Philosophies of Sport and Struggle in Global Contexts

Borough of Manhattan Community College

New York City

June 3-6, 2026

The theme for this 24th gathering of the Caribbean Philosophical Association (CPA) is inspired by our location in New York City on the eve of the World Cup. The global reach of the World Cup stands as a powerful example of transcultural contact that often reflects multiple levels of struggle within contexts of coloniality, anti-black racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.

We invite work that examines how the struggle against colonial power has taken many forms across many kinds of social practices and community-building endeavors. Sport activities, much like artistic expression, brings people together despite cultural differences and creates encounters wherein struggles against oppression are waged.

We look to examples like C.L.R James’s Beyond a Boundary, to examine the social situation in which athletes of color come to sport as a way to transcend the limits of their lives even while their talent and ability are exploited by the economic systems that run major sport leagues. As James notes: "There can be raw pain and bleeding where so many thousands see the inevitable ups and downs of only a game." Possible questions to consider include: How do sports and other collective practices both sustain and challenge structures of power in which those practices are situated? What does it mean to be "sporting" in times of multiple, unfolding crisis?

We also welcome papers on any themes or topics related to the CPA's central project of shifting the geography of reason. These include presentations addressing the work and ideas of thinkers from the Caribbean and the Global South more broadly, as well as projects dealing critically with questions of decolonization, anti-black racism, indigeneity, and queer and feminist thought.

Participation in the conference is contingent on formal membership in the Caribbean Philosophical Association. To become a member of the association, please register here.

Guidelines: Please submit your individual and panel proposals by November 15th, 2025.

Length of individual presentation: Each presenter reads for 15 minutes.

Languages: Scholars, researchers, activists, artists, and practitioners are invited to submit their work in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.

Instructions for individual and panel abstracts:

Individual abstracts: Submit proposals through this page. Enter the presenter’s name and institution, rank, (where applicable), email address, title and an abstract of a maximum of 250-words.

Abstracts for panels: Panels are made up of at least three presenters and a maximum of four. On behalf of their fellow panelists, the organizer of the panel submits all abstracts and panelists’ information via this page. Panelists’ abstracts should be a maximum of 250 words. In addition to individual abstracts, the organizer of the panel will also submit a title and brief abstract (maximum of 200 words) for the panel.

Number of proposals per participants: In the spirit of fairness and equity we ask that interested parties submit only one proposal. Everyone is welcome to participate in other roles such as session moderators or roundtable discussants.

Inquiries: All inquiries can be sent to thecaribphilassociation@gmail.com.