Why do humans cooperate? Because we are predisposed to be ultrasocial, argues Mai’a K. Davis Cross in her latest book, International Cooperation Against All Odds: The Ultrasocial World. Professor Cross draws on new insights about human nature from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, cognitive psychology, anthropology, among others, to examine the underlying causes and processes that have led to unanticipated instances of international cooperation across time.

Join us for a conversation between Professor Ben Tonra and Professor Cross, in this latest installment of our RELATE Discussion Series. The exchange will focus on the notion of an ultrasocial world – which calls into question ingrained assumptions regarding human behaviour – and reflect on the concept's implications for our understanding of European and international cooperation.

Mai’a K. Davis Cross is the Dean’s Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Diplomacy and the Director of the Center for International Affairs and World Cultures in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at Northeastern University. She is an expert on international cooperation, especially in the areas of European foreign and security policy, epistemic communities, crises, diplomacy, and public diplomacy.

Ben Tonra is Full Professor of International Relations at the School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin. At UCD he teaches, researches and publishes in European foreign, security and defence policy, Irish foreign, security and defence policy and International Relations theory.

The Zoom link for the online event will be shared the morning before the event - please check your inbox!