Pacification Lecture: Alicja Anna Gescinska
The annual Pacification Lectures take place alternately in Breda and Ghent and are organised to exchange views on the past and future of the Netherlands and Flanders. This year's lecture will take place on Saturday 9 November 2024 at 3pm in the Grote Kerk Breda.
The speaker is Alicja Anna Gescinska (Warsaw, 1981), a Polish-Belgian philosopher, writer, TV producer and director of the philosophy programme at The University of Buckingham in London. She will discuss the Pacification of Ghent and its significance for contemporary society. The importance of peace, tolerance and respect for diversity will be the focus of this lecture. Gescinska will talk about the theme of 'Forgiveness' in these turbulent times, when even in Europe the peace that seemed to have been achieved now appears to be shattered.
Information on tickets will follow as soon as possible.
'My parents decided to leave the country and all its difficulties when I was seven. Already at an early age, I had to find answers to questions about my identity: who am I, what am I doing here, where do I come from, where do I want to go?' Alicja Anna GescinskaPhilosopher, writer and TV producer
Pacification of Ghent
The Pacification of Ghent, signed in 1576, stands for peace, tolerance and democracy. An alliance reached in 1576 during the Eighty Years' War between the united Dutch provinces and the Spanish king Philip II, it still has great symbolic value today. The treaty could be regarded as a reminder for facilitating space for interpretation and discussion, whereby it can serve as a source of inspiration for contemporary society.
Pacification Lectures
The Pacification Lectures are dedicated to promoting individuality and diversity, emphasizing the importance of respect and tolerance towards all cultures, religions, ages, classes, walks of life, genders and languages. Only by embracing and respecting diversity can a peaceful society be achieved and the Pacification of Ghent remains both alive and relevant.