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Applications for 2025 Open Now!
A condensed introduction to classical liberal philosophy, this longstanding conference offers students a forum to test and challenge their ideas about freedom and individual liberty. Liberty and Society is designed for undergraduates, recent graduates, and postgraduates, creating a space where intellectual inquiry can flourish. It invites participants to question conventional answers to social, political, and economic issues.
This two-day conference explores key economic, political, and philosophical topics through classical liberal and libertarian perspectives. It provides an opportunity for personal and intellectual development, networking, and connection with like-minded individuals from Australia and New Zealand. Participants engage in academic discussions to critically examine their views and expand their philosophical understanding with guidance from CIS lecturers.
Introductory & Advanced Options
We offer the Introductory Liberty and Society conference for undergraduates, recent graduates, and postgraduates over the age of 18 who live in Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific and have an interest in liberal ideas.
From time to time, we offer an Advanced Liberty and Society conference for people who are part of the L&S Alumni and have pursued their interest in liberal ideas. The Advanced conference has more practical learning, with practitioners in government and business involved. The advanced format also provides a forum for participants to present a paper or article on a topic covering liberal issues or perspectives.
Who can attend?
The conference welcomes individuals over the age of 18, specifically undergraduates, recent graduates, and postgraduates from Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific. Applicants from any field of study are encouraged to apply. A deep understanding of classical liberalism is not a prerequisite; rather, we seek individuals with a natural curiosity about society and its inner workings.
The conference is not available to students in high school.
Scholarships
Participation is free. Subsidised by our generous supporters, scholarships cover all meals, accommodation, and session costs. We do not guarantee travel expenses. However, interstate students may wish to apply for additional scholarship funds to reimburse for flights and transfers to the conference.
Background
Students attend sessions and discussions on economics, political thought, law, and social policy over the weekend, interspersed with arguments about foreign policy, education, and politics. Our goal is to provide the participants with an experience that goes beyond the passive attendance; it is an opportunity to actively contribute to and shape dialogues that delve into the heart of contemporary issues – as groundwork to prepare individuals who will lead course of public policy.
The live-in weekend conference explores the world from a ‘classical liberal’ perspective. This means hypothesising about classical liberal principles and questioning:
- How much individual freedom is possible?
- How much government do we need?
- What are the practical implications of reducing government?
- What are the necessary foundations to build a free, open society?
