A dynamic contemporary examination of universalism

Gathering a selection of essays by influential theorist Boris Groys, Towards a New Universalism articulates his sustained engagement with the problem of universality under contemporary conditions shaped by globalization, institutional fragmentation, and digital mediation. Rather than defending classical universalism or abandoning it in favor of cultural particularism, Groys approaches universality as something produced within shared historical, institutional, and technological frameworks.

These essays address topics spanning from identity politics to migration, museums, media, and artificial intelligence, examining how universal claims make their way into social and cultural contexts. Distinct from recent philosophical treatments of universalism, Towards a New Universalism situates the question within aesthetics, media theory, and institutional critique, offering an indispensable collection for anyone interested in the intersections of politics and art.

Distributed for e-flux.

Boris Groys is a philosopher, essayist, and cultural theorist whose work has profoundly shaped contemporary debates in aesthetics, politics, and media theory. He is Global Distinguished Professor of Russian and Slavic Studies at New York University and author of many books, including The Communist Postscript, Art Power, Going Public, On the New, In the Flow, Philosophy of Care, and Becoming an Artwork.