ESAANZ Conference 2025

The European Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand (ESAANZ) held its 2025 conference in a hybrid format at the University of Melbourne, Australia on 21 November 2025.

Conference theme:
Continuity and change: Europe in time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty

In this current time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty – due to the continuing military confrontation in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the increasing military incursions into the NATO territory – the recent behaviour of the European Union has been characterised by continuity and change[1]. Our conference is an invitation to critically examine Europe’s place in the global order and the European Union’s evolving role in global affairs: From the continuity and resilience of its institutions to the recalibration of its various policy, including foreign policy and further enlargement. This conference will explore how Europe navigates the tension between enduring values and the imperative for strategic adaptation in response to military threats. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently declared, “Europe must fight for its place in a world” thus underscoring the urgency of rethinking both Europe’s geopolitical posture, and capacity for unity in the face of increasing fragmentation.

In this context, the ESAANZ 2025 conference focused on the complexities of Europe’s continuity and change in time heightened geopolitical uncertainty from a variety of perspectives: politics, economy, environment, society, and foreign affairs. The conference organisers invited papers across the broad spectrum of disciplines relating to Europe in these transformative times.

Open Issue of ANZJES

If you would like your paper to be considered for an open issue of the Australia New Zealand Journal of the European Studies please submit the full paper through its submission system.

Full Program:

8:30am – 8:45am           Registration

8:45am – 9:00am           Welcome address – TBC

9:00am – 10:30am         Panel 1: Jean Monnet Policy Network “Challenges and opportunities for EU heritage diplomacy in Ukraine (HER-UKR)” on digital diplomacy of Ukraine at times of war, University of Canterbury (online)

• Natalia Chaban, Natalia Zemzyulina and Daria Kuznetsova.  “Digital diplomacy in the changing world: Ukraine’s digital diplomacy in the context of heritage securitisation and EU-Ukraine heritage diplomacy”.
• Svitlana Zhabotynska and Oksana Pietsukh. „Countering a democratic slide: Ukrainian embassies’ digital diplomacy in featuring Ukraine’s heritage (the U.S. and Hungary cases)”
• Francesca Harrison and Daniela Grimberg. “Ukraine’s cultural heritage diplomacy online: A comparative analysis of Brazil and South Africa.”
• Konrad Szatters: “Ukraine’s Cultural Diplomacy in the Weimar Triangle: Comparative Analysis of Poland, Germany, and France”
• Mia Angeline and Konrad Szatters:  “Ukraine’s Digital Diplomacy in Asia: A Comparative Analysis of China and Indonesia”

10:30 – 10:45                    Morning Tea

10:45 – 12:00                    Concurrent sessions

12:00 – 12:30                    Lunch

12:30 – 13:45                    Panel 3: Focus on Finland (Chair: Daniela Aquaro)

Perspectives of the Master of Education students on Finland and its Education System: Justin Guiler, Maria Bilske, Pedro Mello, Jessica Yang (University of Melbourne)

13:45-15:00                        Panel 4: European Union’s policy challenges (Chair: Matt Harvey)

• Kaye Quek, Julian Lee, Nikkola Mikocki-Bleeker, Jimena Laguna Pineda, Sophie Bottero (RMIT University) “European Union Trade Agreements: What’s in store for Australia?”
• Serena Kelly (University of Canterbury) and Maria Garcia (Bath University) “The EU-Aotearoa New Zealand FTA: A Symbol of Aspirations”
• Eun Jee Shin (Korea University), “Leading or Lagging? The EU’s Role in Just Energy Transition Partnerships under Geopolitical Strain: The Cases of Vietnam and Indonesia”
• Daniel Hawkey-D’Aeth (online), “Europe’s Digital Battlefield: Social Media, Disinformation, and the Struggle for Geopolitical Credibility”

15:00 – 15:15                    Coffee break

15:00 – 16:15                    Panel 5: European Union as a global and local actor (Chair: Serena Kelly)

• Milenko Petrovic (University of Canterbury) “Fresh Momentum’ or the End of EU Enlargement?”
• Bruce Wilson & Sophie Bottero (RMIT University), “The European Union’s International urban and regional cooperation program and sub-national diplomacy: does it add value in turbulent times?”
• César de Prado (Manipal Higher Education Academy) (online), “Transforming Europe by enhancing coherence among capable actors”
• Roderic Pitty (online) “Can the EU influence the resolution of Putin’s war in Ukraine?”

16:15 – 17:00                    Panel 6: Australian Institute of Polish Affairs (AIPA) Panel discussion – Populist politics and society – example of Poland. (Chair: Gosia Klatt)

• Alexandra Dunwill, AIPA President
• Jan Pakulski, AIPA Vice-President

17:00                                     Concluding Remarks