Past Events

	Title	Date	Type	Speakers
	Modern Cruelty	Mon, 11.02.2019, 16:00	Seminars and Colloquia	Wolfgang Müller-FunkClemens Ruthner	Modern Cruelty A Close Reading of Ernst Jünger´s Essay "Der Arbeiter" Mon, 11.02.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Wolfgang Müller-FunkClemens Ruthner Series: Seminars and Colloquia This lecture was part of a research project which is focused on discourses on cruelty that means on a form of an organized speech that legitimates cruelty as a positive or at least as an unavoidable element of life and is essential for male identity. It is connected with a ‘realism’ arguing that cruelty is – in contrast to Sigmund Freud´s theory of death drive – a productive and creative phenomenon of culture, society and (everyday) life. One year before the Machtergreifung,” Ernst Jünger, the proponent of the “Conservative Revolution” depicts a political vision of an inexorable post-bourgeois world, in which fight and war are constitutive pillows of a new civilisation structured like a modern army. In Jünger’s utopia technique and war fits together on a discourse one could call ‘ethics of cruelty’. It is represented by the modern worker, a male-machine archetype insensitive to suffering and pain. Read more
Modern Cruelty A Close Reading of Ernst Jünger´s Essay "Der Arbeiter" Mon, 11.02.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Wolfgang Müller-FunkClemens Ruthner Series: Seminars and Colloquia This lecture was part of a research project which is focused on discourses on cruelty that means on a form of an organized speech that legitimates cruelty as a positive or at least as an unavoidable element of life and is essential for male identity. It is connected with a ‘realism’ arguing that cruelty is – in contrast to Sigmund Freud´s theory of death drive – a productive and creative phenomenon of culture, society and (everyday) life. One year before the Machtergreifung,” Ernst Jünger, the proponent of the “Conservative Revolution” depicts a political vision of an inexorable post-bourgeois world, in which fight and war are constitutive pillows of a new civilisation structured like a modern army. In Jünger’s utopia technique and war fits together on a discourse one could call ‘ethics of cruelty’. It is represented by the modern worker, a male-machine archetype insensitive to suffering and pain. Read more
	Europe’s Far Right on the Rise	Mon, 04.02.2019, 16:00	Panels and Discussions	Luke Cooper Ruth WodakZoe Williams, Rafał Pankowski	Europe’s Far Right on the Rise Defending Democracy, Promoting Alternatives Mon, 04.02.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Luke Cooper Ruth WodakZoe Williams, Rafał Pankowski Series: Panels and Discussions European polities are facing a challenge from the far right unprecedented in the post-WW2 era. This new fascism is well financed, transnational and intent on turning the clock backwards on democracy, human rights, and the freedoms of minorities. They also often promote climate change denial at this dangerous moment for the ecological future of our planet, wrapping this up in a narrative of opposition to ‘experts’ and ‘elites’. Capitalising on xenophobic attitudes, and promoting a politics attune to a sense of lost ethnic privilege and resentment, the rise of the far right poses a major challenge for democratic and progressive forces. How do we analyse the causes of far right radicalisation? What steps can we take to address this ‘politics of fear’? And what alternatives are needed? And how can civil society and progressive parties respond? This event brought together campaigners, journalists, academics and politicians from across Europe in a reflective dialogue on these questions. Read more
Europe’s Far Right on the Rise Defending Democracy, Promoting Alternatives Mon, 04.02.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Luke Cooper Ruth WodakZoe Williams, Rafał Pankowski Series: Panels and Discussions European polities are facing a challenge from the far right unprecedented in the post-WW2 era. This new fascism is well financed, transnational and intent on turning the clock backwards on democracy, human rights, and the freedoms of minorities. They also often promote climate change denial at this dangerous moment for the ecological future of our planet, wrapping this up in a narrative of opposition to ‘experts’ and ‘elites’. Capitalising on xenophobic attitudes, and promoting a politics attune to a sense of lost ethnic privilege and resentment, the rise of the far right poses a major challenge for democratic and progressive forces. How do we analyse the causes of far right radicalisation? What steps can we take to address this ‘politics of fear’? And what alternatives are needed? And how can civil society and progressive parties respond? This event brought together campaigners, journalists, academics and politicians from across Europe in a reflective dialogue on these questions. Read more
