Inaugural conference of the Hellenic Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HESTIA)

Ceremony Hall, Panteion University

With a regional focus on the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, HESTIA brings together research, interdisciplinary exchange and international collaboration across the humanities and social sciences.‍

Keynote Lecture | How to Think About the Balkans: An Inside-Out View
Professor Diana Mishkova, Director of the Centre for Advanced Study in Sofia
Introduction by Professor Christina Koulouri, Rector of Panteion University

The first part of the lecture offers glimpses into the intellectual history of the Balkan concept as it has evolved within the region since the nineteenth century. It examines the Balkans as a “self-designation” and a project of regional identity formation, exposing the agency of regional scholars in shaping the understanding and imagery of the region. The second part links these conceptualizations to ongoing debates on the production of space and historical regions, urging us to rethink the premises of “New Area Studies,” while reflecting on the comparative, methodological, and epistemic payoffs of studying the Balkans.

 Round Table | New Directions in the Social Sciences and Humanities in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean
With: Angelos Chaniotis Professor, IAS Princeton, Ioanna Rapti Directrice d’études, EPHE & Vasiliki Georgiadou Panteion University, Director of the National Centre for Social Research (ΕΚΚΕ)
Coordinator : Angelos Dalachanis Directeur des études modernes et contemporaines, EFA

A New Initiative in Athens | HESTIA is founded by four leading universities and research institutions in Athens:

École française d’Athènes (EFA)
 National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF)
 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)
 Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (PUSPS)

Join us for the launch of HESTIA and the beginning of a new chapter of international scholarly collaboration in Athens!