Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the Commander of the French Forces in the Indian Ocean organize a multidisciplinary conference

In dedication to the heritage of the Second World War Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi in partnership with The French Forces in the Indian Ocean organized today a day of multidisciplinary conferences on Sunday May 8th 2016, on its campus in Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi.

The multidisciplinary event was attended by a series of High Profile attendees as H. E. Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France in the UAE and Rear-Admiral Antoine Beaussant, Commander of the French Forces in the Indian Ocean. The event’s speakers include The Most Reverend Luc Ravel, bishop of the French Armed Forces, Mrs Emmanuelle Duez, entrepreneur, founder of the Boson Project, Professor Guillaume Cuchet, Contemporary History Professor at Université Paris-Est Créteil and Professor Vital Rambaud, Head of the French Studies Department, Paris Sorbonne Abu Dhabi.

Professor Guillaume Cuchet is a professor of contemporary history, at University Paris-Est Créteil said: “Looking at the Western World in 1945, it is not only a growing chronological distance that separates today’s men and women from yesterday’s, but also a significant cultural distance. This distance is so radical, it could be argued to be anthropological, societies of 1945 being our “primitive” points of reference. My interest lies in pinpointing the dynamics of this societal transition, insisting on the revolution of the 1960’s, describing its main features and underlining the role of the baby-boomer generation (members of which are 70 today) in this process”.

Professor Eric Fouache, Vice Chancellor at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi said: “Based on its logo ‘A bridge between civilizations’ Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, who is committed in enhancing the rapprochement between cultures, is proud to be part of the commemoration of May 8, 1945. We are also honored to participate in the tribute that will be paid to combatants of all nationalities who sacrificed themselves during the Second World War as today”.

Professor Fouache added: “The multidisciplinary conferences are an opportunity for experts from different disciplines to discuss the Second World War’s consequences on different levels as well as study the changes occurred after”.

The event started at 9:00 am with a military ceremony in the presence of H. E. Michel Miraillet, Ambassador of France in the UAE and it was followed with conference entitled “A Third World War? The position of the Catholic Church on new wars: from the Vatican II Council to Pope Francis” by Bishop Ravel, bishop of the French Armed Forces. The event also involved a sociological round table entitled “World changes and changing generations” with Ms E. Duez, founder of the Boson Project, and Professor. G. Cuchet, Contemporary History professor at Université Paris Est Créteil. The event wrap up was with a conference “Writing after 1945” by Professor Rambaud, Head of French Studies Department, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.