The Faculty of Law and Social Sciences has organized today the University Peace Forum titled “Debating Europe 100 Years after World War I. One century ago, the world was transformed by one of the most notorious events to take place in the history of mankind”: World War I. Europe was a battlefield where the military, the political and social all clashed with each other, altering the dynamics in the international arena and leaving behind an ongoing legacy. Today we commemorate the centenary of this Great War and its legacy which will continue to shape the future of Europe and world politics.

We had the pleasure to have among us,Prof. Dr. Georg Kastner, Chair of Central History, University of Andrassy Budapest and two graduate students from Epoka University, Sara Malosmani and Ines Stasa. This forum was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lisen Bashkurti, Dean of Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. Prof. Bashkurti, a well-known expert on diplomacy and peace addressed the audience with his speech on “History of War and Diplomacy of Peace”. Prof. Bashkurti highlighted the major events that led to the beginning of the WWI, along with influential states that shaped history. The Treaty of Versailles, “Europe of Peace” and “EU Project”, were heavily discussed as European ideas of peace. Prof. Bashkurti concluded with one final remark “History is the living past and is very much present in our lives”.

The other part of the discussion was followed up by Prof.Dr Georg Kastner, keynote speaker at the forum. Prof. Kastner based his remarks in three keynote questions: 1- Is there a system of relations between Southern and Eastern countries? 2- How are these relations described nowadays? 3- Have these relations increased or stagnated? The professor brought us the experiences of war and peace of Central European countries and concluded by reference to the relations with European Union.

Throughout the last century students of Political Science and International Relations have also sought to understand and explain what World War I brought to the international system and contributed via their studies to a more sustainable and peaceful world system. In this regard, the forum involved the works of two graduate students from the department of Political Science and International Relations.

Sara Malosmani, master student and teaching assistant at Epoka University discussed the position of Albania during the WWI and Ines Stasa, PhD student, explained the importance of legitimacy and power in terms of order and peace, predictability and understanding the issue in the Balkans. The forum concluded with the final remark that history repeats itself and it is important to draw out lessons from it.