On 15^th March 2018 in the Jagiellonian University’s Auditorium Maximum, the JU International Relations Students’ Society, the JU Society of Geopolitical Thought and the JU National Security Society are organizing an academic conference entitled “Dysfunctionality. An Internal Problem – A Global Challenge”. The conference is under the patronage of the Jagiellonian Research Center for African Studies. The aim of the event is the creation of an inclusive space for the exchange of opinions between academics, doctoral students, students and researchers of Africa and Latin America. The leitmotif of the event are the current problems faced by countries classified as dysfunctional. The academic conference “Dysfunctionality. An Internal Problem – A Global Challenge” is a one-day event in the form of a series of lectures. It will culminate with the promotional event presenting Prof. Robert Kłosowicz’s book entitled “The Contexts of State Dysfunctionality in Sub-Saharan Africa”, organized by the Jagiellonian University Press at the Jagiellonian Library.

The Jagiellonian University Press and the Jagiellonian Library invite you to participate in the promotional event presenting Robert Kłosowicz’s book entitled “The Contexts of State Dysfunctionality in Sub-Saharan Africa”.

Dr Joanna Mormul (from the JU Chair of International Relations and Foreign Policy) and the Author will take part in the discussion accompanying the promotional event.

At the beginning of the 21^st century, the world is still struggling against such serious challenges as extreme poverty, civilizational underdevelopment, the breaking of human rights, armed conflicts, the refugee crisis, illiteracy and various epidemics. These problems are primarily experienced by about two billion people living in more or less forty countries with a high level of dysfunctionality. According to the indexes, prepared by various international organisations, government institutions and think tanks, most of the dysfunctional states are located in the Sub-Saharan African region. However, the dysfunctionality of African states refers to many different facets and can vary in various parts of the continent. The monograph’s aim is to attempt to present this issue in diverse contexts and taking into account the current condition of the countries in the region. It is not and has never been the Author’s intention to be seen as an Afropessimist, perceiving Sub-Saharan Africa as a “fallen” region. Instead, the desire to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of state dysfunctionality and the causes that have led to Sub-Saharan Africa being the area most afflicted by this issue has lain at the roots of the conducted research and the writing of this publication.

The meeting will take place on 15^th March at 5 pm in the Jagiellonian Library

Link to the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/126290074860427/

The book is available at www.wuj.pl

Robert Kłosowicz – PhD with a habilitation degree, Professor of the Jagiellonian University, a historian and researcher in the field of international relations. He lectures at the Jagiellonian University Institute of Political Science and International Relations. He heads the Jagiellonian Centre for African Studies and is the editor of the publication series “Studia nad Rozwojem” [Studies in Development]. He specializes in research into the issues of statehood, international security and armed conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is the author of five monographs and a few dozen academic articles, as well as the science editor of eight collective works.