The meeting will bring together hundreds of people and dozens of experts from 2 to 4 October in Vitoria-Gasteiz under the motto 'Elkartzen gaituena / Lo que nos une / Ce qui nous rassemble'.
The 19th Congress of Basque Studies will bring together dozens of experts and hundreds of people on 2, 3 and 4 October at the Europa Congress Palace in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Under the motto Elkartzen gaituena / Lo que nos une / Ce qui nos rassemble , the Congress has a clear objective: to unify criteria and propose policies and/or decisions to be implemented in favour of social and territorial cohesion in Euskal Herria. In fact, the president of the congress, Patxi Juaristi, explained that "we want to generate broad consensus and work on specific proposals based on shared needs. And we have divided all of this into three areas: socio-economic, social and territorial."
The objective of the Congress in the future will be to create the conditions for a new Social Contract . The president of Eusko Ikaskuntza, Ana Urkiza, says that "we are seeking consensus among different people to promote social cohesion and give pertinent, thoughtful and well-crafted responses to future challenges. In short, we are referring to shaping the bases for a new social contract for the future."
Every day, a main axis
The programme is structured around three main themes. The first day will focus on the socio-economic development model with the greatest social, environmental and cultural value and on the welfare society. On Thursday 3rd, social issues will be addressed. On the closing day, territoriality will be at the centre of the debates.
International specialists in social innovation, work organization, technological humanities and participatory democracy will offer the keynote presentations. Among other personalities who will speak: Hilary Cottam , recognized for having changed British narratives and practices around social assistance; Mª Ángeles Duran , the first woman to obtain a chair of Sociology in Spain, National Research Award for Social, Economic and Legal Sciences, and National Award for Sociology and Political Science; Lola S. Almendros , researcher on the problems associated with information and communication technologies, as well as Artificial Intelligence; and Cristina Lafont , professor at Northwestern University (United States) and winner of the Lebowitz Prize for Philosophical Achievement and Contribution awarded in 2022 by the American Philosophical Association.
"We will have the help of highly experienced experts, who will complete the conclusions and proposals that we will present. Precisely, these other expert perspectives will be added to the Congress to round out the level and context of the challenges that are posed," Urkiza stressed.
Creative reflection: pioneering and innovative
On Thursday 3rd, at the end of the morning session, Kukai Dantza Taldea , a company with a great international profile and a long list of awards to its name, will offer a creative reflection on the contents of the Congress. This is a pioneering, innovative and reflective initiative focused on the Congress. Leading artists from the Basque Country will participate in the event: among others, La Furia, Adriana Bilbao, Arkaitz Miner, Edurne Azkarate, Akira Yoshida, Aitor Etxebarria, Mixel Etxekopar, Odei Barroso, Leire Vargas, Xabier Solano Garmendia, Janela, Sua Enparantza and Zuberoako Berritza elkartea.
"This is a pioneering, innovative and spectacular activity with direct interaction with the people attending. In fact, participation will be bidirectional, from a personal perspective, to the extent possible and according to each person's wishes, through reflection. This is a pioneering activity for Eusko Ikaskuntza and the Kukai company, as it is included for the first time in Euskal Herria in an academic conference. It will be something new for Basque society, as well as being a great contribution", said Juaristi.
This three-day conference will bring together hundreds of people. Specifically, the forum will be open to specialists, teachers, students and researchers, representatives of institutions and companies, but also organisations and associations belonging to Basque civil society. "Experts and citizens, the conference will bring together numerous profiles from all over Euskal Herria to reflect together, each from their own point of view," explained Urkiza. That is, both members and non-members can participate and learn in detail about the progress in each of the lines of work.
Inscriptions can be made through the website .
