Welcome to the IUAES 2019 Inter-Congress

It is an honour and gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences’ (IUAES) Inter-Congress “World Solidarities” in Poznan, Poland!

The IUAES 2019 Inter-Congress will create a forum to discuss, interpret and make comprehensive insights into the ways in which anthropology studies human solidarities that exist and emerge at local, regional and global levels of social life and in all corners of the world; solidarities that in our times have to be consciously stretched out to other species and ecosystems. Notions of compassion, commonality and solidarity are particularly important now, in the period when global warming and social inequalities force whole populations to migrate and cause a rise in the exclusionist ideologies. The recent wave of xenophobia and intergroup enmities cannot be simply seen in culturalist terms, but as intertwined with social relations and natural factors. Anthropologists need to broaden the notion of the collective by linking inequalities and ecology. Making them manifest will help to raise consciousness, define the problems and the emerging new meaning of a collective good, resilience, wellbeing, care and exchange. By bringing the issue to the table and by active engagement we will fulfill the political task of promoting solidarities against hostilities and mobilizing social actors in an effort to make our world a better place to live.

During the Inter-congress, scholars brought from all over the world will have a chance to exchange knowledge, experience and views, and to show the intellectual and social power of world anthropologies. Poznan, where both the discipline and the University celebrate their centennial is an excellent venue to show the intellectual force and social importance of anthropology and ethnology.

On behalf of the Organizing & Scientific Committee I wish you a very warm welcome to Poznan in 2019!

Michal Buchowski Chair of The Polish Ethnological Society & Head of the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan

Brief history

The history of Adam Mickiewicz University goes back to the Bishop John Lubrański Academy, founded in the 1518, and the Jesuit College established in 1578. In 1611 the latter was elevated the status of a university by King Sigismund III Vasa of Poland and Sweden, which was confirmed by King John III Sobieski in 1678. The development of the university was, however, hampered by lack of proper legislation at the Parliamentary level.

After 1795 when Poland lost its independence the idea of creating university in Poznan was blocked by the Prussian authorities. Finally, the Polish authorities succeeded in opening the university on 7 May 1919, soon after Poland regained its independence, on the initiative of the Poznan Society of the Friends of the Arts and Sciences. Initially, it was called the Piast University, renamed as University of Poznan in 1920, and again renamed as Adam Mickiewicz University in 1955.

The year 1919 marked the beginning of the modern history of the University that has become an integral part of the local community, contributing considerably to the development of the city of Poznan and the Wielkopolska region. With its relevance being recognized nation-wide, AMU is continuously listed among the best Polish academic institutions. The IUAES inter-congress organised in Poznan will celebrate the 100 years anniversary of the AMU.