Thematic Description

Contrary to the expectations of 20th-century theorists, the modern world is far from becoming standardized. Instead, the increasing mobility of individuals, groups, cultural content, information, and technology has led to greater cultural, customary, religious, and ethnic diversity in nearly every part of the world. This growing diversity has resulted in more frequent, direct, and complex interactions between individuals, communities, organizations, religious groups, and states. As a result, a range of questions emerges about the values that govern these multifaceted interactions. While some of these exchanges lead to peaceful cooperation, trade, and shared experiences, they also give rise to tensions and, at times, open conflict. Thus, the contemporary world faces the crucial challenge of establishing norms—both formal and cultural—that shape not only relationships and laws but also the intentions and capacities for meaningful engagement across diverse groups.

Many countries and traditions possess rich cultural heritages that offer solutions and practices known for centuries. We also have ethical and religious systems that can inspire contemporary efforts to build bridges of understanding and share values that transcend differences in traditions, lifestyles, and diverse spiritualities across the globe. In the European tradition shaped by Christian theological and social thought, the concept of the "rights of nations" (ius gentium) offers a path toward fostering social order, respect for the dignity of distinct communities, and creative forms of development. While these values have become urgent in recent decades, they have been the subject of study and debate since antiquity. Systematically, they gained a lasting—though somewhat forgotten—presence in the late Middle Ages.

These values are not new; they are exemplified in the principles of intercultural and international relations described by the Jagiellonian ideas, which originated in the Kingdom of Poland and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the early 15th century. These ideas pioneered the "rights of nations," particularly within the intellectual circles of the Krakow Academy, developed by Pawel Wlodkowic (Paulus Vladimiri, 1370-1436), a leading figure of the Krakow school of international law. Wlodkowic, a prominent Polish scholar and rector of the Academy, was a key participant in the Polish king's delegation to the Council of Constance (1414-1418). His groundbreaking work still resonates today in the tradition of John Paul II's homeland.

These ideas, rooted in Christian values of respect for the dignity of individuals and their communities, have historically been applied to define relationships as an axiological principle, relevant across various contexts and cultural epochs. This suggests that we can still find values that transcend temporary and instrumental concerns, allowing us to build enduring bridges of understanding. The aim of this conference is to showcase initiatives that serve as examples of such bridges—an arsenal of inspiration and genuine communication. This approach departs from one-way influence, transmission, or manipulation, and instead embraces dialogical communication.

Wlodkowic’s concept of international and intercultural relations highlights the potential of interaction based on reciprocity, exchange, and interdependence, acknowledging the subjectivity, intentionality, and agency of all participants. This form of communication seeks values that are universal, and even transcendent, yet deeply rooted in and recognized through real-life experiences.

The presentations and speeches at the conference will serve as an invitation to expand the platform for showcasing real examples, projects, and reflections that illustrate the pillars of intercultural bridges. These examples will inspire culture-forming activities, generating a call for similar initiatives that respect the principles of the "rights of nations" in various parts of the world, within different social systems, and in the context of new technological and media realities. One of the conference’s key objectives is to encourage action that breaks away from the civilizational and political cynicism often driven by technocratic or power-centric values. By exploring the axiological meaning of this concept and its implications for "rights"—specifically human and cultural rights—the conference aims to demonstrate the creative potential inherent in both the intellectual and practical dimensions of this issue.

The concept of the "rights of nations," particularly as developed by Paweł Włodkowic, emerged from European and Christian cultural circles. His theory introduced key categories that laid the pioneering foundations for social personalism, which applies not only to individuals but also to human communities. A vital example is the concept of national dignity, which remains highly relevant today, especially within transnational organizations and multicultural societies. Thus, the conference seeks to foster reflection on the cultural and ethnic interpretations of Włodkowic’s ideas, encouraging participants to explore both the universal and specific meanings of these concepts in diverse social contexts.

Additionally, the conference will address a critical question from Włodkowic’s thought that remains relevant in today’s global interactions: What are the limits of the rights of nations and cultural rights, particularly in preventing the excessive ambitions of certain groups within multicultural environments? This inquiry invites deeper reflection on the balance between national identity and the broader framework of global coexistence.

The conference proposals can be organized into three main thematic blocks:

Block I: The Contemporary Interaction of Cultures

- The growing phenomenon of cultural interaction in the modern world

- Consequences of cultural diversification in the global context

- Domination and marginalization of cultural communities as expressions of power relations

- Cultural subjectivity in the media-driven world

- Core values of national communities amid political divisions

- Intercultural dialogue among nations and ethnic groups in an interactive global environment

Block II: The Rights of Nations – Historical and Theoretical Foundations

- The rights of nations as part of the heritage of the "Krakow School of International Law"

- Social personalism within Kraków Humanism

- The rights of nations as a form of human rights

- The rights of nations as cultural rights

- Cultural anthropology and the concept of the rights of nations

- Christian origins: navigating between particular and universal models of human rights and social order

- Intercultural rights in contemporary contexts

- The rights of nations as the right to cultural subjectivity

- The limits of the rights of nations concerning autonomy, agency, and sovereignty

Block III: The Rights of Nations in Modern Cultural and Social Contexts

- The right to patriotism within a pluralistic, intercultural world

- Communicating heritage as a challenge in intercultural education

- Cultural rights of ethnic communities in multinational corporations

- The rights of nations in the consciousness of cultural and political elites

- Axiological foundations of ethnic policies in multicultural nations

Abstract

Please send an abstract (300-500 words) and a brief CV to Professor Leszek Korporowicz [leszek.korporowicz@poczta.onet.pl], Professor Sylwia Jaskula [sylwia.jaskula-korporowicz@uj.edu.pl] and [cua-rvp@cua.edu] by March 30, 2025. Full paper will be due by May 20, 2025. Well-developed papers will be considered to be published by the RVP in its publication series "Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change."

Logistics

There is no registration fee. Conference participants will cover the costs of their own travel. For accommodations contact the local conference organizer [leszek.korporowicz@poczta.onet.pl] and [sylwia.jaskula-korporowicz@uj.edu.pl]. The conference will be conducted in English. The conference is spported by Pontifical University, Ignatianum University, and Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University.

Contact

Professor Leszek Korporowicz

Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University

Warsaw, Poland

Jagiellonian University 

Krakow, Poland

leszek.korporowicz@poczta.onet.pl

Professor Sylwia Jaskula

Jagiellonian University 

Krakow, Poland

sylwia.jaskula-korporowicz@uj.edu.pl