As global forces challenge long-held ideas of culture, citizenship and belonging, Doha Debates will bring its globally acclaimed town hall format to Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) for a timely, thought-provoking event: “Doha Debates Town Hall: The Future of National Identity and the Nation State.”
Taking place live at Bradford Literature Festival, this special town hall convenes a dynamic panel of global thought leaders to interrogate the evolving role of the modern nation state in shaping personal and collective identity. The event will feature:
- Wael Hallaq, a leading scholar of Islamic law and a vocal critic of modern state structures, exploring identity beyond the limits of territorial borders.
- Shashi Tharoor, Indian parliamentarian, author, and public intellectual, offering perspectives on nationalism and the postcolonial experience.
- David Engels, a historian focused on European traditions and cultural continuity, contributing a viewpoint rooted in the historical development of the West.
Moderated by journalist Malika Bilal, the town hall will unfold in a uniquely participatory format, with an audience of students and recent graduates joining the conversation live on stage. Malika Bilal is known for her work with Al Jazeera English. She has hosted programs such as The Stream, which focuses on global conversations driven by social media, and The Take, a podcast exploring news stories in depth.
“Bradford’s spirit of cultural richness and critical inquiry makes it the perfect place for this conversation,” said Amjad Atallah, Managing Director of Doha Debates. “In an era where national identity is being reimagined and contested across borders, we’re proud to bring our town hall format back to BLF—to listen, to challenge, and to learn alongside a new generation of thinkers who are shaping what comes next.”
Syima Aslam, CEO & Creative Director at BLF, said: “We’re honoured to welcome Doha Debates back to Bradford Literature Festival for a conversation that could not be more timely, or more important. This student town hall offers a remarkable opportunity for young people from the UK and Qatar to engage and debate, as they explore some of the most urgent questions of our time. It’s also a rare chance for audiences to hear from both world-renowned speakers and the voices of the future, coming together on one stage to imagine new ways of thinking about identity, belonging, and the role of the nation state.”
As the rise of nationalism, migration, climate change and digital culture reshape boundaries and belonging, this conversation invites the next generation of thinkers to engage critically with the systems that define modern identity.
This event marks a powerful addition to the BLF programme, bringing global discourse directly to Bradford—one of the UK’s most diverse and vibrant cities.
Event Details
Title: Doha Debates Town Hall: The Future of National Identity and the Nation State
Date: 5 July 2025
Location: St George’s Hall, Bradford Literature Festival