The 20th anniversary of the Willy Brandt Center for German and European Studies. The 4th congress of German philologists

Not so long ago, such topic of an academic conference would not have seemed very interesting. Germany and its attitude towards Eastern European countries have been studied for decades from different points of view. Scholars of many disciplines had repeatedly paid attention to historical connections between imperial goals and their criminal manifestations during World War II. However, the unprovoked Russian aggression towards Ukraine changed the established way of approaching Eastern European matters, which used to rely primarily on accusing the Germans. For the first time in decades, Berlin was forced to redefine its stance on Eastern Europe, especially on Moscow and Kyiv. There is more need to focus on giving a chance to Ukraine’s peaceful and democratic future, rather than dwelling on the past and the relationship with Russia. Even though there has been no long-promised outbreak in the matter yet, the ongoing discussion in Germany is showing the evolution of mindsets and might be a shadow of changes on many levels.

This year’s Congress of German Philologists is one of the many spaces for debate on challenges of Germany’s relationships with its eastern neighbours and partners. The Congress is an annual academic meeting, held by the University of Wrocław’s Willy Brandt Center for German and European Studies, and open to different promoting activities. Our institution is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year. The Center is a joint initiative of the University of Wrocław and the German Academic Exchange Service. Although the previous editions of the Congress have seen well-experienced scholars from Poland, Germany and other countries, special attention has always been paid to the presence of young German philologists, too. The event is also an opportunity to present the ongoing pursuits and the most recent publications, as well as to make new connections and exchanges.

The plan of this year’s Congress includes diverse discussions, panels, book displays and film projections. The official opening will be preceded by a private viewing of a known Polish graphic designer and painter, Wiesław Smętek, who has been active in Germany for years. Many panels will debate the problem of Ukraine and Eastern Europe from the European, and particularly German point of view. In case of Germany, reflecting upon the current eastern politics and its critical view is not the only point. The approach of “change through trade”, proposed years ago, eventually proved to be ineffective and was exercised with a major political gullibility. Regardless, a change in Germany’s foreign policy and an absolute support for Ukraine are still controversial and require further thorough discussion. Moreover, current issues and possible future scenarios will also be considered during the Congress. Is Europe ready to deal with another crisis? How does the refugee crisis affect its state? Will the European solidarity regarding energy security stand the test of time? What answers can we expect from Berlin? Does the past, especially World War II, still determine Germany’s approach to Russia?

Nevertheless, the matter of collaboration and exchange between the Polish and German universities will also receive attention. Moreover, challenges which higher education faces in times of Eastern crises (including the Ukraine war and refugee crisis) will be discussed during a separate panel.

The Congress will be divided into three main appearances. On the first day, dr Marek Prawda will give an inaugural lecture. A panel discussion dedicated to Germany’s eastern politics will take place on the second day. Finally, Dietmar Nietan, the federal Coordinator of German-Polish Intersocietal and Cross-Border Cooperation, will present a paper on the last day of the Congress. The panel discussions will touch upon topics concerning film studies, history, cultural studies, literature, political science, law, sociology and many more. Major debates will be highlighted, such as dealing with the colonial past or the issue of post-war compensations.

The list of panels, book displays and film projections can be found in a detailed programme below. Additionally, there is a possibility to participate in the Congress as a reporter and/or debater. Candidates are asked to send their applications by the end of September to the Congress Office:

Willy Brandt Center for German and European Studies
University of Wrocław
ul. Strażnicza 1-3
PL-50-206 Wrocław
e-mail: csne@uwr.edu.pl

Translated by Małgorzata Stencel (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.