Scholars from around the world gathered at the prestigious Faculty of Letters of Istanbul University for Congist’26, the International Social Sciences Congress, held under the theme “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Crisis.” Organized from May 13 to 15, 2026, the congress brought together leading academics and researchers to explore the societal, cultural, linguistic, and philosophical dimensions of contemporary crises through interdisciplinary dialogue.
Among the distinguished participants were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Suljić and Dr. Damir Kahrić, faculty members of the English Language and Literature (ELIT) and English Language and Literature, Teaching (ELT) study programs at the International University of Sarajevo. Their participation highlighted the growing international academic recognition of the University’s scholarly community and its active engagement with contemporary humanities research.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Suljić delivered a thought-provoking presentation entitled “Historia (Non) Est Magistra Vitae,” offering an insightful exploration of history, memory, and the lessons societies draw - or fail to draw - from past crises. Her presentation stimulated engaging discussion among participants and demonstrated the importance of historical consciousness in understanding contemporary global challenges.
Dr. Damir Kahrić presented “Logos of Lies: Illocutionary Forces in the Realms of Shakespeare and Tolkien,” an innovative linguistic and literary analysis examining the performative power of language, deception, and persuasion in the works of William Shakespeare and J. R. R. Tolkien. His presentation attracted considerable interest for its interdisciplinary approach, which combined literary studies, linguistics, and the philosophy of language.
The participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vesna Suljić and Dr. Damir Kahrić in such a prominent academic gathering represents an important achievement and a source of pride for the academic community of the International University of Sarajevo. Their excellent presentations, scholarly dedication, and active contribution to international academic discourse further affirmed the quality and relevance of their research within the broader global humanities landscape.
