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The forthcoming 12th International Iberian-Slavonic Conference in Lisbon is organised within the context of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I with the aim of exploring, in a scholarly way, the complex and intricate cultural relationships of ideas, stories, memories, and even myths of battles and wars in Iberian and Slavonic cultures. The contextual synergy is furthermore enhanced by the time when the conference debates will actually be held, and which coincides with international commemorations of the end of World War II.

Through revisiting and reviewing the two “Great” Wars and the “short” twentieth century, the Conference will approach some traditional perspectives, such as “Independence Studies” by questioning, for example, the contexts and the meanings attributed to the Armistice Day of November, 11th. It will also establish new comparative approaches to the commonly assumed “belligerent” character of Iberian and Slavonic Cultures by analysing, for example, the roles played by frequently mythicized wars and battles in their historical memory, cultural heritage and traditional views on the complex subject of war and peace. Naturally, all the approaches will be extended to Lusophone and Hispanic worlds.

Thus, with its inter-and transdisciplinary debates, ranging from history and history of ideas, politics, cultural studies and sociology to psychology, linguistics, education and arts, the 12th Iberian-Slavonic Conference in Lisbon aims to provide new patterns and discourses to analyse and discuss the imprints of attitudes towards wars and warlike activities and actions in the discussed peoples and their cultures.

Finally, and as the tradition has it, the Conference will be the central event of the 12th Week of Iberian-Slavonic Cultural Cooperation (7-13 May, 2018), to be held at the Faculty of Arts

 

and Humanities of the University of Lisbon, and at the Open University of Lisbon, and it will be accompanied by socio-cultural events (a round table examining the newest insights into the main conference theme, a poetry evening offering artistic reflections through literature and music, an exhibition on the phenomenon of war from an Iberian-Slavonic perspective, etc.).

As always, the entire 2018 event will also provide an excellent opportunity to foster peer interaction and – particularly during the closing debate, to inspire “friendly wars” that traditionally seek to shape the future of Iberian-Slavonic Cultural Studies.

There is no better monument to epitomise the overall goals of the 12th Week of Iberian-Slavonic Cultural Cooperation than the Unfinished Chapel of the Portuguese Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory (1385), known as the Monastery of Batalha, and literally meaning the “Monastery of the Battle”.

 

PROPOSED THEMATIC AREAS

(Including, but not restricted to, the following Iberian-Slavonic perspectives)

1. World War I from Iberian and Slavonic perspectives. Revisiting Iberian and Slavonic facts and myths on the roles played in WWI.

2. Wars and conflicts in the newest methodological approaches. Battles and wars as the basis of Iberian-Slavonic Cultural Studies.

3. Warfare and politics: Political ideals and instruments of wars: origins, history and the legacy of pan-nationalisms, totalitarian regimes and other political programmes.

4. Religion and war. Religious dimensions of wars: political, social and cultural implications.

5. Belligerent dimensions of the search for Identity. Battles and wars defining Iberian and Slavonic historical memory and cultural heritage. Collective and individual aspects of identity-building experiences based on myths of battles and their warlike echoes.

6. Warfare and the notion of independence. Insights on myths and realities about battles and wars as the way to independence.

7. Conflicts within cultural and socio-political patterns. Specific dynamics of wars and conflicts in all SLAVIAS and IBERIAS. Wars between the individual and the community.

8. War and Psyche: Conflict, aggression and fundamentalism. Psychological aspects leading individuals/communities to wars. Warfare and pacifism as psychological opposites/complements. Belligerent spirit as national/tribal inheritance: self-definition and portrayal of the Other. Belligerence between theory and practice – great thinkers / great warriors?

9. War and/in literature. Battles and wars as literary topoi, and between faction and fiction. “Paper wars” (satire, pastiche, etc.).

10. War in Arts: The Art of War and the Art about War. Inter(arts) contributions.

11. War and conflict in/for linguistic expression: Fight for language. Fight for education. Linguistic conflicts. Language of warfare and war propaganda and its echoes.