Simplicity versus Complexity in the European Debate: Identity, Responsibility, and the Dialogue Questioned

This contribution aims to analyse current challenges of populism and nationalism by using the apparatus of political philosophy. Three important philosophic categories, such as identity, responsibility, and dialogue, are discussed while reflecting on current collisions. By showing their interrelated character, the author underlines the issue of speechlessness and multilateral lack of communication between people, people and the establishment, different intellectual groups, and so forth. Linking populism and nationalism to identity peculiarities, and reflecting on the fluidity of meanings, the power of words, and the related responsibility, this work claims the crucial importance and necessity of dialogue as the main instrument which can prevent dangerous consequences of irresponsibility, and identifies academics and public intellectuals as possible initiators of the dialogue.