At the invitation of Univ. Prof. Dr. Robert Breitenecker and Univ. Prof. Dr. Matthias Fink (Institute for Innovation Management) and Univ. Prof. Dr. Helmut Pernsteiner, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jan Pospisil on April 25, 2022 gave the audience, including students, business representatives and employees of the JKU, interesting insights into his research on South Sudan. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jan Pospisil is Research Director at the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR), Co-Investigator in the Political Settlements Research Programme (University of Edinburgh) and Private Lecturer at the Department of Political Science at the University of Vienna.

In his presentation entitled "Doing Business between War and Peace: Doing Business in South Sudan," Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jan Pospisil showed the specifics of doing business in an area marked by high political tension. The peace treaty of 2005 led to a significant international transfer of capital to South Sudan. Oil resources provide South Sudan with a stable economic base; however, at the end of 2012, oil production was largely suspended due to political tensions. Civil war broke out again in 2013. Currently, a transition between war and peace is taking place, with warlike conflicts still continuing. The high political risks for foreign investors prevent an international transfer of capital. In the further course of the lecture Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jan Pospisil discussed five entrepreneur types characteristic for South Sudan and related factors that determine the framework conditions for doing business in this area. Finally, the question was raised whether the current business sector and political transformation in South Sudan have a conserving or progressive effect?

After the lecture, a discussion was initiated by Univ. Prof. Dr. Helmut Pernsteiner and Univ. Prof. Dr. Matthias Fink, in which the audience participated actively and which was continued over finger food and refreshments.

The colloquium is organized in honor of o. Univ. Prof. Dr. Karl Vodrazka (1931 - 2016). Vodrazka was a professor at JKU between 1971 and 1999, and also a long-time director of the Institute of Auditing, Trust and Accounting, dean and rector of JKU.