The economic crisis initiated by the collapse of Lehman Brothers turned out stronger and broader than anyone expected. From banking and financial sectors in the U.S. it spread especially to Europe, and, to lesser extent, to Asia. Having in mind the meaning of the problem, Jagiellonian University SYLFF Fellows Association (JUSFA) decided to invite representatives of its counterparts from all around the world to a scientific conference Europe and the World in Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities. The conference became the main part of the 20lh anniversary of the SYLFF program at the Jagiellonian University. The celebrations took place in the Main Hall of Collegium Maius on September 7th, 2012. The main organizers of the event were the Nippon Foundation, the Tokyo Foundation, the Jagiellonian University SYLFF Steering Committee, and the Jagiellonian University SYLFF Fellows Association. Among honorable guests of the event were the representatives of the Tokyo Foundation and the Nippon Foundation with its President, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, the son of Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, the principal funder of SYLFF who signed the documents in 1992 thus initiating a very successful scholarship program for M.A. and PhD. students. Other guests included the authorities of the University, with Rector Wojciech Nowak and Vice-Rector Andrzej Mania the members of JU Steering Committee and SYLFF Fellows from Poland and different countries.
Based on the presentations from the conference and discussions followed, eight SYLFF fellows from five countries (Hungary, Indonesia, Latvia, Portugal, and Poland), decided to prepare set of papers analyzing both national and multilateral dimensions of the economic crisis, including its social, political or cultural ramifications. Peer reviewed papers were published in this monograph, becoming a contribution to future academic discussion of the