The Vienna Karl Polanyi Visiting Professorship invites renowned international scientists to present and discuss interdisciplinary research on current economic and social challenges. As the first Polanyi Visiting Professor in the spring of 2021, philosopher, feminist and democracy advocate Nancy Fraser will be featured on May 6 in a CEU-hosted public interview, "The COVID Pandemic: A Perfect Storm of Capitalist Irrationality" with Austrian journalist Armin Thurnher, moderated by CEU Political Science Professor, Carsten Schneider.
Additional activities as part of Fraser's Polyani Guest Professorship include teaching a PhD-seminar "Two Karls Plus" on contemporary capitalism, and delivering two public lectures. She will also present and discuss topics of her forthcoming book, Cannibal Capitalism as part of an internal workshop and debate at CEU: "Rethinking Capitalism: An Expanded View". CEU Political Science Professor Béla Greskovits, who is an expert on Polyani, is among the commentators for the workshop.
"The Guest Professorship is not purely academic. It is stimulating public debate by linking university research to adult learning. This is aligned with what Karl Polanyi did - public education. Therefore, the project entails strong elements for the public," explains Schneider, who is part of the selection committee for the Polyani Guest Professorship and a co-organizer of the activities.
He notes that in considering scholars for the opportunity, the committee is seeking high-profile researchers who would otherwise not be accessible to a broad public in Vienna. The Guest Professorship occurs twice a year, and the next visiting scholar during the winter of 2021 will be Research Professor of Sociology Fred Block (University of California, Davis).
The Polanyi Visiting Professorship aims to advance interdisciplinary research on contemporary challenges; to gain insights for contemporary analysis by continuing and rediscovering Karl Polanyi's intellectual legacy; to actualize the Viennese heritage of lively academic and political debate from "Red Vienna" in the 1920s, which inspired Karl Polanyi´s reflections in "The Great Transformation"; and to intensify cooperation between Viennese universities as well as other educational institutions in understanding and shaping ongoing transformations.
This cooperation project includes CEU, University of Vienna, Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), the International Karl Polanyi Society (IKPS) and the Volkshochschule Wien (VHS Wien) and is supported by the Vienna Chamber of Labour and the City of Vienna. The IKPS is an association of engaged citizens, researchers, teachers, activists, journalists and professionals from diverse policy fields based on the rich intellectual, moral and political legacy of Karl Polanyi and the vivid scientific and public debates he has inspired.
An inauguration ceremony for the Polyani Guest Professorship on May 4 will be held in the Vienna City Hall with government representatives as well as leadership from each of the participating institutions. CEU Provost and Professor Liviu Matei will provide remarks on behalf of CEU.
For the full schedule of Fraser's upcoming Polyani Guest Professorship public programs, visit here.