About the seminar series
The Autumn 2025 Research Seminar Series by the Centre of Excellence in Law, Identity and the European Narratives at the University of Helsinki continues the spring series in exploring the concept of "the Other" in relation to Europe. Seminars examine the historical, cultural, economic, and political dynamics that have shaped European identity and its relationship with those perceived as outsiders. Delving into the notion of "Europe and its Others," the speakers include scholars, activists, and policymakers discussing how Europe has defined itself through contrasts with non-European cultures and ideologies as well as the "Others" within Europe.
The invited speakers in the series will explore how non-European regions have often reacted critically to Europe’s self-understanding as a bastion of democracy, rule of law and human rights. Through colonial legacies, economic inequalities, and political tensions, many regions have challenged Europe’s moral authority, bringing into question its universal claims of fairness and governance. The Research Seminar Series aims to challenge existing narratives, fostering dialogue on inclusion, exclusion, and the evolving understanding of belonging in a globalized world.
Seminar schedule
29 August, 13:00-14:00 (UTC+3): Karina Horsti (University of Jyväskylä)
”Survival and Witness at Europe's Border: The Afterlives of a Disaster”
19 September, 13:00-14:00 (UTC+3): Maria Robaszkiewicz (Paderborn University)
”Why Phenomenology of Migration Today? Rethinking Ethics and Political Aesthetics of Migration Beyond Threat and Innocence”
26 September, 13:00-14:00 (UTC+3): Nahed Samour (Humboldt University of Berlin)
"Genocide and the Legal Politics of Memory in Germany”
31 October,13:00-14:00 (UTC+2): Andrea Sangiovanni (King’s College London)
"Why Europe?"
12 December, 13:00-14:00 (UTC+2): Jamie Martin (Harvard University)
Title TBA
Format
Time: Fridays (see dates above), 13:00 - 14:00 Helsinki time (UTC+2/3)
Location: Hybrid (unless otherwise stated)
-Room 247 (2nd floor), Unioninkatu 33 (inner courtyard),
-Online on Zoom. Join via this link: https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/62235729698?pwd=PXL5h3WUaB0ZXaDyNvfwbKYHuavzlj.1, Passcode: 791038