In addition to interesting panel discussions, as part of the Opatija Coffeehouse Debates project, a reading group and guest lectures by renowned world experts are held. So far they have been hosted in Opatija Alan Thomas the University of Tilburg Fabienne Peter the University of Warwick Thursday 6 July, prof. Leif Wenar (King’s College London, UK) to give a lecture Blood Oil: Tyrants, Violence and the Rules that Run the World in the Café Continental in Opatija.
Oil, also known as “black gold”, is a resource without which it is difficult to imagine life in the modern world. Oil markets are turning over trillions of dollars a year, which is why it represents not only Highly important economic but also geopolitical element. Oil is causing wars, changing governments and overthrowing regimes. Oil-derived money not only finances ISIS and Congo terrorists, autocratic systems in Russia and Saudi Arabia, but also maintains the financial and political power of a number of multinational companies in the West. And so, while the rule “Whoever is stronger oppresses” lost much of its application through the progress of humanity in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, its application in the oil trade business was never questioned. That, of course, doesn't mean you shouldn't be.
Our guest lecturer, Professor Leif Wenar, Chair of Philosophy and the Right to King’s College London, is one of the main opponents of the application of this principle in the oil trade. In addition to academic activities, Wenar is a well-known British intellectual and columnist, and probably gained the most fame due to the book “Blood Oil” Published by Oxford University Press. In addition, he has written columns for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, The Financial Times and The Guardian, and has appeared in numerous professional shows on CNN, the BBC and other well-known television stations. Wenar also maintains a very interesting (non-academic) website for the general public.
Leif Wenar will stay in Opatija and its surroundings for a week and will participate in the Summer School “Equality and citizenship“ which is held at the University of Rijeka, within which is being prepared and A two-day conference dedicated to his academic work so far.
Leif Wenar's guest appearance is a continuation of a good cooperation with our partners, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Rijeka i Milenij Hotels Opatija. Opatija Coffeehouse Debates thus combines higher education and scientific institutions, private sector companies and civil society organizations, which, with the support of local and regional self-government units, work together to popularize science and develop a democratic and deliberative society.
