FL: The Lady Blanka Rosenstiel Lecture Series on Poland Democracy: Past and Present in Central Europe

Polish Heritage Month in October 13 października, 2019

Polish American Heritage Month is an annual designation observed in October. There are about 9.5 million Polish Americans which represent about 3% of the American population. The first wave of immigrants from Poland to America arrived between 1800 and 1860. The Polish have always held onto a fierce passion for their heritage, culture, independence, and the love for their new country.

In celebration of Polish Heritage Month in October, the Institute proudly presents a dynamic conference about democracy at FIU on October 28th. We would love to see you there!!!

Eighty years since the German invasion of Poland and 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the European and Eurasian Studies Program at FIU, in collaboration with The American Institute of Polish Culture and The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland, is pleased to invite you to a conference on democracy in Central Europe.

AGENDA

10:00 am | Registration and Coffee

10:15 am | Welcome

John F. Stack, Founding Dean, Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, FIU

David J. Kramer, Director, European & Eurasian Studies Program; Senior Fellow in the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Diplomacy, FIU

10:30 - 10:45 am | Opening Remarks: Polish Ambassador Piotr Wilczek

10.45 am - 12:15 pm | Panel 1: Marking Anniversaries:The Start of WWII and the Invasion of Poland and the Fall of the Berlin Wall

Polish Ambassador Piotr Wilczek

Rebecca Friedman, Associate Professor of History; Faculty Fellow, Office of the Provost, FIU

Martin Palous, SIPA Senior Fellow, Director of SIPA’s Václav Havel Center for Human Rights and Diplomacy initiative

Suzanne Zwingel, Associate Professor, Politics & International Relations, FIU

Moderated by Beata Paszyc, Honorary Vice Consul of the Republic of Poland; and Executive Director, The American Institute of Polish Culture

12:15 - 1:30 pm | Break

1.30 - 3:00 pm | Panel 2: State of Democracy Today in Central Europe

Ian Brzezinski, American foreign policy and military affairs expert

Ted Kontek, Former Foreign Service Officer at U.S. Department of State

Tatiana Kostadinova, Professor, Politics & International Relations, SIPA, FIU

Moderated by Markus Thiel, Associate Professor, Politics & International Relations, FIU; and Director, Miami-Florida Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, FIU

Mon, October 28, 2019

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT

Florida International University

11200 Southwest 8th Street

MARC Building - MARC Pavilion 290

Miami, FL 33199