This autumn, the Institut Français inaugurated a new public debate series entitled In the Face of War – European Dialogue.
The programme launched mid-November in Prague during the Prague European Summit. It will begin its journey through Europe with two days of debate in Vilnius, in the heart of Vilnius University—partner of the event alongside the French Embassy and the Institut Français de Lituanie. The chosen theme for this first edition will be: “Culture and Imaginary Facing the War”.
Europe was shaped by a multiplicity of cultural trends, schools of thought, and local and collective memories. It was built amidst major upheavals that would go on to become its historical benchmarks (the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires, World War II, the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin wall…). Today, this past clearly continues to resonate amidst the full-scale military invasion instigated by Russia in Ukraine. Yet, what common conscience and awareness do we harbour regarding this history and the ways in which it is perceived by populations depending on where they are situated in Europe? What understanding do we have of the variety of narratives in Europe, forged by a plurality of identities? Is a new geography of memory appearing today, and extending all the way to Kyiv and the Donbas where the continent’s equilibrium is currently at stake?
For two days, close to thirty participants representing a variety of European countries will be discussing the impact of the war through the scope of ideas and culture. The first day will focus on mental representations of European history and geography, particularly those of Central and Eastern Europe. The second day will take the conversation further by placing emphasis on the circulation of narratives in Europe and the mobilisation of cultural players in the context of upheavals triggered by the war of aggression instigated by Russia in Ukraine.
The “In the Face of War – European Dialogue” project aims to foster dialogue and debate surrounding the upheavals in Europe instigated by the war in Ukraine. Its foundations are in the mobility and the recurrence in Europe of events gathering public figures from the sectors of research, think tanks, the media, and the cultural and public spheres. By bringing together expert voices from the continent at large, by encouraging the intersection of disciplines, as well as facilitating direct interaction with the wider public, the project aims to expose the global challenges that the European project is confronted to, and the local contexts in which European populations face them. Following a project launch in Prague, and a second edition in autumn 2023, five events will be held during the course of 2024, in Warsaw, Sofia, Helsinki, Amsterdam and Rennes, with others to follow in 2025.
Project partners: Ouest-France, Arte and University of Paris 8
Programme https://www.vu.lt/konferencija/en/
Find out additional information about the conference (anglų kalba).
