Joint Conference

Eastern Europe – Global AreaAnnual Conference of GWZO and EEGA

The three-day conference was opened in the evening of July 3rd, 2018 with a keynote by Basil Kerski (Director of the European Solidarity Centre) with the title: Polen und Deutsch in Europa. Was uns trennt, verbindet uns (Polish and German people in Europe. What separates us and what connects us). About 60 guests participated at this keynote lecture which was followed by a vivid discussion. The opening lecture took place in the Saxon Academy of Science.

In general, the opening event was followed by thematic panels on the following topics: Eastern Europe and the Gobal South in Cold War Times, Identity Constructions for the Self and its Others or (Re-)Moveable Easts and (Re-)Usable Others: The “Eastern” International. Round about 20 conference speakers came to Leipzig in order to present the research projects to an international audience. In addition to the presentations, there was also enough time for exchange and networking. After a guided tour at the Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst (Gallery of Contemporary Art) for instance we were happy to welcome EEGA Fellows, conference speakers and others to a ‘meet and greet’ session in a cozy bar.

Some photo impressions of the opening event: