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Alle locaties SPUI25 Online Rialto Posthoornkerk Paradiso Odeonzaal Amsterdamse Academische Club (AAC) Doelenzaal Nationale Opera & Ballet De Brug (Roeterseiland) De Duif De Brakke Grond Binnengasthuisstraat 9 Aula Roeterseiland Nationale Opera & Ballet, Odeonzaal Singelkerk OBA Theater Vondelkerk Agnietenkapel

09 01 23

Societal Challenges, Global Mental Health and Humane AI

At this year’s Dies Natalis of the University of Amsterdam, Professor dr. Vikram Patel (Harvard University) and Prof. dr. Chris Manning (Stanford University) will be awarded Honorary Doctorates. During this symposium, a panel of expert speakers will join our honorees to discuss pertinent topics within the fields of mental health and the use of artificial intelligence on a global scale.

14 12 22

Infrastructural Distortion and Possession

Global internet infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of geopolitical conflicts. However, politics have always been an inherent part of communication infrastructures. One could even argue that the internet infrastructure has been a field of reconfiguration of global power for decades, we just failed to see it.

13 12 22

Secrets of the Sea in Times of Climate Breakdown

Despite its many secrets and wonders, oceans have been under threat for years. Corals are dying and sea life is disappearing. Although this is a global phenomenon, some people are affected more than others—and as with many a climate issue, these inequalities bear witness of the afterlife of (post)colonialism. In this talk, we shed light on the ambiguous nature of marine protection and the colonial dimensions of ocean health.

08 12 22

Transnationalizing the History of Germany’s First Democracy

Weimar Between East and West

For a long time, research on the Weimar Republic has implicitly assumed a comparison with Western European (liberal) democracy. More recent research emphasizes that the Weimar Republic should also and even especially be understood in the context of Central and Eastern European democracies. In this lecture, historian Thomas Mergel argues for a much broader, transnational perspective on the Weimar Republic.

29 11 22

Over een verleden van dynastieën

De harten van de wereldgeschiedenis

Historicus Simon Sebag Montefiore spreekt aan de hand van zijn nieuwe boek De wereld over een nieuw soort wereldgeschiedenis; van de Inca’s en de Ottomanen, tot de Habsburgers en de Kennedy’s. Voor Montefiore vormen deze machtige dynastieën een mondiale geschiedenis die alle tijdperken en continenten overspant en waarin familiebanden centraal staan.

25 11 22

Ukraine’s Strategic Choices and Future Geopolitics

On November 25 it will be nine months since the beginning of Putin’s three-day blitzkrieg. Ukraine is resolutely holding out and showing notable progress in repelling the aggressor. Having failed on the battlefield with its army largely degraded and in rout, the Russian regime has doubled down on missile and drone attacks on the energy grid, and resorted to a nuclear blackmail aiming to undermine Ukraine’s will to resist and the Western resolve to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom. During this event, Professor Oleksandr Bogomolov will present the Ukrainian perspective on the current situation and various future scenarios.

23 11 22

Politics of (Dis)Connection

The possible establishment of a sovereign internet in Russia, European initiatives on ‘Digital Sovereignty’, and the conflict between China and the United States over Huawei equipment are rekindling the discussion on splinternets and the limits to global interconnectivity.

15 11 22

The Personalization of Politics in the European Union

The personalization of politics, whereby politicians increasingly become the main focus of political processes, is a prominent phenomenon in modern democracies that has received considerable scholarly attention in national politics. However, little is known about the scope, causes and consequences of personalization in European Union politics. In her new book, Katjana Gattermann studies the interplay between four key dimensions of personalization concerning institutions, media, politicians, and citizens in EU politics, and, at this book launch, she and her fellow speakers will discuss how her findings have important implications for the future of personalized politics in the European Union.

11 11 22

Memetic Tacticality Conference

Memes Beyond Images

The (political) power of memes has moved beyond virtual images. The distinction between the virtual and “real life” no longer applies, or perhaps was never really there. Their effects (or should we say affects) are moving through digital infrastructures, policy, regulations and bodies. If memes are used as a tool by the alt-right to mobilize people to storm the Capitol and play a substantial role in the Ukrainian war, can they also be used by the left to spark a revolution, as memetic warfare is more immediate and accessible than real-life demonstrations? What kind of labor would that require? What kind of tools and principles would we need? And what if memetic logics of spreading information were applied to spread progressive ideas for a possible future?

