26th Conference of the Utopian Studies Society / Europe
The Pasts and Futures of Utopia
1-4 July 2026
Organisers: USS/E, Academia Europaea Bucharest Hub, University of Bucharest (Faculty of Sociology and Social Work), Bucharest City Museum
Venue: Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Bd. Schitu Măgureanu 9, Bucharest
For over two centuries, scholars have been debating the end of history (from Kant and Hegel to Kojève and Fukuyama) and, more recently, the end of utopia (at least since Marcuse). Some have also declared the inevitability of dystopia, and the lack of distinction between utopia and dystopia. Around sixty years ago, when most traditional ideologies (and their associated teleologies) were challenged, the future itself was called into question, inspiring heated debates about alternative futures, possible futures, futuribles, or counterfactual pasts and presents, including some in which (ir)responsible humans (more recently, post-humans and non-humans) were to play a demiurgic role.
One may wonder: are the categories of history, utopia, dystopia, ideology, future, and the end still valid and/or useful? Has utopia been reduced to one form (and tense)—future in the past? Do we live, as some claim, in post-history or in a post-utopia? Could we think of history, with Koselleck, as future past? What about futures that were envisioned, even tried out (with various results)? Are they buried for good, or do they have a future? Do we have “real,” full, meaningful lives or mere (mainly digital) afterlives? In Dracula’s country, this is not a trivial question. Above all, should we be interested to inquire whether we still have a future at all, and, if so, is it apocalyptic, or post-human?
To address these, and other, haunting questions, the organisers of the Bucharest USS/E Conference will welcome scholars of all disciplines, as well as artists, activists, members of associations and intentional communities, visionaries and dreamers.
In the spirit of inclusivity and interdisciplinarity, guided by the belief that genuinely utopian debates benefit from a variety of perspectives, we will be hosting roundtables with scholars, writers, artists, media personalities, utopian activists; panels on recently published books and scholarly trends in the discipline; and a postgraduate segment where the youngest scholars may find professional advice, inspiration, and establish contacts in the field.
Organising Committee: Sorin Antohi (Chair), Liviu Chelcea, Gabriel Jderu, Călin Cotoi, Adrian Majuru, Daniel Cățoi.
Scientific Committee: Gregory Claeys (Chair), Vita Fortunati, Zsolt Czigányik, Justyna Galant, Fátima Vieira, Barnita Bagchi, Anna Bugajska, Ludmiła Gruszewska-Blaim, Susanna Layh, Corin Braga, Davina Cooper, Mathias Taler, Anne Kwaschik, Juan Pro.
For more information and updates: https://usse2026bucharest.wordpress.com