LEAM 2014
Between the 5th and 6th of June 2014 the 10th Lodz East Asia Meeting took place, entitled ‘New Dynamics of Europe-East Asia Regional Cooperation’. However, as is most often the case in LEAM, the conference was not limited to just this topic. Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski gave his honorary patronage over the 2014 edition of LEAM.
The conference was divided into 18 panels, attended by over 70 academics from a wide variety of fields. The largest group of attendees consisted of academics from China, followed up with participants from Hungary, Italy, and England. However, the representation during the conference was not limited to just these states, as Japan, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Russia, Estonia, and Bulgaria were all represented by their best and brightest.
DEAS department head, Professor Małgorzata Pietrasiak, opened the conference, and was followed by Associate Dean of Education of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz, Radosław Bania. Closely after, the Vice Rector of International Cooperation at the University of Lodz, Zofia Wysokińska, led us into the first lecture that would set the tone for the rest of the two-day conference.
The inaugural lecture Managed social innovation: the contradictions of state-NGO relations in China, presented by Marta Jagusztyn, was devoted to the functioning of NGOs in China and all the difficulties this strange combination presented. The rest of day one proceeded in a similar academic vein, with many concurrent panels held dedicated to a wide variety of topics. The first set of concurrent panels, East Asia and Central Europe Dynamics – the Ukrainian Lesson and China’s Financial Reforms saw many interesting points raised.
Following these two panels, a special panel entitled The Silk Road Economic Belt: building framework for China-Central Europe relations? brought everyone back together. The panellists included Polish Ambassador Jerzy Bayer, Richard Turcsányi from the Czech Masaryk University, Dr Artur Gradziuk and Justyna Szuczlik-tatar from the Polish Institute of International Affairs, Professor Dominik Mierzejewski and Tomasz Jurczyk from DEAS, and was moderated by Tamas Matura from the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs. The presented topics were tied to the subject matter of the developing cooperation between Central Europe and China. The rest of day one’s panels (often concurrent) were as follows: China’s Domestic Dynamics, Pivoting Asia – the U.S. in the Region (I & II), the Japanese Approach towards East Asia and Beyond, and the Regional issues of East and South Asia. After such a long day, the attendees were treated to a marvellous dinner at Biedermann Palace, with live traditional Chinese music provided by Anna Krzysztofiak.
Day two proved to be no different, presenting a vast array of interesting and though provoking panels, listed as follows: China’s Foreign Policy, the Regional Issues of East and South Asia, International Law in East Asia, North Korea Peninsula Dynamics, the EU within Asia, Japanese Domestic and Foreign Affairs, Society and Culture in East Asia, Shadow Capital? Asian Sovereign walth Funds’ Activities in Europe, and our very special LEAM Student Panel where bachelor degree students can present their first forays of academia. The conference rounded off with a brilliant panel dedicated to the Dimensions of India, China, and East Asia.
It goes without saying, the conference was a great success, from the academic and relation building side. Now, we just have to wait with anticipation for 2015 and all the marvellous ideas it will entail. Till then, have a look at our past conferences, and for a full list of papers presented.
