by Radačić » Fri Apr 24, 2026 3:18 pm
Contemplative Praxis, Feminism and Human Rights Conference at Inter University Centre Dubrovnik (IUC), Croatia 17 – 18 September 2026
Call for Contributions
In this perilous time of multiple and intersecting crises — what Indigenous activist and scholar Sherry Mitchell describes as the time of the Dance of the Cannibal Giant — dominant approaches to social justice need to be reimagined.
The prevailing paradigm of human rights is grounded in separation, reflected in conflict-based approaches to social justice activism, often fueled by indignation and anger. While these responses arise from legitimate grievances, they can also narrow our vision, closing off more holistic and transformative alternatives for addressing injustice. Moreover, this paradigm contributes to high levels of burnout, trauma, and depression among social justice activists, as well as scholars and other practitioners, alongside a pervasive culture of martyrdom.
Yet, other paths exist. Contemplative practices—an umbrella term encompassing experiences that emphasize embodiment, interiority, silence, presence, and connectedness — offer possibilities for re-imagining social justice as a practice rooted not only in resistance, but also in care, relationality and inner transformation. These practices are now gradually entering conversations within social justice scholarship, including
socio-legal and critical legal studies. Notable contributions have come from feminist scholars such as Audre Lorde and Gloria Anzaldúa, as well as feminist activists and collectives.
This gathering is envisioned as a space to share research, teaching, activist, artistic and healing practices that explore the relationship between social justice and contemplative praxis, and that bridge disciplines, traditions, and sites of feminist and social justice engagement. By creating a space where these strands can meet, the conference aims to open up possibilities for more holistic, sustainable, and life-affirming feminist and social justice frameworks and practices to emerge.
We invite not only academic papers, but also creative interventions such as workshops, circles, artistic expressions, and offerings of contemplative practices (such as yoga, meditation, and rituals) in service to social justice. All interested, including PhD students, early career scholars and non-academics, are welcome to apply.
Please send proposals (up to 250 words) by 30 May 2026 to
ivana.radacic@pilar.hr.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 10 June 2026.
The conference participation fee is 55 euros. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Accommodation may be available to book at the IUC Dormitory. For more information see: Inter University Centre Dubrovnik.
The IUC South-East European Scholarship is available for students and staff members from South-East Europe, as well as scholarships for participants from Croatian higher education and scientific institutions.
Contact:
Dr Ivana Radačić,
ivana.radacic@pilar.hr
Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia.
Dr Josipa Šarić,
J.Saric-832@kent.ac.uk
Kent Law School, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
Contemplative Praxis, Feminism and Human Rights Conference at Inter University Centre Dubrovnik (IUC), Croatia 17 – 18 September 2026
Call for Contributions
In this perilous time of multiple and intersecting crises — what Indigenous activist and scholar Sherry Mitchell describes as the time of the Dance of the Cannibal Giant — dominant approaches to social justice need to be reimagined.
The prevailing paradigm of human rights is grounded in separation, reflected in conflict-based approaches to social justice activism, often fueled by indignation and anger. While these responses arise from legitimate grievances, they can also narrow our vision, closing off more holistic and transformative alternatives for addressing injustice. Moreover, this paradigm contributes to high levels of burnout, trauma, and depression among social justice activists, as well as scholars and other practitioners, alongside a pervasive culture of martyrdom.
Yet, other paths exist. Contemplative practices—an umbrella term encompassing experiences that emphasize embodiment, interiority, silence, presence, and connectedness — offer possibilities for re-imagining social justice as a practice rooted not only in resistance, but also in care, relationality and inner transformation. These practices are now gradually entering conversations within social justice scholarship, including
socio-legal and critical legal studies. Notable contributions have come from feminist scholars such as Audre Lorde and Gloria Anzaldúa, as well as feminist activists and collectives.
This gathering is envisioned as a space to share research, teaching, activist, artistic and healing practices that explore the relationship between social justice and contemplative praxis, and that bridge disciplines, traditions, and sites of feminist and social justice engagement. By creating a space where these strands can meet, the conference aims to open up possibilities for more holistic, sustainable, and life-affirming feminist and social justice frameworks and practices to emerge.
We invite not only academic papers, but also creative interventions such as workshops, circles, artistic expressions, and offerings of contemplative practices (such as yoga, meditation, and rituals) in service to social justice. All interested, including PhD students, early career scholars and non-academics, are welcome to apply.
Please send proposals (up to 250 words) by 30 May 2026 to ivana.radacic@pilar.hr.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 10 June 2026.
The conference participation fee is 55 euros. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Accommodation may be available to book at the IUC Dormitory. For more information see: Inter University Centre Dubrovnik.
The IUC South-East European Scholarship is available for students and staff members from South-East Europe, as well as scholarships for participants from Croatian higher education and scientific institutions.
Contact:
Dr Ivana Radačić, ivana.radacic@pilar.hr
Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia.
Dr Josipa Šarić, J.Saric-832@kent.ac.uk
Kent Law School, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK