Is the West's grand idea of society fracturing from within?

We’re all familiar with the old idea of a "clash of civilisations"—a story of "the West versus the Rest," a world divided along stark cultural and religious lines. But what if that map no longer explains our reality? What if the most decisive battle is not happening at the borders, but inside our own minds and societies?

At the G10 Festival in Amsterdam, we host a conversation that moves beyond the old definitions. We bring together two of Europe’s most brilliant and contrasting minds to reframe the debate: Ivan Krastev and Georgios Varouxakis.

Meet the Thinkers

Ivan Krastev, a leading Bulgarian political scientist, is like a decoder of Europe’s political psyche. He doesn’t just describe the rise of populism and nationalism; he uncovers the powerful emotions driving them—the sense of resentment, the fear of demographic change, and the feeling in Eastern Europe that the "universal" Western model was imposed without understanding their unique history. He speaks to the urgent, often unsettling, currents shaping our present.

Georgios Varouxakis, a profound Greek-British historian of ideas, asks the crucial question: "Where did these ideas even come from?" He takes us back to the roots of our political vocabulary, to the 19th-century thinkers who wrestled with liberty, patriotism, and what "the West" really means. He provides the essential depth, reminding us that to understand today's conflicts, we must first understand the philosophical battles of the past.

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The Conversation: A New Kind of Clash

This is where the discussion comes alive. Forget the simple "Us vs. Them" narrative. Our speakers will dissect a much more complex and fascinating reality.

1. The Internal Civil War:
The old concept looked outward. Krastev argues the real clash is internal. It’s the rift between liberal cosmopolitans and nationalist populists, between "old" and "new" Europe, and between generations. It’s a fight over identity, sovereignty, and who gets to define the future of the continent—a battle happening not at the gates, but in every national parliament and on our digital screens.

2. The Rebellion Against "Universal" Truths:
The "Platonic" ideal suggests a single, best model for society. But what happens when people reject that model? Krastev examines the backlash against the one-size-fits-all vision promoted after the Cold War. Varouxakis, in turn, will explore whether this ideal was ever truly universal, or if it was always a particular Western viewpoint in disguise. Is the "Rest of the World" not an external force, but an internal rebellion against a single story?

3. The Past That Haunts the Present:
The old theory often ignored history. Our speakers won’t. They will explore how the deep-seated memories of empire, communism, and domination in Eastern Europe fuel today's politics. This isn't just about policy; it's about historical grievance and pride, forces that the old "clash" model completely underestimated.

Join us for a compelling dialogue that promises to be as provocative as it is enlightening. This is not an abstract lecture. It is a guided tour to the heart of Europe’s current identity crisis, led by two of its most insightful guides.

Be part of the conversation. Understand the forces shaping your world.

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