Revisiting the Revolution: Past, Present, Perspectives – (Certificate)

Contents

What does the idea of revolution mean for different people today, at this moment in history? How are revolutions envisioned and enacted? How can we conceptualise revolution as a form of change theoretically, and how does it relate to other forms of social change? In particular, the course will focus on the Arab Spring; the revolutions in the former Soviet block; the crisis and the potential of present day left-wing radicalism. For better insight, these recent and on-going cases will be put in a historically and geographically comparative perspective: we will explore which models, narratives, practices and currents of thought are being employed or contradicted, and to what effect. The summer school will draw upon a multi-disciplinary framework (Anthropology, Art Theory, Cultural Semiotics, History, Literary Theory, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology).

The course consists of an intensive series of lectures, seminars, student workshops and study trips, lead by scholars of diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, including Christopher Finlay (University of Birmingham), Ernesto Laclau (University of Essex), Chantal Mouffe (University of Westminster), George Schöpflin (MEP (EPP); University of Bologna), Eric Selbin (Southwestern University

Course is organized in cooperation with Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts.