From October 19 to 20, 2026, Prof. Peg Birmingham (DePaul University, Chicago) will be our guest at the Hannah Arendt Research Center.

Peg Birmingham’s lecture on October 19, taking Rosa Luxemburg’s question "Reform or Revolution?" as its starting point, will focus in part on Arendt’s distinction between civil disobedience and revolutionary action. A workshop on October 20 will explore the moment of beginning inherent in "revolution" in Arendt’s thought, taking a broader look at Arendt’s concepts of "beginning", "spontaneity" and "natality" through short presentations and group discussions.

Everyone interested is cordially invited to attend the lecture and workshop. The event will be held in English and German. To register, please contact: kontakt@arendteditionprojekt.de.

Lecture – Oktober 19, 6.15 p.m., Seminarzentrum FU Berlin, L115 

Peg Birmingham (DePaul University, Chicago):

"Hannah Arendt and Rosa Luxemburg: Civil Disobedience or Revolutionary Action?" 

Workshop – Oktober 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Seminarzentrum FU Berlin, L115

"Beginning", "Spontaneity" and "Natality" in Hannah Arendt's works. With Peg Birmingham (DePaul University, Chicago), Anne Eusterschulte (FU Berlin), Frauke Kurbacher (HSPV NRW), Christian Pischel (HMT Leipzig), Facundo Vega (Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Chile) and others.  

Program for Tuesday, October 20: 

Welcome & Introduction by Anne Eusterschulte (FU Berlin) 

Session 1: 

Peg Birmingham: "How Spontaneous is the Beginning?"

Christian Pischel: "Vom Verstehen-Wollen zum Denken des Anfangens: Spontanität und Natalität in Arendts The Origins of Totalitarianism"

Discussion 

Block 2: 

Frauke A. Kurbacher: "'Meinetwegen also bist du nicht frei, wenn es dir nicht paßt'. 'Anfangen' mit Arendt" – oder gegen die 'Ausrottung' menschlicher Spontaneität'"

Facundo Vega: "How Beginnings Endure: Hannah Arendt Between the Ordinary and the Extraordinary"

Discussion and Closing Remarks