Meeting in Santiago de Compostela, Spain
In early June 2025, the ʟᴇxɪ.ᴇᴄᴏ project team convened in Santiago de Compostela for a two-day workshop, marking a pivotal moment in the development of this ambitious digital lexicon. Hosted by our partners from the University of Santiago de Compostela at the Council of Galician Culture, the meeting brought together scholars and coordinators from across Europe to shape the next phase of the project, refine its editorial structure, and deepen its intellectual mission.
The Santiago meeting opened with the presentation of the project’s first draft entry, focused on the concept of self-determination. Drawing on comparative historical analysis, the entry illuminated the divergent and evolving uses of the term in multiple national contexts. Discussions centred on feedback, the methodological challenges faced during the development of an entry, and the lessons it offered for entries to come. The session laid the groundwork for refining the standard format that each ʟᴇxɪ.ᴇᴄᴏ entry will follow, ensuring conceptual consistency while allowing for flexibility to accommodate the cultural nuances that define each case.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in detailed conversations around the editorial workflow, the life cycle of an entry – from initial conception to publication – and the collaborative model that underpins the project’s success. With a strong emphasis on co-authorship, peer review, and multilingual accessibility, the team addressed both practical coordination and intellectual responsibility. Decisions were made on the selection of 6 more concepts to bring the total number of entries to 20.
Another important dimension of the meeting focused on how to position ʟᴇxɪ.ᴇᴄᴏ publicly and how best to communicate its value beyond academic circles. Participants discussed the launch of the ʟᴇxɪ.ᴇᴄᴏ website, its visual and editorial design, and its intended audiences, which range from researchers and educators to policymakers, journalists, and the broader public.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to align the project’s teaching and outreach components. Discussions on the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) that will happen at the University of Bielefeld explored how ʟᴇxɪ.ᴇᴄᴏ could serve as both a pedagogical tool and a participatory learning environment. Plans were made to integrate conceptual history into educational practice, emphasising both its theoretical foundations and its civic relevance.
The meeting concluded with a collaborative roadmap for the coming months and a renewed sense of purpose as the team looks ahead to future stages of development and the next project meeting in December 2025 in The Hague, the Netherlands.
