CALL FOR PAPERS

“Silence as Resistance: Philosophical, Theological, and Artistic Perspectives on Political Withdrawal”

Aims and Scope

In the face of political oppression, silence has emerged throughout history not merely as absence of speech, but as a powerful form of resistance. This panel aims to explore various manifestations of silent resistance across religious, secular, and artistic domains, examining how deliberate withdrawal from discourse can paradoxically serve as a profound form of political expression.

From religious examples such as Christ’s silence before Pilate and the testimonies of martyrs, to philosophical instances like Socrates’ acceptance of his sentence, to modern-day political prisoners and dissidents who choose silence as their weapon, we seek to understand how silence functions as both a personal and political act. The panel will particularly examine artistic representations of silent resistance in literature, film, and other media, investigating how creative works have interpreted and reimagined these acts of withdrawal.

Furthermore, we will explore contemporary forms of protest through withdrawal, considering how historical examples of silent resistance inform and illuminate modern practices.

Topics of Interest

We welcome submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:

  • Philosophical and theological interpretations of silence as resistance

  • Religious and biblical examples of silent witness and martyrdom

  • Artistic representations of silent resistance in literature, film, and visual media

  • Historical and contemporary political prisoners and dissidents who have employed silence as protest

  • Comparative analyses of silent resistance across different cultural and temporal contexts

  • Theoretical frameworks for understanding withdrawal as political expression

  • The relationship between silence, ethics, and authentic witness

  • The paradox of silence generating speech and solidarity in others

  • Cinematic and literary reimaginings of historical acts of silent resistance

  • Interdisciplinary approaches to understanding silence as both personal and collective act

Submission Guidelines

Format: Please submit a complete paper (6,000–8,000 words) together with key words and abstract (200 words).

Language: English

Submission:https://journal.equinoxpub.com/JASR/about/submissions

Deadline: June 30th, 2026

Contact: For inquiries, please contact: Katerina Koci, katerina.koci@univie.ac.at