Navigating Contemporary Global Conflicts: India-Europe Perspectives on Security, Diplomacy, SJ & GG

News

11 February 2026, 6 pm

Dates: 7–8 February 2026
Venue: Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, India
Mode: Hybrid Participation
Host Institution: Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
In Collaboration With: Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF), Poland
Associate Partners: University of Opole, Poland; University of Applied Sciences in Mittweida, Germany

Conference Overview

The Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF), Poland, in collaboration with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, successfully hosted a two-day interdisciplinary international conference titled “Navigating Contemporary Global Conflicts: India–Europe Perspectives on Security, Diplomacy, Social Justice & Global Governance” on 7–8 February 2026.

The conference provided a distinguished global platform for scholars, diplomats, policymakers, security experts, legal professionals, and early-career researchers from India, Europe, and other regions to critically engage with the evolving dynamics of contemporary global conflicts. Against the backdrop of a rapidly transforming multipolar world order, the event fostered rigorous academic dialogue on security challenges, diplomatic strategies, social justice, and evolving frameworks of global governance.

Through interdisciplinary engagement, the conference strengthened academic cooperation between Indian and European institutions and reaffirmed IEEF’s commitment to international academic collaboration, research excellence, and policy-relevant scholarship.

Inaugural Ceremony

The inaugural ceremony was graced by eminent academicians, international dignitaries, and institutional leaders:

Prof. (Dr.) Vijay Khare – Director, International Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
Prof. (Dr.) D. K. Verma- Pro Vice-Chancellor and Professor of SC, ST & OBC Development at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University of Social Sciences (BRAUSS), Madhya Pradesh, India
Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Kumar – Founder President, Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF), Warsaw, Poland
Prof. (Dr.) Thoralf Gebel – Hochschule Mittweida, University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Mrs. Elena Bujor – University of Galati, Romania
Advocate Mr. Pawel Tyla – Tyla Law Firm, Opole, Poland
Prof. Priyankar Upadhyaya – UNESCO Chair for Peace & Intercultural Understanding, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
Prof. (Dr.) Suresh Gosavi – Vice Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
Prof. (Dr.) Parag Kalkar – Pro-Vice Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
Prof. Arvind Kumar – Professor of United States Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

The dignitaries emphasized the strategic importance of India–Europe cooperation in addressing contemporary global challenges and highlighted the critical role of universities, research institutions, and international platforms such as IEEF in shaping future global academic and policy discourse.

Special Statement on Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Kumar’s Keynote Address:

In his address, Prof. Kumar offered a deep analytical perspective on the evolving economic relationship between India and Europe in the context of contemporary geopolitical realignments. He emphasized that economic interdependence—once widely regarded as a stabilizing force in international relations—is increasingly shaped by strategic competition, geopolitical tensions, supply-chain restructuring, and emerging protectionist tendencies.

He critically examined the transformation of India–Europe trade relations, highlighting the growing importance of strategic autonomy, resilient and diversified supply chains, digital trade governance, energy cooperation, and sustainable development pathways. Prof. Kumar underscored the need for a new trade architecture grounded in mutual trust, regulatory convergence, institutional cooperation, and shared democratic values.

Importantly, he further emphasized that meaningful global governance must be rooted in accountable and effective local governance structures. He argued that systemic change should begin at the grassroots level and progressively translate into national and global governance frameworks. In this context, he cited the Mumbai–Pune highway road blockage incident of 4 February 2026 as a contemporary example to illustrate how failures in local governance, infrastructure planning, and accountability can escalate into broader socio-economic disruptions with regional and national implications.

His address compellingly connected economics with diplomacy and security, demonstrating that trade relations today are inseparable from global power politics and strategic governance structures. The keynote was widely appreciated for its intellectual depth, analytical clarity, and strong policy relevance, setting a powerful academic tone for the conference deliberations.

Conference Theme

Navigating Contemporary Global Conflicts: India–Europe Perspectives on Security, Diplomacy, Social Justice & Global Governance

The conference explored both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, including military conflicts, cyber and hybrid warfare, climate-induced instability, energy security, humanitarian crises, and geopolitical rivalries. It emphasized diplomacy, international law, multilateral institutions, and normative frameworks as essential instruments for conflict prevention, management, and sustainable resolution.

Objectives of the Conference

Critically examine contemporary global conflicts from India–Europe perspectives
Analyse traditional, non-traditional, hybrid, cyber, energy, and climate-related security threats
Explore the role of diplomacy, dialogue, and multilateralism in conflict management
Assess geopolitical rivalries and shifting alliances
Encourage interdisciplinary research across international relations, law, economics, and social justice
Promote academic and institutional collaboration between Indian and European institutions
Foster sustained dialogue among scholars, policymakers, diplomats, and practitioners

Sub-Themes

Contemporary Global Conflicts and the Multipolar World Order
India–Europe Strategic Relations and Security Cooperation
Climate Change, Environmental Security, and Conflict
Hybrid Warfare and Emerging Technologies
Energy Security and Geopolitics
Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Conflict Resolution
Role of Multilateralism and International Institutions
International Law and Global Governance
Humanitarian Crises, Migration, and Refugee Challenges
Social Justice, Inequality, and Conflict Dynamics
Strategic Autonomy and Foreign Policy Choices
Peacebuilding and Stability Studies

Academic Engagement & Global Collaboration

The conference enabled meaningful academic exchange, strengthened institutional partnerships, and promoted collaborative research between India and Europe. Selected high-quality research papers are scheduled for publication in an edited academic volume with an ISBN, subject to rigorous peer review and editorial standards.

Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF)

Through this landmark international conference, the Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF) continues to reinforce its mission of promoting global academic collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and sustained dialogue on critical global issues. The partnership with Savitribai Phule Pune University reflects IEEF’s growing role as a bridge between Indian and European academic, policy, and research communities.

IEEF remains firmly committed to fostering education, research excellence, cultural exchange, and international engagement in pursuit of peace, stability, and a rules-based global order.

Photo Credit: Mr. Sagar Gaikwad