Open Access

How do you deal with counterparts who do not recognize your own basic rules and values, and whose conduct you cannot accept, but with whom you are in a sensitive relationship of dependency? How can ‘rotten’ compromises be avoided in such relations – i.e., compromises that will be regretted because they support an inhumane regime or undermine the social value contract your own political system is based on? How to avoid in such contexts that dialogue activities are exploited, without risking that they are terminated in response? This article sets forth a concrete methodological approach to systematically manage the dilemmatic pattern inherent in international relationships in the context of systemic competition and fundamental differences in values. Of course, the approach cannot eliminate the need for further compromises in the face of radical differences, but it can help evade avoidable and unacceptable harm in these compromises and to elevate the quality of difficult but necessary dialogues.

One of Indigenous peoples’ most vehement demands certainly lies in their collective endeavours to decolonise their relations with (the) State(s) in the most classical sense, including their related efforts to exercise territorial autonomies and political self-determination. Less attention is spent on the very sources of recognised forms of knowledge, on Indigenous knowledge, on Indigenous approaches to science, and also Indigenous peoples’ own justice systems, starting with legal terminology. Decolonising efforts hence require a rethinking (‘despensar’) of key terminology, of pluralising epistemological spaces and with it, they require entire justice systems of States to be critically approached, and to be ultimately transformed into a new, more inclusive framework. This publication builds on the debates and results emerging from the 11th edition of the Multidisciplinary Meeting on Indigenous Peoples (EMPI) held in early June 2024 at Sciences Po Paris, carrying the title “Indigenous Responses to Global Crisis Contexts: Decolonising the Law, Indigenising Methodologies, Exploring Legal Orders, Pursuing Environmental Justice, Categorising Vulnerabilities”. The conference was co-funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research (DSF) and the université franco-allemande (ufa). It brings together scholars from different world regions bringing in distinguished insights from the field of Indigenous studies. Key terminology is introduced, allowing for critical reflection on hegemonic standards, and the eventual pluralisation of epistemes, of justice conceptions and orders, of entire cosmovisions and ontologies.

This paper examines the situation of artists newly arriving in Europe from countries where their freedom of expression is severely restricted. The authors argue that international temporary relocation programmes offer at-risk artists temporary protection and initial support, but do not provide them with long-term perspectives for continuing their work. Based on a qualitative study, this paper elaborates on the needs of newly arrived artists and proposes recommendations for more sustainable means of support and working opportunities as well as for potential for joint strategies by means of transnational cooperation. The authors argue that, for newly arriving at-risk artists, diaspora communities and diasporic cultural organisations can be significant catalysts for facilitating a smoother arrival in the new country. They recommend that funding and cultural institutions strengthen diasporic initiatives in their important bridging role and recognise their contribution to international cultural work.