The 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII and the Formation of the United Nations

What have we learned in 80 years and what do the next 80 hold?

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of two pivotal events in modern history: the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the United Nations. Born from the ashes of global conflict, the UN represented a collective hope for peace, security, and international cooperation. Eight decades on, this seminar invites critical reflection on the successes, failures, and ongoing challenges of the post-war global order.

What have we truly learned since 1945 - from genocide, decolonization, and the Cold War, to climate change, pandemics, and the shifting balance of global power? How has the UN adapted, and where has it fallen short? And as we confront an uncertain future - marked by rising authoritarianism, geopolitical instability, technological transformation, and environmental crises - what role can and should multilateral institutions play?

Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and the wider community, this seminar explores the legacies of the last 80 years and looks ahead to the next, asking: what kind of global cooperation is possible and necessary now?

Speakers:

Dr Tim Rich – International Relations and History, Curtin University, Director of Curtin Extremism Research network, expertise in terrorism and political violence, digital and online extremism, alienation and radicalisation, and Middle East politics.

Dr Vannessa Hearman - Vanessa is a Senior Lecturer in History at Curtin University, coordinating the History program at Curtin. She is a historian of Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia and Timor-Leste (East Timor). Her research is concerned with the effects of the Cold War in Asia, Australia’s engagements with Asia and the Pacific, and struggles for historical justice and human rights.

Mr Randhir Amoganathan - Randhir is the President of the United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division) Inc. He is a commercial and corporate lawyer who also works in migration and visas.

Facilitator: 

Professor Farida Fozdar, Dean, Global Futures (Humanities) Curtin University.

·       Staff, students, alumni, community, all welcome

·       Thursday 11th September, 5 – 6:30pm

·       TL Robertson Library, The Lantern, Level 7, Curtin University

A Curtin Global Futures Event, part of Social Sciences Week