UNIVERSITY OF LODZ SCIENCE AND RESEARCH CENTRE "THE BALKANS AT THE TURN OF 20TH/21ST CENTURY"
The University of Lodz Science and Research Centre "The Balkans at the turn of the 20th/21st century" was established on 6 June 2011 by the Resolution of the Senate of the University of Lodz. The idea of creating the Centre was born as a result of a discussion during a nationwide scientific conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina 15 years after Dayton. The conference Past, present and future was organised in December 2010 by the Department of Eastern European History at the University of Lodz. The participants of the conference came to a conclusion that there is a need to create a nationwide scientific centre, grouping representatives of various scientific disciplines, which should coordinate and organise research on the issues of the former Yugoslavia, its disintegration and the functioning of new states created in the so-called Western Balkans. This initiative was specified and institutionalised in the form of the University of Lodz Science and Research Centre "The Balkans at the turn of the 20th/21st century". Prof. Paweł Chmielewski was the founder and the first head of the Centre. Currently, dr Konrad Składowski exercises the function of the Head of the Centre.
The main task of the Centre is to conduct scientific research of an interdisciplinary nature. Historians, political scientists, lawyers, economists and cultural anthropologists of the University of Lodz and other academic and scientific centres will be engaged in the performance of research activities.
WHAT DOES THE UNIVERSITY OF LODZ SCIENCE AND RESEARCH CENTRE "THE BALKANS AT THE TURN OF 20TH/21ST CENTURY" DO?
Conducting interdisciplinary research with the participation of employees of the Faculties of the University of Lodz: Faculty of Philosophy and History, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Faculty of Economics and Sociological Studies, Faculty of Law and Administration and invited representatives from other academic and scientific centres (Polish and international).The research should lead to the fullest possible understanding and explanation of the current political, economic and social situation of the countries and societies of the Western Balkans, the changes taking place in them in the process of political transformation and the solutions taken, which are necessary for a stable prospect for the development of the region;
Organising conferences and working scientific meetings summing up the results of the conducted sectional research, resulting from the plan of the scientific work of the Centre adopted for each year of its activity;
Publishing the results of research undertaken by the members of the Centre in the form of collective monographs, scientific and journalistic articles (the Centre's publishing series);
Popularisation of research results among the student community – conducting optional and monographic lectures, lectures, organising popular science meetings in cooperation with diplomatic missions of the Western Balkans region accredited in Warsaw.
Analysis of historical, political and economic conditions leading to the disintegration of the socialist Yugoslavia; attempts at transformation of the political system of the Post-Tito Yugoslavia.
Analysis of the process of the disintegration of Yugoslavia – causes, course and consequences.
The international community in the face of the Yugoslav crisis.
Assessment and analysis of the course of military actions of the parties involved in the conflicts.
Analysis of the military involvement of powers and international organisations in resolving armed conflicts in the Balkans.
Assessment of the consequences of armed conflicts for the social situation in the state parties to the conflict – violation of human rights.
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia – tasks and activities.
Efforts of the international community to stabilise and regulate politics in the countries of the Western Balkans region after Dayton.
The issue of the conflict around Kosovo.
the Western Balkans in view of the enlargement of the European Union; assessment of the application possibilities of the countries of the region.