10 11 22

Isaac Roet Prize

Empowering Young People

Every year the Isaac Roet Prize is awarded to a young researcher who offers a solution to a social problem and thereby contributes to a better world. In this event, we present the first two projects that received this prize. Francesca Ranalli helps teenagers build places in their neighbourhoods that make them feel at home. And Anna Bosshard, the winner of 2022, motivates young residents of Amsterdam to reduce their clothing consumption.

09 11 22

From Kandahar to Mazar

Afghanistan: A Year Later

In August 2021, the United States withdrew its last troops from Afghanistan ending its intervention of 20 years. What does the sudden change of power mean for the security in the country or access to education? How does the situation look like on the ground? And how can the Netherlands and the European Union remain involved in Afghanistan? Robbert van Lanschot and Wais Sediq will join in a conversation.

09 11 22

Party Lines, Counterpropositions and (Post-)Socialist Spaces

Collectivities Otherwise

Picking up on a series of conversations spanning Kassel and Amsterdam around the recent documenta fifteen, Collectivities Otherwise is presented on the anniversary of the opening of the so-called Iron Curtain. We explore collectivity in this historical context and in critical relation to media technologies and socialist memory / memories of former East Germany, post-socialist Europe and Central Asia.

08 11 22

SPUI25-jubileumlezing door Andrea Wulf

Rebelse genieën

Individualisme, zelfbeschikking, vrijheid: het zijn centrale begrippen in onze maatschappij. Toch waren deze ideeën lange tijd niet vanzelfsprekend. Speciaal voor het 15-jarig jubileum van SPUI25 komt Andrea Wulf naar Amsterdam om te spreken over de wervelende geschiedenis van de eerste romantici en de uitvinding van het ‘zelf’, neergeschreven in haar nieuwe boek Rebelse Genieën.

07 11 22

The Role of Russian Investigative Journalism in Today’s Society

In this event, prominent Russian investigative journalist Roman Anin (iStories) will comment on the war in Ukraine, mobilisation in Russia, Kremlin’s elites and the importance of investigative journalism and free press for Russia. Roman has a unique perspective into the mindset of Putin through a series of investigations.

04 11 22

How We Grow the World We Want

Viral Justice

Long before the pandemic, Ruha Benjamin was doing groundbreaking research on race, technology, and justice, focusing on big, structural changes. But the twin plagues of COVID-19 and anti-Black police violence inspired her to rethink the importance of small, individual actions. Part memoir, part manifesto, her new book Viral Justice is a sweeping and deeply personal exploration of how we can transform society through the choices we make every day.

03 11 22

Il-, anti-, non-: Liberalism and its Contestations

The developments of the last three decades—the rise of the populist right, globalisation of culture wars, sharpening ideological polarisation—have led scholars to think of novel ways to capture changing political realities. Widely-used terms such as ‘populism’, ‘conservatism’, or ‘democratic backsliding’, increasingly fall short in describing ongoing transformations including the disappearance of the ideological centre, the driving power of emotions, and blurring distinctions between the right and the left.

01 11 22

Progress and Problems in the Study of Consciousness

From Matter to Mind

Understanding consciousness has been for centuries a subject of philosophical investigation, but only recently have scientists started to tackle this question. Some of the most influential philosophers and scientists in the field debate the recent progress (and the problems that remain) in the scientific study of consciousness.

27 10 22

The Ethical Dilemma of Artificial Intelligence

Moral Machines

In the middle of the 21st century, artificial intelligence (AI) will take many decisions on behalf of humans. Not to enslave people, but to save humanity, posits Roberto Simanowski in his talk. He looks back from the future to the present time, in which the first decisions for this development are made. Fiction for a better understanding of the present.

20 10 22

The Older Woman in West Germany and Britain, 1950s-1980s

Navigating Gender Regimes in History

While post-war social scientists and historians devoted ample time to the study of youth, older demographic groups received comparatively less attention. In contrast, in her Amsterdam German Studies Lecture, Professor Christina von Hodenberg focuses on the agency of older women in post-war West-Germany and Britain.

19 10 22

New Approaches to the History of Radio Archives

On the Record?

What voices from the past are preserved in Europe’s radio archives, and whose stories are excluded? A panel of academics and archival practitioners will discuss new scholarly work on the critical study of radio archives, examining how such work can inform our understandings of Europe’s past and present.

