Dina Moulioukova is a Lecturer of International Studies and Master of International Administration at the University of Miami where she teaches courses on security. Dina has completed her Ph.D. at the University of Miami with focus on innovative approaches to security studies. Prior to her studies at UM, Dina received her Master of Law degree law (LL.M.) at the University of Cambridge with focus on international law and J.D. from Kazan State University on Russian civil law and international law in Russia. Her current research concentrates on different aspects of Russian foreign policy and security, with special emphasis on Russia’s relations with the European Union, Russia’s energy security and geopolitical competition between the West and rising powers in Africa and Latin America. Dina has also widely published on the topics of her research and is currently working on finalizing her book. In addition to her academic interests, she has been engaged in a number of US Agency for International Development and Library of Congress’ projects on post-Soviet space and has served as an expert in roundtable discussions by Council on Foreign Relations and USSOUTHCOM.

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On March 30, 2021, Dorothee Bohle will join us to discuss "Capitalist Transformations in East Central Europe Since the Great Recession: What do We Know? What Have We Missed?"

This presentation asks three related questions:

If neoliberalism has implied the retreat of the state from economic roles, does the recent return of the state in the economy herald the end of neoliberalism?
Is there a causal rather than incidental relationship between transforming capitalism and the turn to authoritarian politics?
How do we make sense of right-wing governments' double attack on liberalism as a force of eocnomic dispossession, and simultaneously, as an advocate of political emancipation of women, ethnic and sexual minorities, and migrants?

Bohle is Professor and Chair in Social and Political Change in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute, Florence.

Learn More and Register Here https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_04FfAuMoQkKAdiMyoh5G6w

UF Jean Monnet Chair Series - Pandemics in Europe: Political and Social Responses

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the dynamics of the EU institutions. Much attention has been paid to the functioning of the EU institutions at the highest political level, but less so at the working levels of the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. What was the nature of EU action in this time and how well did the decision-making machinery work? This talk analyses all three main institutions by: a) describing how decisions are usually made; b) exploring how they are made in corona times; and c) assessing how well the individual institutions were equipped and able to adapt to these unusual circumstances.

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The European Union is strongly committed to the idea of ​​equal rights and respect for diversity in all its dimensions. This talk will address the gender perspective and the importance of foreign policies to strengthen strategies and measures that promote education for equality and its implications in terms of health and personal, social, cultural and economic empowerment.
The vulnerability of girls and young women requires a specific focus on gender issues to ensure access to all levels of education. Thus, education is assumed as a commitment to equality that will require a broad education for behavioral changes in relation to gender violence, involving all men, women, boys, girls and communities. It is education for lucidity and freedom.
This type of education cannot be done without politics, as the place for the formal assumptions of rationality on topics such as freedom and equality. This first and theoretical dimension will not make sense without the practical execution of action plans that must necessarily have as an ally the research that analyzes, evaluates, remakes and builds solid bases of action.
The EU has ambitious Action Plans for Gender Equality. What is often lacking is the assessment of the activities put into practice. Of course, it is important to know if the proposed activities are implemented, but equally important is that the intended outcomes are realized. We need to know whether we are going in the right direction or if a change in strategy is in order. Constant and consistent evaluation is vital to maintain the intended trajectory, keeping in mind that these strategies will have to take into account the different contexts and priorities for each country or region.
We hope that you will join us. The Zoom meeting link will be emailed to you prior to the event.
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Mass protests have been seen across Myanmar since the military seized power on February 1. Dr. Will Womack of University of Alabama at Birmingham will provide historical background and context on the current situation unfolding in the country. Dr. Womack's lecture will focus on how the political coup and protests have effected the peace process in Myanmar, with particular focus on the issue of religious and ethnic minorities. Please join us on Tuesday March 30 at 6:00 pm EDT for a virtual lecture on Myanmar.

Will Womack studies the history of nationalism and social identity in Myanmar in the interaction between politics and literate practice. He teaches history at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and leads Asian Studies seminars for educators for the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia University of Pittsburgh National Coordinating Site.

Register here.