ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the history and significance of social engagement and university social responsibility. It explains the different forms of societal engagement: economic, public, civic, social and community and the mechanisms through which universities might make a contribution to their locality.
Looking first at how these operate in peacetime it considers the significance of local context and broader policy trends, raising questions about the different roles universities might play in peacebuilding and resistance, the freedom or constraints imposed upon them, and their potential for making a positive contribution in times of civil unrest.
