Civility is often seen as a key virtue in democratic politics and public life, shaping everyday interactions. However, calls to 'return' to civility amid rising social conflict have been criticised for overlooking its role in reinforcing unjust power structures. This Workshop explores the tension between respectful and oppressive forms of civility through normative and empirical lenses. Key questions include: What is civility’s role in addressing societal conflict? When is incivility ethically justified? What responsibilities do institutions have in shaping civility norms? The Workshop offers fresh insights and tools for navigating civility in today’s complex social landscape.
Many argue we are facing a civility crisis, with rising incivility evident in daily interactions, workplaces, media, public institutions, and political discourse. Some blame public figures for failing to uphold standards of decency, eroding norms of respectful behaviour (Peterson 2019; Sydnor 2019). Others point to the adversarial nature of online discourse, which amplifies outrage, fosters echo chambers, and weakens the trust essential for social coexistence (Chen 2017).
In response, some call for a 'return' to civility, understood as the civic respect owed to others in society (Buss 1999). At a basic level, this includes following local norms of politeness in our interactions (Boyd 2006; Calhoun 2000), which is thought to reduce conflict and promote well-being. More deeply, civility reflects a moral obligation to treat others as individuals with rights, liberties, and an equal voice in shaping shared social norms (Edyvane 2017; Bardon et al. 2023).
However, many from historically marginalised communities view such calls for civility with skepticism (Zerilli 2014). Critics argue that these demands often serve to preserve unjust power structures and suppress dissent (Bejan 2017). In such cases, acts of incivility may not only be justified but morally necessary (Zamalin 2021). Though they may carry social and political costs, they can also represent ethical resistance. The key question, then, is not simply whether incivility is ever acceptable, but under what conditions it becomes a legitimate—or even imperative—response to injustice (Delmas 2018; Edyvane 2020).
Bardon, A., Bonotti, M., Zech, S. T., & Ridge, W. (2023). Disaggregating civility: Politeness, public-mindedness and their connection. British Journal of Political Science, 53(1), 308-325.
Bejan, T. (2017). Mere civility: Disagreement and the limits of toleration. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Boyd, R. (2006). 'The value of civility?'. Urban Studies, 43(5-6), 863-878.
Buss, S. (1999). Appearing respectful: The moral significance of manners. Ethics, 109(4), 795-826.
Calhoun, C. (2000). The virtue of civility. Philosophy & public affairs, 29(3), 251-275.
Chen, G. M. (2017). Online incivility and public debate: Nasty talk. Springer.
Delmas, C. (2018). A duty to resist: When disobedience should be uncivil. Oxford University Press.
Edyvane, D. (2017). The passion for civility. Political Studies Review, 15(3), 344-354.
Edyvane, D. (2020). Incivility as dissent. Political Studies, 68(1), 93-109.
Peterson, A. (2019). Civility and democratic education. Singapore: Springer.
Sydnor, E. (2019). Signaling incivility: The role of speaker, substance, and tone. In A Crisis of Civility? (pp. 61-80). Routledge.
Zamalin, A. (2021). Against civility: the hidden racism in our obsession with civility. Beacon Press.
Zerilli, L. (2014). Against civility: A feminist perspective. Civility, legality, and justice in America, 107-131.
1: Is ‘civility’ an outdated concept, or is it necessary to understand some of the conflicts facing societies today?
2: Can civility be reclaimed as a political virtue without reproducing exclusionary power dynamics?
3: Does the duty of civility conflict with or support our responsibilities of dissent?
4: How does civility differ from and connect to other democratic norms (and forms)?
5: What role do public institutions play in the enforcement and facilitation of civil relations?
1: The complex relations between civility and dissent, including civility in the context of civil disobedience.
2: The weaponisation of civility as a law-and-order issue and its role in sustaining oppressive social practices.
3: Conceptual debates about the usefulness of ‘civility’ for understanding theoretical and real-world problems.
4: Incivility in the public sphere, which includes theories around the rejection of civility in public life.
5: The benefits and harms of attempts to embed civility in workplaces, universities, and other institutions.
6: Empirical research on redefining civility in disability, gender, and postcolonial studies.
