Willa Decjusza

International Conference “The Return of the Fallen Empires” 2

The first fifteen years of the twenty-first century have opened (not only nominally) a new chapter in the world’s history. In analysts’ opinion, its current content and following pages will be filled primarily with geopolitical events and technological innovations.

The former mainly include international conflicts – those relatively new (like in Libya, Syria and Ukraine) as well as the escalation of the ongoing wars in Africa (Somalia, Sudan) and in the Middle East. The second subsection of world’s history new chapter will address socio-political issues, especially the growing protests against corporate globalization and their influence on institutions of the liberal democracy. The last important element that manifests itself in various places of the world is the fundamentalist threat to the West.

All three themes, their origins and results are nothing new in a sense that they fit into a global pattern of the rise and fall of societies traceable back to the ancient times. However, the cycle of rise and decline appears to be accelerating under the influence of the digital revolution and technological innovations.

The main aim of the conference The Return of the Fallen Empires is to take a closer look at the new world order in statu nascendi from a perspective of historically significant global players and to address the roles of old and new global powers, new areas of imperialism as well as rise and fall of contemporary societies.

The conference will offer a space for reflection, rapprochement and provision of knowledge for the general public and professionals from the sector. The programme of the conference combines intellectual contributions from internationally recognised public figures and outstanding experts with debates and discussion sessions open to representatives of academic, political and cultural circles, NGOs, public administration, and the media.

The Return of the Fallen Empires conference is a part of the series of international seminars dedicated to the idea of freedom organised by the Villa Decius Association since 2002 and platform of awarding with The Polish Prize of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, UN High Commissioner of Human Rights (2002-2003) both persons and nongovernmental organisations from all over the world for their efforts in fostering peaceful cohabitation of communities, religions and cultures. It is organised in collaboration with “Res Publica Nowa” and Krakow academic communities.

Program PDF (pl, en) >>>

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The Return of the Fallen Empires

Programme

15-16 October 2015 Villa Decius, Krakow

Thursday, 15 October

9:30 am-10:00 am Registration

10:00 am-10:30 am Welcome addresses and opening of the conference

10:30 am-11:00 am Key note speech: Empires in the 21st century, Giles Scott-Smith

11:00 am-12:30 pm Debate 1

Goliath vs David: United States global superpower and its regional counterparts

Experts: Metin Bulut, David Jones, Paweł Kowal, Sergey Kovalev

Moderator: Wojciech Przybylski

12:30 pm-1:00 pm Coffee break

1:00 pm-1:30 pm Special lecture: The Rise of the Fallen Empires, Scott Lucas

1:30 pm-3:00 pm Debate 2

The old-new arenas of imperialism – Western Asia and North Africa

Experts: Emel Akçali, Jeannette Bougrab, Felix Kaputu, Patrycja Sasnal

Moderator: Łukasz Fyderek

3:00 pm-3:30 pm Multimedia exhibition The Time of the Empire by Tomasz Kizny

3:30 pm-4:30 pm Buffet meal

SPECIAL EVENT

16:30 pm-6:30 pm 12th Awards Gala of the Polish Sérgio Vieira de Mello Prize granted in memory of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

With participation of the Jury of the Polish Prize of Sérgio Vieira de Mello, Chancellery of the President of Poland, HE Ambassador of Brazil to Poland, HE Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Poland, Department of United Nations and Human Rights, MFA, UNHCR Representative to Poland, Institute of National Remembrance, Human Rights Defender, United States Consul General in Krakow, Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation Foundation PAUCI, ZNAK Foundation, President of ZUE S.A., President of Kraków Airport, Regional Director of PZU and the Villa Decius Association.

Simultaneous interpretation (English/Polish/Italian/Russian)

Blogs: Ziemowit Jóźwik (English)

Friday, 16 October

EXPERT SEMINAR Round table debate: The rise and fall of the 21st century societies

10:00 am–12:30 pm The round-table talk participants will discuss the socio-political implications of the geopolitical trends with special emphasis on the state institutions and its change, rule of law and human rights in the times of hybrid wars and growing immigration.