Launch Ceremony of the English Edition of "A New History of the Second World War" Held in Athens
Athens, Greece — China Social Sciences Today (Reporter Yang Xue) On August 28, the book launch for the English edition of A New History of the Second World War and the international academic symposium "Nirvana through Fire: Civilization and War" [1] opened in Athens, Greece. This event aims to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War [2]. It seeks to demonstrate the latest research achievements of the Chinese academic community regarding World War II to the world, deepen exchange and cooperation with the international academic community in the field of WWII history research, and promote the sharing of academic resources and mutual learning of research methodologies.
At the book launch, Fang Qiu, the Chinese Ambassador to Greece, delivered a speech. He pointed out that in today's world, as the changes unseen in a century [3] accelerate and the international order undergoes profound adjustment, erroneous historical perspectives on WWII have led to many deviations in people's cognition of the war. A New History of the Second World War (English edition) takes its foothold in China and in the New Era; it re-examines the origins, process, and profound impact of WWII from a global perspective. It provides a more multi-dimensional perspective for our understanding of this unprecedented catastrophe in human history, expresses the Chinese position, and demonstrates a correct historical perspective [4]. He emphasized that we should take this book launch as an opportunity to continue strengthening academic exchanges and cooperation, drawing wisdom and strength from the profound lessons of the Second World War and the great victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. This will awaken the longing for and commitment to peace among people of goodwill, resolutely oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and jointly safeguard world peace.
Stelios Virvidakis, Professor of the Department of Philosophy and History of Science at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and former president of the Center of Ancient Greek and Chinese Civilizations, stated in his speech that WWII was the most brutal war experienced by humanity, and its impact continues to this day. Although China and Greece differ in national strength and scale, both demonstrated perseverance and unyielding spirit in the struggle against fascist forces. In today's turbulent world, China and Greece are still able to contribute to world peace from their respective perspectives. He believes that cultural and philosophical reflection possesses unique value in promoting mutual understanding among humanity. The publication of this new book will promote in-depth discussions among historians and social scientists, helping people more comprehensively understand the far-reaching impact of WWII on the contemporary world.
A video introduction of the English edition of A New History of the Second World War was played at the launch. Representatives of the authors and the publishing house jointly unveiled the new book and presented copies to the University of Athens.
Subsequently, Liu Zuokui, Director of the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Ji Weimin, President of the China Social Sciences Press; and Wang Chaohua, a researcher at the Institute of World History of CASS, introduced the new book from the perspectives of its compilation background, academic value, and publishing significance. Ivona Lađevac, Deputy Director of the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Serbia, and Zoon Ahmed Khan, a visiting assistant professor at Tsinghua University, shared their academic evaluations of the book from international perspectives, providing diverse reflections for the participating scholars.
During the roundtable forum "Echoes of History: WWII and the Contemporary World" and the academic symposium "Nirvana through Fire: Civilization and War," Chinese and foreign experts and scholars engaged in discussions focused on the profound impact of WWII on contemporary politics, economy, and culture. They conducted in-depth analyses of the strategic significance of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Eastern Main Battlefield, shared the historical experience of the European people's anti-fascist struggle, and explored how historical memory can inspire today's international cooperation and peacebuilding.
The event was co-hosted by the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Classical Civilization, attracting more than 60 experts and scholars from various countries. Participating scholars reached a consensus that in-depth research into the Second World War not only helps in understanding the past but also provides important references for addressing the challenges of peace and development in today's world.
Source: Chinese Social Sciences Net (cssn.cn) Web Editor: Zhang Yunan