	Marx, Colonialism, and India	Mon, 28.01.2019, 16:00	Seminars and Colloquia	Ranabir Samaddar	Marx, Colonialism, and India Mon, 28.01.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Ranabir Samaddar Series: Seminars and Colloquia The ways in which the colony features in Marx’s thoughts as an object of knowledge also make the colony a part of the global history of capital, and goes beyond the usual binary of colonialism/nationalism or colony/nation. It also forces us to think of associated questions of primitive accumulation, borders, universalism, concrete, etc. Colonies were founded not merely by nations; they emerged in the time of empires in whose history the given history of the nation form was scripted. Marx repeatedly raised the problematic of capitalist expansion in the time of colonialism and also raised the issue of colonial governance. In this way his writings on colonialism, particularly colonialism in India, suggested the need to study the history of modern governance that combines coercion and management of conditions of accumulation. Read more
Marx, Colonialism, and India Mon, 28.01.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Ranabir Samaddar Series: Seminars and Colloquia The ways in which the colony features in Marx’s thoughts as an object of knowledge also make the colony a part of the global history of capital, and goes beyond the usual binary of colonialism/nationalism or colony/nation. It also forces us to think of associated questions of primitive accumulation, borders, universalism, concrete, etc. Colonies were founded not merely by nations; they emerged in the time of empires in whose history the given history of the nation form was scripted. Marx repeatedly raised the problematic of capitalist expansion in the time of colonialism and also raised the issue of colonial governance. In this way his writings on colonialism, particularly colonialism in India, suggested the need to study the history of modern governance that combines coercion and management of conditions of accumulation. Read more
	Pflegerinnen: Migrant Women in Domestic Care	Mon, 21.01.2019, 16:00	Seminars and Colloquia	Diana Mesesan	Pflegerinnen: Migrant Women in Domestic Care Mon, 21.01.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Diana Mesesan Series: Seminars and Colloquia New forms of solidarity have emerged among Eastern European migrants working in domestic care in Western countries. Far from their families and often working in isolated places, these women rely a lot on social media. Read more
Pflegerinnen: Migrant Women in Domestic Care Mon, 21.01.2019, 16:00 Speakers: Diana Mesesan Series: Seminars and Colloquia New forms of solidarity have emerged among Eastern European migrants working in domestic care in Western countries. Far from their families and often working in isolated places, these women rely a lot on social media. Read more
	McMafia and the Geopolitics of Crime	Tue, 15.01.2019, 18:00	Panels and Discussions	Ivan Vejvoda Misha GlennyChristian Ultsch	McMafia and the Geopolitics of Crime Tue, 15.01.2019, 18:00 Speakers: Ivan Vejvoda Misha GlennyChristian Ultsch Series: Panels and Discussions Organized crime is part of all our worlds—often without us even knowing. In our times of the return of geopolitics Misha Glenny renowned author and journalist presented and discussed the deep and intricate connections in the world of international organized crime and how these developments affect today’s politics and societies. Read more
McMafia and the Geopolitics of Crime Tue, 15.01.2019, 18:00 Speakers: Ivan Vejvoda Misha GlennyChristian Ultsch Series: Panels and Discussions Organized crime is part of all our worlds—often without us even knowing. In our times of the return of geopolitics Misha Glenny renowned author and journalist presented and discussed the deep and intricate connections in the world of international organized crime and how these developments affect today’s politics and societies. Read more
	Beyond the “Power of the Powerless“	Mon, 14.01.2019, 16:00 - Mon, 14.01.2019, 17:30	Seminars and Colloquia	Milan Hanys Muriel Blaive	Beyond the “Power of the Powerless“ The forgotten legacy of Political Thought in Czechoslovakian Dissent Mon, 14.01.2019, 16:00 - Mon, 14.01.2019, 17:30 Speakers: Milan Hanys Muriel Blaive Series: Seminars and Colloquia A closer look onto the intellectual context of Havel’s famous essay reveals that, among Czechoslovakian dissidents, there were more serious critiques of his piece than outspoken supporters. The fact that Havel became an iconic figure of the 1989’s revolution and the successive road towards freedom makes it difficult to look impartially on the discourse of political thought in the 70s. However, does that fact imply that Havel‘s ideas on politics were practically better and theoretically more valuable than that of his critiques? The presentation tried to show that a study of this neglected and almost forgotten discourse may reveal something valuable for the political theory of power, authoritarianism, and dissent. Read more