13 10 22

Annual SPUI25 Lecture

The Role of the Writer – Witness or Commentator?

De veelbekroonde Amerikaanse auteur A.M. Homes onderzoekt in haar SPUI25-lezing de rol van de schrijver in de samenleving. Aan de hand van thema’s uit haar nieuwe boek De openbaring vraagt zij zich af: hoe schrijft een auteur fictie ten tijde van tumultueuze politieke en sociale polarisatie? Na haar lezing wordt A.M. Homes geïnterviewd door Margot Dijkgraaf.

07 10 22

Cultural Norms and Ideas under the Microscope of Fashion Analysis

Fashion Theories

Fashion is a powerful force, an expression of personal identity and a significant marker of cultural realities. The clothes we adorn ourselves with relate to our own bodies but also signify how we relate to others. From political figureheads to subcultures and beyond, fashion is far more than just clothes. Tonight, AMFI’s Fashion Theories class of 2022 shines a light on fashion as a field of study.

07 10 22

New Trajectories in Comics Studies

After having secured a foothold in academia, comics studies has turned attention to further solidifying the field by drawing connections to other disciplines and theoretical inquiries. In this book launch, we take a look at the current state of this inherently interdisciplinary field through the publication of four recent books.

06 10 22

How to Live an Authentic Life?

Rebel Like Simone de Beauvoir

Philosopher, award-winning, author, existentialist, feminist icon–Simone de Beauvoir was one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century. Her famous novel The Second Sex transformed our understanding of sex and gender. In her work, she develops an existentialism that differs from her male contemporaries’ theories. What does it mean to choose our own paths in life, in a world filled with people simultaneously striving to choose theirs?

04 10 22

Controversy and Progress in Academia

Exploring Discourses on Feminism and Woke-ism

Both within and outside of academia, two umbrella terms cause much debate and stir emotions: so-called “woke-ism” and “cancel culture.” Importantly, many a heated discussion echoes earlier ones — going back to the early twentieth century. What do histories of social emancipation tell us about the use and abuse of these concepts? How does “woke” fit into an academic tradition of intergenerational collaboration that furthers progress in research and education?

30 09 22

Talking Populism

Populism is a widely debated topic, and it generates interest across the globe. As a result, a burgeoning literature deals with many aspects of populism and its links to pressing issues such as media freedom, minority rights, and separation of powers. The Populism Interviews captures these analyses. Editor of the volume, Luca Manucci, and two of the authors, Matthijs Rooduijn and Alessandro Nai, discuss working on this most controversial of issues.

30 09 22

Putin’s War and Germany’s New Foreign Policy

Putin’s war against Ukraine has ushered in the dawn of a new era or ‘Zeitenwende’. This is especially the case for Germany. In this talk, Professor Gunther Hellmann (Frankfurt/Main) will argue that hints of a pending turn-around started earlier than usually perceived. He further argues that the implications of the transformation in German foreign policy will most likely be more far-reaching than often assumed.

22 09 22

National Citizenship in the Age of Transnationalism

The American Passport in Turkey

In their new book, The American Passport in Turkey: National Citizenship in the Age of Transnationalism, Özlem Altan-Olcay and Evren Balta explore the diverse meanings and values that people outside of the United States attribute to U.S. citizenship, specifically those who possess or seek to obtain U.S. citizenship while residing in Turkey. Tonight, Altan-Olcay will discuss their findings with expert guest speakers.

20 09 22

How New Media Reshape Traditional News Agencies and Politics

Fake News, Lügenpresse, and Disinformation Campaigns in the US, Germany and Russia

With the coming of age of digital media, the social debates on the importance of fake news, media hoaxes and disinformation came into focus of analysts, scholars and politicians. Interestingly, this global phenomenon has had similar features while developing within various local contexts. Particularly the US, Germany and Russia are of interest, since fake news has risen in different social contexts and the concept has different meanings in these countries. Tonight, experts discuss the global influence of the new media on both traditional news-gathering and politics.

14 09 22

Why and How the United States Curtailed High Technology Trade in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Dangerous Knowledge in Postwar America

In their new groundbreaking book, Knowledge Regulation and National Security in Postwar America, Mario Daniels and John Krige set out to show the enormous political relevance that export control regulations have had for American debates about national security, foreign policy, and trade policy since 1945.

