The thirteenth session of the Dongming Book House was held on June 5 at the Dongming Discussion Room of the School of International Studies, Peking University. Professor Kong Fanjun, a leading scholar of Central and Eastern European studies, joined faculty members and students for an in-depth discussion centered on his book Central and Eastern Europe: Observations and Reflections.
The event was jointly organized by the Youth League Committee of the School of International Studies and the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding (iGCU) at Peking University. Participants included Wang Dong, Professor at the School of International Studies and Executive Director of iGCU, Li Ruixuan, Secretary of the Youth League Committee of the School of International Studies, and more than ten students from the school.
During the discussion, Professor Kong first reviewed the historical evolution of Central and Eastern Europe as a regional concept, emphasizing that regions should be understood within their specific historical contexts. He encouraged students to adopt dynamic and pluralistic perspectives when studying Central and Eastern Europe, rather than treating the region as a fixed or homogeneous entity.
Professor Kong further argued that the region’s transitional characteristics require scholars to examine issues through multiple interconnected but distinct dimensions, including political and economic transformation, new state-building, and development. Such an approach, he noted, helps avoid oversimplified explanations and allows for a more nuanced understanding of the region’s historical trajectory.
Turning to broader reflections on area studies, Professor Kong emphasized that the development of an academic field is a long-term process involving both the accumulation of knowledge and the cultivation of successive generations of scholars. Sustainable disciplinary development, he argued, cannot be achieved through short-term enthusiasm alone. Drawing on the experience of Central and Eastern European studies in China, he suggested that the field offers valuable lessons for the ongoing development of area studies and country-specific research.
On research methodology, Professor Kong highlighted the importance of fieldwork, long-term observation, and sustained knowledge accumulation. Rather than focusing primarily on constructing theoretical frameworks in the abstract, scholars should remain closely connected to the realities of the regions they study.
In his remarks, Professor Wang Dong noted that Professor Kong has devoted decades to teaching and research on Central and Eastern Europe and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers and leading figures in the field in China. Wang observed that Professor Kong’s scholarship combines rigorous engagement with documentary sources and extensive field research throughout the region, an approach clearly reflected in Central and Eastern Europe: Observations and Reflections.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion in which students exchanged views with Professor Kong on introductory readings, the legacies of different empires, and competing historical memories across the region. The lively conversation reflected strong student interest in both Central and Eastern Europe and the broader development of area studies.
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