Nicosia, 26 September 2025 — The University of Cyprus will host a landmark event on Tuesday, 30 September 2025 at 19:00, when it confers an Honorary Doctorate upon internationally acclaimed philosopher and theorist Judith Butler. The ceremony, organised by the School of Humanities, the Senate and the Council of UCΥ, will take place at the University’s Ceremony Hall, 75 Kallipoleos Street.
This is an event of great significance for Cyprus, as it marks Butler’s first visit to the country. It provides both the academic community and the wider public with a unique opportunity to engage directly with one of the most influential intellectuals of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
About Judith Butler and the ceremony
Judith Butler is Distinguished Professor at the Graduate School of the University of California, Berkeley, where they teach in Critical Theory and Comparative Literature. Butler earned their PhD in Philosophy from Yale University in 1984. Their work spans numerous fields, including feminist theory, queer theory, ethics, political philosophy, and poststructuralism.
The evening’s programme will include:
- A welcome address by Professor Tasos Christofides, Rector of UCy
- A presentation of Butler’s life and work by Associate Professor Maria Margaroni, Department of English Studies
- The formal conferral of the honorary doctorate, with resolution reading by Professor Michalis N. Michail, Dean of the School of Humanities, and the imposition of the University robe by the Rector
- A keynote lecture by Judith Butler titled:
“The Humanities and Democracy: A Critical Relationship” - A reception to follow
A pioneer in philosophy and gender studies
Judith Butler is widely recognised as one of the most important contemporary thinkers in the humanities. Their 1990 book Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity introduced the now-famous concept of gender performativity, reshaping how gender is understood in philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, and beyond. Butler demonstrated that gender is not innate but is constituted through repeated acts and performances — an idea that profoundly influenced feminist and queer theory, as well as activism for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide.
Over the following decades, Butler published a series of influential works, including Bodies That Matter, Undoing Gender, Precarious Life, Frames of War, and Notes Toward a Performative Theory of Assembly. Their research broadened into themes of democracy, non-violence, ethics, human rights, and the politics of mourning and resistance. Butler’s books have been translated into more than 27 languages, ensuring their global impact.
Beyond academia, Butler has played an active role in human rights organisations such as the Center for Constitutional Rights, and in global conversations about social justice, anti-war movements, and minority rights. Their voice has consistently pushed the boundaries of public debate on freedom, identity, and democracy.
Significance for Cyprus
For Cyprus, this ceremony is more than an academic honour. Hosting Judith Butler in Nicosia is a milestone moment for the island’s intellectual and cultural life. It highlights the University of Cyprus’s commitment to promoting dialogue on democracy, inclusivity, and human rights, while aligning Cypriot academia with leading international debates.
Butler’s keynote lecture — “The Humanities and Democracy: A Critical Relationship” — will directly address the urgent role of the humanities in defending democratic life at a time when democratic norms are under pressure globally.
By awarding an Honorary Doctorate to Judith Butler, the University of Cyprus not only acknowledges Butler’s extraordinary contribution to contemporary thought but also positions itself as a centre for critical reflection and international engagement.
For Cyprus, Butler’s first appearance on the island offers students, academics, and the wider public a rare chance to interact with a thinker whose work continues to shape debates on gender, justice, and democracy across the world.
Also read: State Literature Awards Ceremony for the publications of 2023
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