14 09 22

A lecture by Shannon Dea

Academic Freedom and the Duty of Care

On September 14, the AISSR hosts a lecture on academic freedom by Professor Shannon Dea, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Regina in Canada. The lecture is followed by a discussion with respondents and the public.

30 06 22

Tactical Media Meet-Up

The European Internet Blockade of Russian Propagandist Media

Against the backdrop of the war with Ukraine, the Russian government has sharply increased funding for state media, resulting in an unprecedented level of state propaganda spread on social media platforms. As a consequence, US and EU lawmakers and Ukrainian officials have jolted into action by pressuring social media platforms in an attempt to curb Russian misinformation. This seems to be a watershed moment with regard to freedom of the press and internet freedom. We discuss what is at stake with internet activists and journalists directly involved in war-news production.

22 06 22

Archives for the Future

Palestine and the Politics of Knowledge Production

The word archive comes from the Greek word arkheion, a repository for official documents, and a place where the archons, the rulers, reside. Archives, then, are unequivocally associated with power and authority, at least in their original formation. But who and what is the archive for? Following her latest book Becoming Palestine: Toward an Archival Imagination of the Future, Gil Z. Hochberg presents her view of the archive as a liberatory site—particularly in Palestinian contexts.

16 06 22

‘Pour une autre Europe’

The State of European Literature

Renowned writer Alain Mabanckou will deliver the third State of European Literature, under the title ‘Pour une autre Europe’ (‘For a different Europe’). The State of European Literature is an annual lecture delivered by a renowned author or poet of international stature, about the state of literature and the state of Europe through the perspective of literature.

15 06 22

Unequal Mobility and Saving Lives

Humanitarian Borders

What does it mean when humanitarianism is the response to death, injury and suffering at the border? In her new book, Humanitarian Borders, Polly Pallister-Wilkins explores this question and inquires the politics, potential and limits of humanitarian relief in times of mobility injustice.

15 06 22

Future Imaginaries in the Making: (Post-) Crisis Greece

Which imaginaries and narratives of the future are currently infiltrating the Greek public sphere and Greek culture, and to what ends? This panel zooms in on contemporary Greece to ask questions that contribute to larger debates about future imaginations within and beyond the neoliberal present.

09 06 22

Oekraïne en Rusland: de verbeelding van een regio

Letteren

De Russische oorlog in Oekraïne speelt zich af op straat, in media, online, en hij wordt verbeeld in taal en literatuur. Woorden brengen troost en verbinding, maar ze kunnen ook verdelen en schaden. Welke rol spelen journalistieke teksten in deze en andere oorlogen? Waarom kunnen we niet zonder proza en poëzie in tijden van strijd? En hoe verandert een oorlog de manier waarop we praten en schrijven? We bestuderen deze vragen met literair vertalers en journalisten die Rusland, Oekraïne en de voormalige Sovjet-Unie van binnenuit kennen.

31 05 22

Can We Unlearn Racism?

Europe does not have a good track record when it comes to addressing racism—or even admitting it exists. Despite the pervasiveness of ethnic profiling, police brutality and discrimination on the housing and labor markets, countries struggle to tackle racism. In Can We Unlearn Racism? Jacob Boersema uses South Africa as a lens to understand this challenge.

25 05 22

Karen Armstrong over onze omgang met natuur

De heilige natuur

Gedurende het grootste deel van de menselijke geschiedenis is de natuur als heilig beschouwd en geloofden we dat God of de goden alomtegenwoordig waren in de natuur. Nu leven we in een klimaatcrisis. Wat is er veranderd in onze omgang met de natuur? En kunnen we het tij nog keren? De Britse auteur Karen Armstrong spreekt in de Vondelkerk over de wezenlijke verbinding van de mens met de natuur, naar aanleiding van haar nieuwe boek De heilige natuur (Querido Facto), en gaat hierna in gesprek met schrijver Marjolijn van Heemstra.

25 05 22

The Making of the Geneva Conventions

Preparing for War

The Geneva Conventions have hit the headlines since Putin’s invasion into Ukraine. These treaties, which represent the most important rules for armed conflict ever formulated, lay down an extensive list of protections for victims of war. But their history is often misunderstood. This roundtable, based on a new book by Boyd van Dijk, discusses the historical, legal, and political dimensions of international law in wartime.