Tobias Schwoerer

The European Society for Oceanists (ESfO) organizes an international conference every two to three years in a different European country, facilitating exchanges among anthropologists and other scholars interested in the Pacific region. These conferences are scheduled to accommodate delegates from Europe, the Pacific, the US, and Australasia. The Pacific region has significantly influenced anthropology, shaping theories on human prehistory, migration, gender, colonial legacies, kinship, and exchange. These theoretical advancements stem from ongoing dialogues with Pacific peoples. ESfO 2025 aims to further this engagement amid renewed scientific and geopolitical attention on the region. The theme of the conference is “Connections within and beyond Oceania.” Oceania’s history of interconnectedness spans from early human migrations to modern digital communications. Pacific peoples have continuously formed, resisted, and reshaped connections within and beyond their communities. These interactions influence their social, cultural, and environmental landscapes. The conference will explore essential and neglected connections in Pacific life, examining their nature, durability, and objectives. It will also consider future connections and alliances that are formed amid contemporary challenges like climate change, geopolitical shifts, migration, pandemics, extractive industries, and colonial legacies. Participants will reflect on maintaining heritage and the objects and ideas that unify Oceania and the broader world.