Book Launch: Eros and Empire: The Transnational Struggle for Sexual Freedom in the United States

When: Friday, March 14, 2025, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Where: The Old Library, Garrod Building, Turner Street, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AD

A book launch of Alex Stoffel’s new book Eros and Empire (Stanford, 2025)

The history of queer politics since 1968 is commonly narrated as either a progressive campaign for state recognition or as a subcultural rejection of prevailing gender norms. But these accounts miss the true scale of queer politics in the post-war era. By centering transnational relations, practices, and infrastructures in the history of sexual rebellion, Eros and Empire provides an alternative view of US-based struggles for sexual freedom. In this event, the book’s author and expert panellists will discuss how this new book reconsiders our revolutionary sexual past and creates new opportunities for the study of sexual formations in relation to questions of capital accumulation, empire, and resistance.

About the Author

Dr Alexander Stoffel is a Lecturer in International Politics (QMUL).

Discussants

Ayça Çubukçu (LSE)

Nivi Manchanda (QMUL)

Abeera Khan (SOAS)

Drinks reception to follow the discussion.

Everyone is welcome but please sign up via Eventbrite by clicking on Book now (above).

The Organisers

The event is co-organised by the Gender Research Group and the Centre for the Study of Race, Class and Empire in the School of Politics and International Relations and supported by the IHSS.