100 Years Since WWI: Dictatorship and Democracy in an Age of Extremes

Beginning with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the last century saw the rise of Italian fascism and Soviet communism, the world economic crisis, and the rise of the Nazis to power in Germany, leading to the horrors of World War II. Towards the end of the 20th century, Europe experienced the fall of the Iron Curtain and a journey from the Cold War to peaceful revolutions.

Join us and three high-ranking European diplomats for an engaging panel discussion:

• Grzegorz Morawski, Consul General of the Republic of Poland
• Jean François Casabonne Masonnave, Consul General of France
• Walter Stechel, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany

They will present their countries’ perspectives on recent European history and current developments. Gary Bruce, the chair of UWaterloo’s History Department, will offer some historical reflections on a ravaged century. Then ask your questions about European history and current politics.

Organized by the Waterloo Centre for German Studies in cooperation with the Departments of French, History, and Germanic and Slavic Studies. Download the poster here.