Summer School in Global Studies and Critical Theory
 

THEORY, TECHNOLOGY,

AND THE POLITICAL IMAGINATION

Bologna • June 22 – July 3, 2020

The 2020 Summer School in Global Studies and Critical Theory will examine the entanglement of theory, technology and the political imagination. The big data revolution, the rise of social media and the emergence of machine intelligence have led to radical shifts in conceptions of human reason, political economy, communicative action, social relations, sovereignty and individuation. We will explore how these contemporary theoretical transformations both speak to and depart from the work of the Frankfurt School critical theory, which reconceptualized the role of reason, power, ideology, technology, and culture in the era of fascisms. The program will draw on the expertise of scholars working in different research fields and across multiple critical traditions to address the role of critical theory in this era of algorithms and populisms. We will examine a variety of questions such as: How might we understand the current crisis of the political imagination and its degeneration into extremist worldviews through the lens of social media and a global computational regime? How has our understanding of human reason been transformed by recent advances in digital cognitive systems and neuroscience? What happens to social relations when our modes of connectivity become available for computational calculation? How have social movements been transformed in our digital era?  And how have the arts addressed and been shaped by technological transformation? 

Up to 40 participants will be selected and required to attend all plenary lectures, the two morning courses, and at least one afternoon class per week.

This year participants at the Summer School have also a chance to apply to a call for papers organized by Camilla Fojas and Sandro Mezzadra on MARITIME BORDERS, TECHNOLOGY, AND SECURITY

The Academy and other sponsors offer several grants covering fees, accomodation and/or travel.