PHILOXENIA. Curated by Tessa Szyszkowitz

Tuesday September 22nd 19.00

Bruno Kreisky Forum für internationalen Dialog | Armbrustergasse 15 | 1190 Wien

TESSA SZYSZKOWITZ IN CONVERSATION WITH SOPHY ROBERTS

A TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ELEPHANTS

Anmeldung bitte hier: 

https://www.kreisky-forum.org/category/event/?lang=de

Colonialism, its Enduring Legacies and what we got to do with it Inspired by Sophy Roberts' latest book A Training School for Elephants, this public discussion examines the history of European colonialism through the lens of nineteenth-century imperial expansion and its far-reaching consequences. Asian elephants were taken to Africa in the 19th century for a supposed training school, but in reality were used for exploitation. How much were colonial projects driven by ideas of conquest, scientific curiosity, economic exploitation, and cultural domination? They certainly shaped not only the lives of colonized peoples but also the natural world. Points raised in the discussion will be how colonialism transformed societies, displaced communities, extracted resources, and influenced the collection of knowledge, animals, and cultural objects and how the ways in which these historical processes continue to resonate today in global inequalities, museum collections, environmental challenges, and ongoing debates about historical responsibility, restitution, and remembrance.

Sophy Roberts, a British award-winning author and journalist specializing in literary nonfiction, travel, history, conservation, and cultural storytelling. She is known for immersive reporting from remote and historically significant regions around the world. Sophy Roberts studied at Oxford and Columbia University in New York and has written for publications including “The Guardian”, “The Economist” and “Financial Times Weekend”. Her first book, “Sibiriens vergessene Klaviere”, was published by Zsolnay in 2020. Moderation:

Tessa Szyszkowitz, author and journalist. Distinguished Fellow at Royal United Services Institute in London (RUSI)

i INFORMPHILOXENIA. Curated by Tessa SzPHILOXENIA. Curated by Tessa Szyszkowitz

Donnerstag, 1.Oktober 2026, 19.00

Bruno Kreisky Forum für internationalen Dialog | Armbrustergasse 15 | 1190 Wien

Anmeldung unter www.kreisky-forum.org

Braver New World. The courage to make change happen
Details to follow 

Tessa Szyszkowitz im Gespräch mit John Kampfner

Many of today’s biggest challenges, from housing, healthcare and education to migration, digitalisation and democratic resilience, already have workable solutions. The problem is often not a lack of ideas, but a lack of political courage to implement them.

In his latest book, John Kampfner examines countries and societies that have successfully addressed some of these complex challenges, showing how meaningful progress is possible when leaders and citizens are prepared to think beyond short-term political cycles, learn from one another and embrace innovation.

We invite you to join us for a public discussion with John Kampfner to explore what we can learn from these examples and how successful approaches might be adapted to our own societies. The conversation will focus on the choices, opportunities and obstacles that shape our ability to turn good ideas into meaningful political action.

John Kampfner, British journalist, author and broadcaster specialising in international affairs, Germany, Russia and European politics. He began his career as a foreign correspondent for The Daily Telegraph in East Berlin and Moscow, later becoming Chief Political Correspondent at the Financial Times and a BBC political commentator. He edited the New Statesman from 2005–2008 and has written several books, including Blair’s Wars, Why the Germans Do It Better and In Search of Berlin. His latest book, Braver New World, was published in 2026.

Moderation: Tessa Szyszkowitz, author and journalist for the Austrian weekly Falter and others. Distinguished Fellow at Royal United Services Institute in London (RUSI)
Tessa Szyszkowitz in conversation with Oleksandra Matveiichuk COURAGE III JUST