La Institución Libre de Enseñanza

This online seminar is part of the research project: Tolerance, civic culture and the crisis of liberal democracy, a wider line of work currently under development by the Institución Libre de Enseñanza-Fundación Francisco Giner de los Ríos in collaboration with Spain’s Residencia de Estudiantes and coordinated by Professor Fernando Vallespín (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid).

As we move down the path onto more open social assemblages, the concept of tolerance is bound to be altered. Current events in politics, social life, inter-cultural relations and geopolitics are shaking up the concept, so far as to forward its remodeling by way of deep reflection. In Spain, one of the bodies most concerned with these issues is – and has been – the Institución Libre de Enseñanza (ILE). Ever since its inception by Francisco Giner de los Ríos, the institution has defended a modernizing project based on the ideas of dialogue, esteem, international cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts; that is, a project deeply rooted on, and highly interested in, fostering a more tolerant society.

This far-sighted project aims at claiming these values for our present day – values that inspired Francisco Giner de los Ríos on his intellectual and practical endeavors and that, ever since 1876, have guided the Institución Libre de Enseñanza.

If you want to know more about the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, follow this link

La Residencia de Estudiantes

The Residencia de Estudiantes is a cultural center and thinking hub created in 1910 by the Junta para Ampliación de Estudios following both Francisco Giner de los Ríos and the ILE on their modernizing project. For the first half of the 20th century, the Residencia was considered one of the finest institutions in Europe, both for educational and scientific purposes. Today, once again, the Residencia is among the most vibrant centers in the Spanish scene, following its role as a state-of-the-art spot for creative strives, debate and critical pondering.

As in the case of the ILE, the Residencia is clearly focused on fostering a more tolerant society and will keep doing so for the foreseeable future.

If you want to know more about the Residencia de Estudiantes, follow this link