6th International Scientific Conference “Literature and Power in Poland and in Russia” (21–23 May 2026)

About the event

The Institute of Russian Philology of the Faculty of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warsaw and the SSC of Dialogue and Cooperation with the East have the pleasure to invite you to the 6th International Scientific Conference "Literature and Power in Poland and in Russia". Date: 21–23 May 2026 Venue: The Faculty of Applied Linguistics of the University of Warsaw, ul. Dobra 55 OR the University of Warsaw Library, ul. Dobra 56/66, Warsaw Details: https://rusycystyka.uw.edu.pl/ Call for Papers & Conference Invitation (PDF): https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10561.01129 Registration Form: https://forms.gle/BABa4soC2b3vCmvR7 We cordially invite you to take part in the sixth edition of the international scientific conference 'Literature and Power in Poland and in Russia'. The planned meeting aims at a multi-faceted examination of the connections, interdependencies and interactions between literature and power in both Poland and Russia. The range of research topics proposed by the Organizing Committee includes, among others: I. Axiological, epistemological and aesthetic dimensions of a literary work in relation to structures of power and biopolitics II. (Bio)political interpretations and re-interpretations of Polish and Russian literary works III. Literature as a tool for generating political metanarratives IV. Utopia, dystopia and anti-utopia as political (anti-)programmes V. Polish-Russian literary discourses from the perspective of (post)colonial studies VI. Analysis of the attitudes of Polish and Russian writers towards the sphere of power (both from an individual perspective and in comparative terms) VII. Performativity and the political turn in contemporary Polish and Russian literature VIII. The writer as a political subject — the politician as a literary subject IX. Life-writing, life narrative and autobiografiction in Polish and Russian literature X. Literary de/constructions of power XI. Polish-Russian literary relations (from synchronic and diachronic perspectives) XII. Jerzy Giedroyc and his legacy; Poles and Russians in the pages of the Parisian 'Kultura' The twelve points above provide an indicative thematic framework for the conference; participants may propose their own topics that go beyond these but remain related to the conference’s main theme. Working languages of the conference: English / Russian / Polish Mode: on-site (In exceptional and justified cases, with the direct, individual consent of the Organizing Committee, remote participation is allowed.) Abstract submission deadline: 12.04.2026 Conference fee: 250 PLN / 70 EUR; until 01.05.2026 (The bank account number will be sent to each speaker after the abstract is accepted by the Organizing Committee.) During the three days of the conference the organizers will provide coffee breaks, sweet refreshments and promotional materials; on the first day of the conference a formal welcome dinner is planned. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering the costs of their own travel, accommodation and meals. The Organizing Committee plans to publish papers in the journal Mirgorod: the Annual of the History & Epistemology of Contemporary Literary Studies (Siedlce—Lausanne), ISSN 1897-1431 (20 points). The Organizing Committee reserves the right to select the papers. Questions regarding the conference and organizational matters: f.swierczynski2@uw.edu.pl Magdalena Dąbrowska (Institute of Russian Philology, Faculty of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw) Piotr Głuszkowski (Institute of Russian Philology, Faculty of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw) Michał Kołakowski (Institute of Russian Philology, Faculty of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw) Roman Mnich (Institute of Russian Philology, Faculty of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw) Filip Świerczyński, Chair of the Organizing Committee (Faculty of 'Artes Liberales', University of Warsaw)