Book Launch: Romanian translation of “Medieval Islamic Political Thought in Dialogue with the Humanist Tradition of the Italian Renaissance” by Vasileios Syros

Prof. Vasileios Syros (University of Jyväskylä), Greek Chair at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, was invited to Bucharest, Romania, to the presentation and panel discussion of the Romanian translation of his work Medieval Islamic Political Thought in Dialogue with the Humanist Tradition of the Italian Renaissance.

The book (Gândirea politică islamică medievală în dialog cu tradiţia umanistă a Renaşterii italiene) was published by the distinguished publisher Junimea in spring 2022. It includes the first sustained comparison between the political ideas of medieval India and Renaissance Italy and draws links to modern leadership theories.

The event was held at Bucharest’s oldest and most iconic bookstore, the Librăria Mihai Eminescu, in the afternoon of 28.11 and was attended by academics, policy experts, diplomats, and journalists. The Greek Embassy in Romania was represented by Ms Pelagia Gkountra, Consul and Head of the Cultural Department. The panel discussion featured presentations by Prof. Mihai Milca (National University of Political Studies and Public Administration; editor of the prominent journal Punctul critic) and Dr. Alexandru Florea (The Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, Centre of Excellence of the World Academy of Art & Science) and was moderated by Prof. Sabin Drăgulin, Dean of the Faculty of Administrative and Political Sciences of the “Petre Andrei” University of Iași.

The event went very well attracting several prestigious academics and journalists, and a proposal was made for future collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization (Centre of Excellence of the World Academy of Art & Science) regarding the organization of joint academic events and publications that will bring closer the Balkans with India.