Research Group Civil Society and Sustainability at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, invites you to a book presentation by Dr Arvydas Grišinas “The Western Crisis of Truth in the Early 21st Century. As the Enlightenment Dims”, held at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (A. Mickevičiaus st. 37, Kaunas), Room 113.
In an era marked by “post-truth,” digital saturation, and intensifying political polarization, this book offers an exploration of how truth itself is being reshaped. Dr. Grišinas examines the symbolic, experiential, and associative dimensions of contemporary political culture, arguing that phenomena such as mediatization, propaganda, illiberalism, and populism are no longer marginal, they have become defining features of our time.
Drawing on a wide range of materials, from internet memes and news media to academic discourse and video content, the book investigates how truth is constructed amid major global developments, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the political influence of Donald Trump, the technocratic management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shifting realities along Europe’s eastern borders.
The discussion also turns toward possible responses to this “crisis of truth,” considering whether the dissident traditions of Central and Eastern Europe, shaped by experiences under Soviet rule, might offer insight into navigating today’s challenges.
This presentation will be of particular interest to scholars, students, and anyone engaged in social and political theory, political anthropology, or contemporary cultural analysis.
Join us for an engaging conversation on truth, politics, and the future of the Western intellectual tradition.
