral systems and administrative violence. Participants will also engage with themes of "Social and Cultural Machines," looking at how deviance is produced through racialized and gendered regimes of power.
The conference emphasizes the importance of lived experience and experimental methodology. It aims to foster a space where "unruly" emotions like rage are validated as productive tools for social change. Attendees will benefit from plenary sessions featuring leading experts, peer-led research presentations, and networking opportunities during provided refreshment breaks and lunch. This event is a cornerstone for those looking to understand the future of transformative justice and the criminalization of resistance in a rapidly digitizing world.
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