Europe is in crisis. Global challenges—ranging from climate change to the erosion of the rules-based international order, as starkly reflected in the human suffering in Ukraine and Palestine—are deeply intertwined with internal challenges within the continent. Populist movements, which are gaining momentum across Europe, oppose immigration and question the foundational justifications of Europe's political institutions and values. These trends can no longer be dismissed as fleeting; instead, Europe must reassess and rethink the justifications on which the continent's political constitution and self-understanding rests.
But what is actually new in this crisis and what part of the current crisis can be seen as a repetition? Europe has historically been in a near-constant state of crisis. What specific historical developments have led to this moment, and does our understanding of the situation reflect reality or the perception of others?
The Crises Redux conference will be organized by the Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives (EuroStorie) funded by the Research Council of Finland. The conference will focus on the same themes that EuroStorie has been working on for the last six years: a critical analysis of the narratives that serve as the building blocks of Europe and a reassessment of the idea of Europe in relation to migration and global history.
The Crises Redux conference will focus on the European narratives and explanatory models used to understand crises, exploring how these frameworks draw on the past and envision possible futures to illuminate the reality of the problems facing contemporary Europe and the means to solve them.
We will explore how Europe’s role in the great lines of the global political economy and in the redistribution of wealth after the Second World War has been explained and how this corresponds to reality. We will examine the process of European integration as a phenomenon that has shaped the continent's development over the last decades, but which now has to rethink its foundational structures and principles; Who does “Europe” represent, and against whom is it defining itself? Finally, the conference will reflect on the place of the European welfare state in a rapidly changing world. What visions of the past and aspirations for the future underpin this model? How do Europe’s collective experiences and its worldviews function within a shifting global order?
Call for Contributions
We invite abstracts that address historical and conceptual approaches to European narratives. Submissions adopting an interdisciplinary perspective are particularly welcome, including contributions from fields such as law, history, philosophy, anthropology, cultural studies, and related disciplines.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit the following to eurostorie-events[at]helsinki.fi by March 31, 2025
We look forward to your contributions and to engaging discussions on the narratives and crises of Europe in a global context.
We will notify you of the outcome of the selection process by April 15th.
1.-3.10.2025
Programme coming soon.
Keynote Speakers:
Kiran Klaus Patel (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
Anika Seemann (University of Bergen, Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy)
Jessica Whyte (University of New South Wales)
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1.10. Tiedekulma Stage
2.-3.10. Small Hall (Pieni juhlasali), Main Building (Fabianinkatu 33), 4th floor.
You can reach the conference venue Small Hall easily by walking or public transport. It's a 10 minutes walk from the Central Railway Station to the University's Main Building located on the left side of the Senate's Square. You can also take the trams 2, 4 or 7 to the stop Senaatintori.
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If you have any questions or need more information concerning the conference, please do not hesitate to contact us: eurostorie-events[at]helsinki.fi.
We follow the Responsible interaction Guidelines in our event:
Principles of Responsible interaction in the University community
Be sensitive. The University community consists of diverse individuals. Do not, based on external appearances, make assumptions or generalisations about someone’s first language, origin, religion or lack thereof, beliefs, health, functional ability, gender, sexual orientation or other background. Respect everyone’s right to self-determination and non-determination, i.e., the right to decide and tell others how they identify and experience themselves.
Respect others and be kind. Respect other community members and their experiences. Respect other people’s boundaries. Don’t make offensive remarks or touch other people without their permission. If your actions cause offence, apologise and discuss the matter openly. Don’t judge other people for their erroneous behaviour, but do bring up the issue with them.
Be courageous, and give and receive feedback. Some of us have long been practising sensitivity towards others in our speech and behaviour, while others are just getting started. What counts the most are our mindset and willingness to be sensitive to others. Together we can build trust and a culture of open, courageous discussion, in which we can address issues and learn about sensitivity together. If someone uses an offensive term or describes a situation incorrectly, correct them gently. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it and apologise: “I’m sorry. Thank you for correcting me”. Try not to repeat the mistake.
We don’t accept harassment, racism, ableism or discrimination based on personal characteristics or background, such as gender, physical features, age, origin, nationality, language, religion or lack thereof, belief, opinions, political activity, trade union activity, family relations, health, disability or sexual orientation.
Call it out. If you observe harassment or other inappropriate behaviour, don’t be a bystander. Defend the person being harassed and tell the perpetrator that what’s happening is not okay.
If you experience or observe harassment, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour, contact a supervisor, teacher, event organiser, head of human resources, occupational safety delegate, shop steward or harassment contact person.
Harassment contact person for our event is to be announced.