For its sixth year, the Open University under the direction of Catherine Clément continues to explore the traps of an endless story; that of colonisation and the complexity of different views on the world.

The Great Witnesses cycle

The exceptional  Great Witnesses sessions invite major figures, artists, scholars and philosophers to discuss their biographical journeys, life experiences and internal research.

The History of Colonisation: the great figures of decolonisation cycle

The history of colonisation, a permanent cycle begun in 2006, offers the chance this season to discover great figures of decolonisation from Asia and Africa; mythic figures who have participated in the emergence of a new world map and in the fight for a dignified existence.

The Displacements: them and us cycle

Finally, the stimulating Displacements: them and us cycle proposes an examination of the frameworks of daily life by comparing Western or European perspectives to those from other continents.

practical information

More than thirty free access conferences to discover, decipher and analyse experiences, stories and universal philosophical questions.

see the conference calendar

Director of the Open University

Catherine Clément, philosopher and novelist

Assisted by

• Frédéric Keck, anthropologist
• Guillaume Dutournier, sinologist

read the presentation of the 2011-2012 season by Catherine Clément