The Second Global Enlightenment Forum

Flyer for the Second Global Enlightenment Forum at the University of London on May 9, 2026, with speakers including Professors Zufry Morrissey, R Richard Johnson, Elizabeth Drayson, Eric Chaney, and Dr. Eamonn Butler, discussing topics related to Enlightenment and Islamic history, including parliamentary nominations and essay competitions. The flyer features photos of the speakers and is organized with a blue and beige color scheme.

Saturday, 9th May 2026

2026 marks 250 years since 1776, an inflection point in the intellectual history of classical liberalism and Enlightenment thought. The Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, and Adam Smith published his famous Wealth of Nations.

As such, the Second Global Enlightenment Forum aimed to explore the heritage and impact of Enlightenment in the non-Western world, specifically North America, North Africa, and the Middle East.

​As modern academia continues to discover the global roots that found some of history's most important philosophical movements, we wish to tease apart the intellectual heritage and impact of the Enlightenment vis-à-vis its other regions. This spans the breadth and depth of intellectual canon: philosophy, literature, science, history, economics and politics were discussed.

​A line-up of esteemed thinkers gave presentations and talks that educated, directed and stimulated the discussion. They presented new research of primary sources and reoriented our understanding of the Enlightenment through new frames of thinking:

  • ​​[Keynote] Professor Fitzroy Morrissey (Abdullah Saleh Fellow and Tutor in Arabic; Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Law, University of Oxford), on The Arab Enlightenment and the Renewal of Islam

  • ​Dr Richard Johnson (Senior Lecturer in US Politics & Policy, Queen Mary, University of London), on The Origins and Meaning of the Declaration of Independence

  • ​Dr Elisabeth Drayson (Lorna Close Fellow, University of Cambridge), on A debt disavowed: the hidden Islamic roots of the European Enlightenment

  • ​Professor Eric Chaney (Associate Professor of Economic History, University of Oxford), on Enlightenment Lost? Religion and the Rise and Fall of Islamic Science

  • Dr Eamonn Butler (Co-Founder of the Adam Smith Institute), on The Wealth of Nations in the Enlightenment

​​Attendees had the opportunity to hear from, question and network with the speakers of the Forum as well as the other attendees, who will represent multidisciplinary backgrounds ranging from academia and research to journalism, business and politics.

Conference Speakers

A young man in a gray suit, white striped shirt, and pink tie, standing at a lectern with a microphone, gesturing with his left hand, in front of a background of a large historical painting of young men in 18th-century attire.
A woman with blonde hair giving a lecture at a podium at University of London. Behind her is a large screen with text about a scientific model. On the table are a laptop and a glass of water.

Global Enlightenment Essay Competition Winners

Young man in a suit and tie speaking at a conference with a large screen behind him displaying the words 'Abi S' and a background image of a historic site or monument.
A young man in a dark suit, white shirt, and blue tie standing at a podium with a microphone, in front of a large screen displaying an abstract background. The podium has a laptop with stickers on it, and there are glasses of water on the desk. A screen on the front of the podium reads 'University of London' with the university's emblem.
A woman with long brown hair standing behind a podium with a microphone, glasses of water, and a laptop in front of her, giving a presentation at the University of London.
An older man with gray hair, glasses, and a black suit is speaking at a podium during a presentation or lecture. He is gesturing with his hands and holding papers, with a laptop and a monitor in front of him. The background includes a wood-paneled wall and a black section with a textured pattern.

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

A young man in a suit and tie speaking at a podium during a presentation at the Adam Smith Institute.
A young man in a suit and blue tie giving a presentation at a university lecture hall. There is a monitor with university branding and a glass of water on the podium.
A woman with long brown hair wearing a black top and striped pants stands at a podium, smiling and holding a remote, in front of a white banner with blue text that reads 'Adam Smith Institute' and a logo of a profile of Adam Smith.
Four people standing on stage holding certificates, two young men and a young woman with an older man in the middle, in front of a colorful background showing historical figures in a scene from the past.