BMI’s 9th Annual Conference Regimes, Human Development and Sustainability

The Boris Mints Institute (BMI) held its 9th Annual Conference on “Regimes, Human Development and Sustainability” at Tel-Aviv University on May 29th and 30th, 2024. The event brought together scholars and experts to discuss various topics related to political regimes, human development, and sustainability. The conference commenced with opening remarks from Dr. Boris Mints, the founder and president of BMI, and Prof. Itai Sened, Dean of the Gershon H. Gordon Faculty of Social Sciences and Head of BMI. 

The keynote address, titled “Civilizational Development: Foreseeing the Future through the Past,” was delivered by Mr. Mikheil Abramishvili, the Director of the Tbilisi Archaeological Museum at the Georgian National Museum. Abramishvili’s address focused on how historical patterns of civilizational development can provide insights into future societal trends from the archeological perspective. A key panel discussion on the Return of the Authoritarianism explored the resurgence of authoritarian regimes globally and the implications for international relations and democracy. The second day of the conference began with the Human Development Lab Student Presentations, which highlighted cutting-edge research on human development issues, demonstrating the breadth and depth of student engagement in these critical areas. Another significant session was on “Welfare, Inequality, and Democracy, delving into the intersections between social welfare policies, economic inequality, and democratic governance, providing a nuanced analysis of contemporary challenges and potential solutions. The Energy & Climate Lab’s presentations focused on innovative research addressing the pressing issues of energy sustainability and climate change. Overall, the 9th Annual Conference of BMI successfully fostered a rich exchange of ideas and highlighted significant research contributions from both established scholars and emerging researchers