CST conference report
Day One
The 2023 conference of the Civil Sphere Theory Working Group commenced on October 18, 2023, in Heidelberg, Germany, setting the stage for thought-inducing discussions, engaging lectures, and exciting presentations. The day began with participants gathering for coffee and registration, followed by a welcome address from Elisabeth Becker, and opening remarks by Jeffrey Alexander, setting the tone for the intellectually charged sessions ahead.
The morning's sessions were divided into two thematic tracks:
The Global Civil Sphere: Chaired by Celso Villegas, this session explored the evolution of the civil order. Compelling presentations by David Inglis, Farhad Khosrokhavar, and Jackie Harrison delved into the globalization of the civil sphere and its relationship with the global news landscape.
Emotions and Embodied Experience in the Civil Sphere: Under the guidance of Guiseppe Sciortino, this section investigated the role of emotions in the civil sphere. Researchers and scholars, including Anna Durnová, Ming-Cheng M. Lo, Hsin-Yi Hsieh, Stef Pukallus, and Jan Váňa, shared insights on the political implications of emotions and embodied experiences in contemporary civil society.
After a break for lunch, the afternoon sessions carried the momentum forward:
Multiplicity: Civil, Uncivil, and Public Spheres in Conversation: Led by Paula Arana Barbier, discussions in the upstairs room explored the debates between Alexander and Habermas, societal problem-solving, and the interplay of civil spheres within Canada.
Civil Sphere, Racialism, and Racism: Simultaneously, those in the downstairs room, chaired by Samia Hathroubi, addressed the complex issues of race, racism, and racialization, exploring topics ranging from re-societalizing antisemitism to anti-racism activism within global civil spheres.
Later in the afternoon, Stefan Lund, Anna Lund, Rebecca Brinch, Ylva Lorentzon, Tariq Modood, and Marcel Knochelmann highlighted diverse perspectives in the discussion on multiculturalism and its challenges, followed by an examination of shifting meanings within civil spheres by Ondřej Klíma, Milica Resanović, Ivana Spasić, and Emily Campbell. The day concluded with an insightful GKAT lecture delivered by Jeffrey Alexander on "Performing Nature as a Sacred Icon."
Day Two
The conference resumed the next day, offering an enriching continuation of discussions, dialogues, and comprehensive presentations encompassing various dimensions of civil sphere theory. The day began with an invigorating coffee session, fostering connections among participants, and setting the tone for the day's engaging sessions.
The morning's sessions were again split into two rooms:
Panel Polarization and the Civil Sphere: Nadya Jaworsky chaired the session exploring political polarization and counter-public spheres. The speakers, Werner Binder, Maria Luengo, Anne Kane, Matthias Revers, and Frédéric Vandenberghe, emphasized the nuanced aspects of political dynamics and polarization in civil society.
Civil Spheres, Media, and Associational Life: Chaired by Anna Lund, discussions revolved around media, societalization, and the performative nature of the civil sphere. Presentations by Liv Egholm, Jason Mast, Trygve Broch, and Sjors Joosten illuminated the influences of media and associational life on civil repair and societalization.
A brief coffee break preceded the midday sessions:
Polarization and the Civil Sphere: Led by Maria Luengo, this session scrutinized the crisis in American democracy, the Capitol attacks, societal transformations amid polarization, and shifts in European memory post-crisis events.
Transnational Civil Spheres: Under the guidance of Samia Hathroubi, researchers presented insights into transnational debates. Discussions from Polina Zavershinskaia, Elisabeth Becker, Bin Xu, and Charles Berthelet delved into transnational narratives, cultural perspectives, and political performances within global climate conferences.
Post lunch, the afternoon sessions offered a fitting conclusion to the conference:
New Theoretical Perspectives on Inclusion in the Civil Sphere: Chaired by Peter Kivisto, this session engaged in theoretical discussions on civil sphere theory, highlighting membership, inclusion, agency, and the sociocultural aspects of civil society.
On Artworlds: Expression and Civil Repair: Downstairs, Aleksandra Barjaktaveric moderated sessions focusing on artistic expression within the civil sphere. Maria Rovisco, Günter Leypoldt, and Chris Worden discussed the role of artists in civic imagination and civil repair within the arts sphere. The day's proceedings concluded with a closing session led by Peter Kivisto, involving an open discussion summarizing the diverse discussions and insights gathered over the two days.
The Civil Sphere Conference 2023 provided a robust platform for scholars and researchers to exchange ideas, debate theories, and network. The conference concluded on a high note, leaving attendees with a deeper understanding of the complexities and possibilities within the global civil sphere, followed by a lovely dinner in honor of Jeffrey Alexander’s retirement.
Civil Sphere Theory Conference 2023 Organizing Committee:
Jeffrey Alexander, Nadya Jaworsky, Elisabeth Becker, Anna Lund, Maria Luengo, Celso Villegas