Forum “Perpetual War, Ceaseless Crises”

I was deeply honored to be one of the presenters at the forum Perpetual War, Ceaseless Crises, held June 13–15 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and organized by KOI Association. Simply being in the audience would have been an enriching experience — and on a personal level, it felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the polarized, saturated, and fragmented stream of information we’re often exposed to today.

The forum brought together voices from Palestine, Lebanon, and Israel, offering both academic analysis and first-hand accounts of the situation in the Middle East, including resistance movements and the evolving role of technology. Presenters from across Eastern Europe, the UK, and Russia offered sharp insights into social media messaging and current political currents. There were also fascinating data analytics presentations that revealed eye-opening patterns.

What stood out most was the absolute commitment to critical thought, rigor, and intellectual honesty. The discussions were electric.

My own contribution wasn’t on the academic side. It couldn’t have been. It was personal — a presentation on the recent demolition of Zaharna Fabrika, the Romani neighborhood where my partner, Pepi, is from.

So much of what we call “systemic” or “institutional” violence happens out of sight, rarely leaving a paper trail or evidence. My presentation leaned on lived stories — real examples of how an entire communities can get slowly and strategically disenfranchised, a death by a thousand cuts, until the day comes when bulldozers arrive and their homes are reduced to rubble, cheered on by outsiders.

It was a true privilege to present alongside such brilliant and courageous thinkers, and to exchange thoughts and space with people so deeply committed to truth and justice.