The Goethe-Institut together with the European Movement International and other partners is organising an event to address urgent questions around populism, xenophobia and extremism in Europe, share views and provide profound insights on growing anxiety in the “old continent” and beyond.

The “European Angst” conference will be held at BOZAR in Brussels on 6-7 December 2016 and welcome thoughts of renowned speakers such as Slavoj Žižek, Didier Eribon, Elif Shafak, Łukasz Warzecha, Sonia Seymour Mikich and others.

Target audience of the conference are EU decision makers, officials, students, professionals, media and the broader public that is interested in political theory, sociological analysis. We aim at faciliating a thrilling conversation on the anxiety that divides societies and countries within Europe and Europe’s relationship with its neighbouring regions, creating a space for open discussion of different points of views and knowledge production.

We believe that peace and stability is achieved only through following the principles of mutuality and reciprocity. In order to achieve that we need to listen to different points of views, exchange a plethora of varying opinions and be prepared to adjust our thinking. Our careful choice of speakers endeavours to cover a broad spectre of opinions in an attempt to achieve a better understanding of what divides and what unites us.

Additionally the organisers are reaching out to recruit 40 Students, chosen from all over Europe in an open call, who, next to the speakers, will enrich the discussions with their critical questions and write a joint manifesto on the future of Europe, to be handed over to the European institutions at the end of the debate.

The call for students is now closed. Selected candidates will be informed shortly.

The event’s latest DRAFT AGENDA is available here