Beyond the “Power of the Powerless“ The forgotten legacy of Political Thought in Czechoslovakian Dissent Mon, 14.01.2019, 16:00 - Mon, 14.01.2019, 17:30 Speakers: Milan Hanys Muriel Blaive Series: Seminars and Colloquia A closer look onto the intellectual context of Havel’s famous essay reveals that, among Czechoslovakian dissidents, there were more serious critiques of his piece than outspoken supporters. The fact that Havel became an iconic figure of the 1989’s revolution and the successive road towards freedom makes it difficult to look impartially on the discourse of political thought in the 70s. However, does that fact imply that Havel‘s ideas on politics were practically better and theoretically more valuable than that of his critiques? The presentation tried to show that a study of this neglected and almost forgotten discourse may reveal something valuable for the political theory of power, authoritarianism, and dissent. Read more
	Trojanow trifft: Nestor Machno – Erinnert Euch an mich!	Sun, 13.01.2019, 11:00 - Sun, 13.01.2019, 13:00	Panels and Discussions	Ilija TrojanowMark Zak, Hanna Mittelstädt	Trojanow trifft: Nestor Machno – Erinnert Euch an mich! Sonntagsgespräche in der Roten Bar Sun, 13.01.2019, 11:00 - Sun, 13.01.2019, 13:00 Speakers: Ilija TrojanowMark Zak, Hanna Mittelstädt Series: Panels and Discussions Nestor Machno – der große Unbekannte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Von der sowjetischen Geschichtsschreibung zum Banditen degradiert, von den Anarchisten in aller Welt als Held, als ukrainischer Che Guevara verherrlicht, hat er mit seinen Freischärlern den Ausgang des russischen Bürgerkriegs entscheidend beeinflusst. Der Schauspieler Mark Zak, selbst in der Ukraine aufgewachsen, hat über diesen Rebellen und die Bewegung eine dramatisierte Lesefassung aus den Stimmen verschiedener Zeitzeugen zusammengestellt. Nach der Lesung von Mark Zak und Hanna Mittelstädt diskutierte Ilija Trojanow mit beiden Gästen über die Bedeutung dieser anarchistischen Bewegung für unsere Gegenwart. Read more
Trojanow trifft: Nestor Machno – Erinnert Euch an mich! Sonntagsgespräche in der Roten Bar Sun, 13.01.2019, 11:00 - Sun, 13.01.2019, 13:00 Speakers: Ilija TrojanowMark Zak, Hanna Mittelstädt Series: Panels and Discussions Nestor Machno – der große Unbekannte des 20. Jahrhunderts. Von der sowjetischen Geschichtsschreibung zum Banditen degradiert, von den Anarchisten in aller Welt als Held, als ukrainischer Che Guevara verherrlicht, hat er mit seinen Freischärlern den Ausgang des russischen Bürgerkriegs entscheidend beeinflusst. Der Schauspieler Mark Zak, selbst in der Ukraine aufgewachsen, hat über diesen Rebellen und die Bewegung eine dramatisierte Lesefassung aus den Stimmen verschiedener Zeitzeugen zusammengestellt. Nach der Lesung von Mark Zak und Hanna Mittelstädt diskutierte Ilija Trojanow mit beiden Gästen über die Bedeutung dieser anarchistischen Bewegung für unsere Gegenwart. Read more
	Europe Drifting: What Is to Be Done?	Sun, 14.10.2018, 11:00	Panels and Discussions	Karin Kneissl, Vesna Pusic, Natalie Nougayrede, Nobert Röttgen	Europe Drifting: What Is to Be Done? Sun, 14.10.2018, 11:00 Speakers: Karin Kneissl, Vesna Pusic, Natalie Nougayrede, Nobert Röttgen Series: Panels and Discussions The European Union is at a crossroads. After decades of peace and prosperity it is confronted with the deepest questions concerning its future. Old ways are insufficient to deal with the present challenges. There is a stultifying lack of leadership beyond pronouncements of a will to change ingrained habits. Yet, challenges, internal and external must be addressed without pause if Europe is to survive. Read more
Europe Drifting: What Is to Be Done? Sun, 14.10.2018, 11:00 Speakers: Karin Kneissl, Vesna Pusic, Natalie Nougayrede, Nobert Röttgen Series: Panels and Discussions The European Union is at a crossroads. After decades of peace and prosperity it is confronted with the deepest questions concerning its future. Old ways are insufficient to deal with the present challenges. There is a stultifying lack of leadership beyond pronouncements of a will to change ingrained habits. Yet, challenges, internal and external must be addressed without pause if Europe is to survive. Read more
	Vienna Humanities Festival	Thu, 27.09.2018, 00:00 - Sun, 30.09.2018, 00:00	Festivals		Vienna Humanities Festival Macht und Ohnmacht Thu, 27.09.2018, 00:00 - Sun, 30.09.2018, 00:00 Speakers: Series: Festivals The theme of the Vienna Humanities Festival 2018 was “Power and Powerlessness”. We addressed the current crisis of democracy, interrogated the rise of fundamentalist and radical forces, and searched for possible alternatives. Read more
Vienna Humanities Festival Macht und Ohnmacht Thu, 27.09.2018, 00:00 - Sun, 30.09.2018, 00:00 Speakers: Series: Festivals The theme of the Vienna Humanities Festival 2018 was “Power and Powerlessness”. We addressed the current crisis of democracy, interrogated the rise of fundamentalist and radical forces, and searched for possible alternatives. Read more
	Reden wir über Reinheit: Normen, Körper, Bilder	Tue, 26.06.2018, 18:00	Lecture	Valentin Groebner	Reden wir über Reinheit: Normen, Körper, Bilder Lecture III: Reine Anschauung Tue, 26.06.2018, 18:00 Speakers: Valentin Groebner Series: Lecture Im dritten Teil meiner Vortragsreihe geht es um ein besonderes Quellenmaterial über Vorstellungen von Reinheit, nämlich Werbung. Read more