Where the war begins, the business ends,” said Dr. Piotr Rubaj, a specialist in international economics (Catholic University of Lublin), analyzing the impact of war on the economy. On 30 June, the Areopagus of Universities debate was held at the University of Warsaw with the participation of experts from the Catholic University of Lublin, the University of Warsaw, the Jagiellonian University (Krakow) and the Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznan).
The meeting was attended by political scientist and diplomat Prof. Bogdan Góralczyk (University of Warsaw), political scientist Dr. Natalia Kusa (Adam Mickiewicz University), and economist Dr. Piotr Łasak (Jagiellonian University) in addition to the expert from the Catholic University of Lublin. The Rectors of the mentioned universities were also present.
Photo credit: KUL
Dr. Piotr Rubaj emphasized that although war is evil in itself, it leads to the development of some sectors of the economy, which, however, raises ethical doubts. „Completely different laws govern these markets. Business has to make choices and measure risk,” he added. In support of the thesis that war is a business for some sectors of the economy, the KUL expert referred to the data of the Stockholm International Institute for Peace Research, according to which, in 2022, the value of global spending on defense and armaments exceeded a record two trillion dollars. „Yes, it is a business, but if we start to analyze other aspects, there are a lot of question marks,” noted the KUL expert.
The effects of war can be considered on a human and social level. „Firstly, from the point of view of humanity, its human dimension, because people are dying in Ukraine, and also from the social point of view, because there is certainly the destruction of society – both where the theatre of war is the most severe but also in Russia itself,” said the host of this edition of the Areopagus, the Rector of the University of Warsaw, Prof. Alojzy Nowak. He reminded the participants that the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on Poland, which is trying to help the victims of the conflict in various ways.
„The war in Ukraine is the result of several changes of a geostrategic nature. The first and most significant one sounds bad for Poland and the European Union, namely, that the economic and trade center of the entire world is moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific,” said political scientist and diplomat Prof. Henryk Góralczyk of the University of Warsaw. He recalled the growing importance of China.
The Areopagus of Universities, under the patronage of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (KRASP), is an initiative to conduct a public debate on the challenges of contemporary times in the university space. Its authors are the academic circles of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, the Jagiellonian University, the University of Warsaw, and the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin – the originators of the series.
The debate is available online:
KUL / Family News Service