In 1871 the Communards of Paris called for nothing short of real democracy and freedom. The city fell into the hands of its citizens who organized their lives and their resistance in voluntary associations. In this Basta! we treat the Paris Commune as part of the historical legacy of the left, a piece of collective memory that continues to inspire insurrections and self-government around the world.
The Paris Commune is more than a mere exercise of political imaginary. What is the legacy of the Commune? How can its teachings be applied to today’s struggles? What are the connections between the Paris Commune and today’s Paris that is experiencing a new generation of protests against the labor reforms? What lessons can we still apply?
Join us for an inspiring discussion about the durable demands of the Paris Commune, its vision and its legacy.
This is the first of a series of events celebrating and commemorating the Paris Commune, a co-presentation by Kritische Studenten Utrecht and Casco — Office for Art, Design and Theory. For information on the second event, keep an eye on our website.
Speakers:
- Jerome Roos, editor of ROAR Magazine
- Dennis Bos, university lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities of Leiden University and author of the most important work in Dutch literature on the Paris Commune: Bloed en Barricaden.