Invited Guest Lecture at Peking University
On May 19, I had the pleasure of delivering a guest lecture to masters students at Peking University about the past and present of the Balkan Peninsula.
The region has a peculiar history, and it has unfortunately inspired the word ‘balkanisation’, a pejorative term for fragmentation of a larger region or state into smaller regions or states, which may be hostile or uncooperative with one another. Understanding the historical conditions of different region is essential to conducting cross-cultural communication.
The students at Peking University are outstanding as entry is highly competitive. It was a pleasure to share my first-hand knowledge of Eastern European history, and my insights gained from practical experience of working closely with the Bulgarian government authorities.
Peking University is a dream school to most Chinese students, and it has an important role in China’s history. It is an honour to be invited to speak there, and I hope to have the opportunity to continue engaging with its students.
