Celebrating Dostoevsky’s 200th Anniversary: The Eternal Clash of Angels and Demons

Abstract

This Special Issue of the journal ‘Slavonica’ features a selection of articles presented at the Dostoevsky 200th Anniversary Conference: Between Angels and Demons, which took place in November 2021 at the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon. Hosted by the Centre for Slavic Languages and Cultures of the Department of General and Romance Linguistics, this event brought together scholars and researchers from various institutions, including the School of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon, the Portuguese Catholic University, Universities from the United Kingdom, Spain, the Russian Federation, Brazil, the United States of America, and Mexico. The Conference, which took place via zoom allowed participants from around the world to engage in discussions. These days included the presentation of students’ research, as well as presentations by attendees. In his address to the Conference, Professor Doctor Miguel Tamen, the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Lisbon, emphasized the significance of cultural exchanges between the Slavic countries and Portugal. He highlighted the importance of the research carried out on these exchanges, including intellectual contacts, the circulation of literary texts, and cultural mediators. This special commemorative occasion also featured an Exhibition in the Faculty’s Library. The Exhibition showcased a curated collection of books sourced from the Faculty Library’s extensive holdings, alongside a selection of posters of famous actors portraying characters from films based on works by Dostoevsky provided by Mr. Vladimir Yaroshevskii, a representative of the Rossotrudnithcestvo Agency. Turning our attention to the Iberian side, particularly to Portuguese Slavic Studies, it is noteworthy that we can proudly assert the existence of Slavic Studies in Lisbon in 2023, a statement that would not have been possible some 15 years ago! The field has evolved and expanded over time, with activities and regular production in four main areas: (i) teaching and the development of didactic materials, (ii) scientific research and scholarly articles, (iii) scientific and cultural encounters, and (iv) mobility and exchange programmes. As the number of researchers engaged in Slavic Studies continues to grow, these areas have fostered an increasing need for international collaboration and communication.