| Speakers |
- Prof. Dr. Yamamoto Kei (Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto)
"Democracy of the Unidentified: In the Context of Contemporary Japanese Politics - Andreas Eder-Ramsauer (University of Vienna, Japanese Studies)
Strategic Temporalities and the Fate of Left Conservatism: Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht und Reiwa Shinsengumi - Akari Takimoto (Central European University, Gender Studies)
Ethics and Politics of Transnational Relations in East Asia: Language and Translation as Sites of Analysis
| About the workshop |
In recent years, in parallel with broader global trends, authoritarian tendencies and anti-democratic political developments have become increasingly visible in Japan. At the same time, alongside persistent political and social tensions, the current political landscape has also seen a renewed visibility of demonstrations, civic initiatives, and other forms of social and political activism. These developments invite renewed reflection on the conditions, limits, and possibilities of democratic theory in Japan.
Against this background, the workshop aims to create a platform for reflection and discussion on these developments by inviting Prof. Dr. Kei Yamamoto, a political philosopher specializing in radical democracy, social movements, populism, and contemporary political thought in Japan. Prof. Dr. Yamamoto is a professor at the Faculty of Law, Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto), and is currently affiliated with the Department of Political Science at the University of Vienna as a visiting researcher. His work has attracted significant attention in Japan for showing how radical democratic theory can be brought into dialogue with the specific historical and political conditions of contemporary Japan. The workshop is also held on the occasion of the publication of the new edition of his book "Democracy of the Unidentified" (Fushinsha no Democracy).
At the same time, the workshop is not limited to a narrowly defined political-philosophical framework. It also aims to consider the concrete manifestations of these issues from the perspectives of Gender Studies and Japanese Studies, while situating them within broader relations between Europe and East Asia. In this way, the workshop seeks to open an interdisciplinary space for discussing democracy, political imagination, translation, and transnational relations in contemporary contexts.
The event will be held in English and is conceived as an open academic workshop for students, doctoral candidates, and researchers in philosophy, political theory, Japanese Studies, Gender Studies, and related fields. Anyone interested in these topics is very welcome to attend.
| Time and Location |
Friday, July 24 2026; 4:30 pm
University of Vienna, NIG (Neues Institutsgebäude), Room 3A
Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Vienna
