9th Dialogue on Social Market Economy

Resilient Europe? Navigating Economic and Geopolitical Challenges from China and the United States

Venue:      University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Campus Scheffelberg

Date:        22 – 24 October 2025

Call for Papers:

The European Union stands at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges in an increasingly multipolar world. The economic and military rise of China, coupled with shifting transatlantic dynamics under the influence of Donald Trump's presidency, have profoundly impacted the global balance of power. These developments necessitate a re-evaluation of the EU’s economic and geopolitical strategies to ensure its resilience and relevance on the world stage. This conference seeks to bring together leading economists, policymakers, and scholars to explore the implications of these challenges and propose pathways for Europe to navigate a complex and dynamic international environment.

Topics of Interest Include, but Are Not Limited To:

• Geopolitical Strategies for a Resilient Europe: The EU's response to emerging global power structures, either concentration on free trade such as EU-Mercosur trade agreement or stronger investment policy
• Decoupling and Economic Realignment: Implications of global economic fragmentation for EU trade and supply chains.
• EU-China Relations: Balancing cooperation and competition in trade, investment, and technology.
• The Transatlantic Relationship Post-Trump: Evaluating shifts in EU-U.S. economic and security partnerships.
• The Future of Multilateralism: The EU's role in global institutions amid declining consensus.
• Energy Security and Strategic Autonomy: Reducing dependencies and enhancing EU sovereignty.
• Technological Competition and Digital Sovereignty: Building the EU's capacity in key technologies.
• The Role of the Euro in Global Finance: Enhancing the EU's monetary independence.
• Trade Wars and Global Tariff Policies: Impacts on EU industries and economic resilience.
• Economic Integration and Cohesion Within the EU: Strengthening internal markets to face external pressures.

Submission Guidelines:

Scholars and practitioners are invited to submit original research papers, policy analyses, or case studies addressing any of the above themes. Submissions should include a title, abstract (max. 300 words), and author information. Selected papers will be presented at the conference and considered for publication as online papers in the series “Ordnungspolitische Diskurse” (http://ordnungspolitisches-portal.com/diskurse/). Additionally, selected conference contributions—based on their relevance to the conference topic and the quality of the work—will be published in a special issue of the "Journal of Contextual Economics  - Schmollers Jahrbuch" (JCE).

Important Dates:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: [30 June 2025]
• Notification of Acceptance: [15 July 2025]
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: [30 September 2025]
• Conference Dates: [22 – 24 October 2025]

All submissions should please be sent to lachezar.grudev@fh-zwickau.de OR ralph.wrobel@fh-zwickau.de.                 

Conference fee, travel costs and accommodation:

There is NO conference fee. But, please note that attendees are responsible for arranging and covering their own accommodation and travel expenses.

Join us in this critical discussion to shape the future of Europe's role in the global economy.

Prof. Dr. Lachezar Grudev, Zwickau

Prof. Dr. Stefan Kolev, Berlin & Zwickau

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Seoul & Zwickau

Prof. Dr. Dr. Ralph M. Wrobel, Zwickau

Please download the CfP as a PDF here

This is a joint conference of: