Wars and narratives of civilizational collapse
Conflicts generate or reinforce “civilizational” frameworks of interpretation that contribute to the polarization of societies and prove all the more dangerous because they are intuitive and tend to become institutionalized when situations of political violence persist. This roundtable examines the processes of meaning-making at work during these moments of crisis, particularly the essentialization of antagonisms centered on identity, cultural, or religious distinctions. The “civilizational” lens thus shapes the way conflicts are described, explained, and managed—including from the outside—by fueling the construction of figures of radical otherness and the dehumanization of the adversary. From this perspective, the “Clash of Civilizations” thesis, rather than merely shedding light on current conflicts, is part of the narratives constructed by the protagonists themselves, which leads us to question the intellectual, social, and political conditions that fostered its political success, as well as its performative effects.
Participants will also explore the paradoxical dynamics that emerge in the context of war, where violence and destruction contradict the arguments of civilizational hierarchy that accompany or justify the practices of the warring parties. Drawing on a variety of case studies—such as Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran—this interdisciplinary discussion (history, sociology, political science) will thus examine the collective construction of narratives of violence and their implications for understanding contemporary conflict dynamics.
Speakers:
- Gilles Dorronsoro, professor of political science (University of Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne) and member of the European Center for Sociology and Political Science (CESSP, UMR 8209)
- oIulia Podoroga, PhD in Philosophy, HDR in Slavic Studies, research associate at EUR'ORBEM (Sorbonne University) and CERCEC (EHESS/CNRS)
- Sanjay Subrahmanyam, historian and professor (UCLA)
- Muriel Domenach, senior civil servant and former ambassador to NATO (2019–2024)
Discussion moderated by Mélanie Chalandon, journalist at France Culture.