Conference «Tools and Objectives of Genocidal Social Engineering. Man and the State in the Face of Totalitarianism» (Warsaw, 3 December 2020)

We would like to invite you to submit an application for the international scientific conference organized by the Pilecki Institute, which will be held as part of the «Lemkin 2018-2023» project.

The unprecedented scale of the murders committed against civilian populations during World War II had its source in totalitarian ideologies. The organizers of the next international conference planned by the Pilecki Institute have as their objective to shed more light on the nature of these crimes, with a focus on the German industry of death and the highly-organized and deliberate Soviet system of opression and extermination. Further, our meeting will be an occasion for researchers to engage in a scholarly reflection on the approaches and actions of individuals, and on the functioning of organizations and state structures under occupation.

This year, we intend to focus on an analysis of case studies which were developed on the basis of individual research and illustrate the research theses formulated by participants of the conference. Case studies can include other examples of the policies of terror, genocidal atrocities or acts that were referred to in such a way, especially in the 20th century. We invite prospective contributors to present both issues of state policy, and the various approaches adopted on the microscale (case studies) and the macroscale (social attitudes) – from the moment of invasion through individual heroism to organized resistance.

The term genocide continues to spark debate and even controversy as to its applicability to the mass crimes committed among others during World War II. Starting from the Polish experience of facing two totalitarian regimes in the 20th century – including the Stalinist regime, which is especially important from the point of view of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe – we seek and encourage various perspectives on genocide studies and their juxtaposition.

TOPICS

• From Ideology to the Tools of Genocide.
• German Camps in Europe.
• German Camps in Occupied Poland.
• The German Policy of Genocide in Occupied Poland.
• Stalinist Terror and Examples of Genocide. From the Holodomor through Political Purges to Katyn.
• Strategies and Forms of Resistance against the Genocide Unleashed by Totalitarian Regimes on Europe.
• Actions Undertaken by States, Organizations and Individuals in the Face of Genocide.
• The Stance of Individuals Towards TotalitarianTerror.
• Totalitarian States and Genocidal Occupations in the Light of International Law.
• Polish Sources for Research into Genocide.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

• The conference will be held in Polish and English(simultaneous interpreting will be provided).
• Various forms of virtual participation will be possible (video recordings, on-line videoconferences).
• Time allocated for individual presentations: 10–15 minutes.
• The conference is planned as a virtual event, and will essentially be held over the internet (Zoom communicator). The organizer admits of the possibility of holding apart of the conference in a conventional format in Warsaw for those who will be interested, however provided that this will not be precluded by the pandemic.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications should be sent in by e-mail using the application form (attached hereunder).

Candidates from Poland are requested to complete the form in Polish, unless Polish is not their mother tongue. In this event were quest that the form(s) be completed inEnglish.

The deadline for submission of applications expires on 15 October 2020. Applicants shall be informed of the acceptance of their applications.

Notification of acceptance for participation in the conference shall be provided by the Pilecki Institute by 25 October 2020.

Conference applications and all queries should be sent by e-mail to lemkin@instytutpileckiego.pl

For more information and registration (paper proposal form)  please visit the site:

https://instytutpileckiego.pl/en/instytut/aktualnosci/cele-i-narzedzia-ludobojczej-inzynierii-spolecznej-czlowiek?setlang=true&fbclid=IwAR2NDcGa8eyMikD1dZ4I41ndOTfmMAoJn-IiYaLOEW3Um7ID-gxPS7QiOXg

Contact Info: 

Karolina Gozdzik

Contact Email: 

lemkin@instytutpileckiego.pl