The International Conference "The Return of Hegel. History, Universality and the dimensions of Weakness" is organized by: the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw; the GSSR PAN and the Goethe-Institut in Warsaw.

The conference will take place 14-16 October 2020. The conference will be held in English, fully streamed on-line, participation is free. Detailed program will be available after 20 September. Free access. More information: goethe.de/polen/hegel

Understanding the perplexity of Hegel's own contradictions and embracing the vital interest in theories of history, universality, political ecology, decolonization and social justice, just to name a few key problems highlighted in contemporary philosophy and social theory, we would like to discuss Hegel with a clear intention of critical historical practice, which combines the particular needs and context with an interest in the past as effort to build the future. In the context of the return of philosophy of history the need to revisit universality seems crucial. The concept of 'common future' seems to be unavailable without a universalist claim. But also in other theoretical fields – postcolonial studies or feminism, where the limitations of solely particular perspective have been criticized as leaning towards neoliberal atomization; legal and heritage studies, such claim to universality seems central today. Egalitarian practice and critical theory, which currently struggle in the impasse between the perfect adjustment to the European status quo of late modern capitalism and the minoritarian disagreement, perhaps need to at least confront the Hegelian notions once again. Such a search for universality needs to embrace the dialectics of experience, without the conformist focus on the logic of (neoliberal) success.

If there is one thing we might all have in common in our intention to revisit Hegel's thought and heritage on the round anniversary of his 250 birthday, it is the need for the audacity of his theoretical work, its much needed public and critical dimension, its courage to undermine or break the safe patterns of intellectual practice. This is why we would like to invite very different thinkers and various, sometimes even contradicting styles of approaching Hegel and the contemporary. Please, join us to think and discuss Hegel's philosophy and its impacts on today's theory, society and understanding of history.

The Organizing Committee: dr Christoph Bartmann (Director of the Goethe-Institut in Warsaw); prof. Andrzej Leder (Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw); dr Ewa Majewska. The confirmed Keynote Speakers: Prof. Achille Mbembe, Wits University, Johannesburg, RSA; prof. Mladen Dolar, University of Lublana, Slovenia; prof. Oxana Timofeeva, European University in Petersburg, Russia.

Other confirmed Speakers: dr Joe Grim Feinberg, Charles University, Prague, Czech Rep.; dr Ankica Cakardic, University of Zagreb, Croatia; dr Ewa Majewska, Warszawa; dr Joanna Bednarek, Poznań; prof. Andrzej Leder, IFiS PAN, Warszawa; prof. Małgorzata Kowalska, University of Białystok; MA Bartosz Wójcik, INP PAN, Warszawa and dr Maciej Sosnowski, IFiS PAN, Warszawa; prof. Agata Bielik-Robson, University of Nottingham and IFiS PAN; prof. Andrzej W. Nowak, UAM, Poznań; dr Mikołaj Ratajczak, IFiS PAN; dr Jan Swianiewicz, Warszawa; dr Marcin Pańków, University of Białystok; dr Marta Olesik, ISP PAN, Warszawa; prof. Tomasz Kitlinski, UMCS, Lublin; dr Jakub Majmurek, Warszawa.

The Praktyka Teoretyczna Journal has a matronage over the conference; they opened a call for papers for the thematic issue on Hegel, please feel welcomed:

https://www.praktykateoretyczna.pl/call-for-papers/return-hegel-history-dialectics-and-weak/