Applying & Working with the United Nations: An Advice Session: January 20th
To view more photos from this event, please click on the photo
2011 began with another great event hosted by Pax et Bellum! On January 20th, Pax et Bellum welcomed Hanna Matti of the United Nations to the Department of Peace and Conflict Research for a presentation and question session on applying to, and working with the United Nations. Just under fifty members of Pax et Bellum attended the event, and were given a guided tour of the United Nation’s new recruitment website, Galaxy, as well as information on various job postings. The event not only provided attendees with inside knowledge and insight into the world of the United Nations, but also helped to answer specific information on recruitment and application procedures.
National Conference on Peace and Conflict Research: December 16th and 17th
To view more photos from this event, please click on the photo.
Throughout December 16th and 17th, members of Pax et Bellum attended the National Conference on Peace and Conflict Research. Hosted by the Department of Peace and Conflict Research and the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the conference brought together 65 renowned scholars, including Dag Hammarskjöld Professor Peter Wallensteen (Notre Dame and Uppsala University) and Stathis Kalyvas (Yale University), who was also the keynote speaker. In addition, the conference featured scholars from Lund University, Stockholm University, Gothenburg University, Umeå University, and others! The panels and seminars, although focused on peace and conflict research, took on a broad range of issues ranging for ethnic identity in conflict, to security and stabilization! Throughout the conference, members of Pax et Bellum also had the opportunity to mingle with the panelists, and even discuss their own future career (academic or otherwise) plans!
Holiday Pub Quiz: December 13th
On Monday, December 13th, Pax et Bellum held its Holiday Trivia Party at Uplands Nation. Participants enjoyed a five-part pub quiz, with questions ranging from the meaning of Kwanza to traditional Swedish holiday traditions. Throughout the event, the teams were neck and neck with the lead being traded between three of the four teams. In the end, two teams battled it out in a lightening round for the win. The two teams went back and forth, saying “Merry Christmas” in various languages. The final winning team, Henry and the Hermans, won with “Sretan Božić”, the Croatian phrase for “Merry Christmas”. A special thank you is owed to Uplands Nation for providing the use of the Vault for the event.
Film and Glögg Night: December 6th
Pax et Bellum invited its members to a cozy social event in the rooms of the Peace Museum in the castle. With warm Glögg and freshly baked Christmas Cookies the group watched the award winning movie “Joyeux Noel “ that is based on a true story: On Christmas Eve 1917 during WW I. soldiers from the British, French and German trenches meet and get to know each other, which brings them to agree on a truce that lasts until the “treason of sympathizing with the enemy” is discovered, their regiments are dissolved and send off to fight enemies elsewhere.
In a relaxed atmosphere the participants enjoyed this different kind of Christmas Movie.
Taiwan – Why Should We Care?: December 2nd
Our two guests approached the Taiwanese case from two perspectives: On the one hand Taiwan from an international point of view – the relation to China, the UN, and the country’s strategic geographic position. On the other hand Taiwan was presented from an inside perspective – Taiwanese Identity and generational changes. The event provided comprehensive information on the Taiwanese case and allowed the audience to learn about Taiwans distinct situation and to get involved into a lively discussion.
Indian Society: Challenges and Perspectives: November 29th
Our guest speaker Heinz Werner Wessler took us with him for a journey through India’s history, cultural and religious development. We discussed current challenges as the gap between rich and poor, law enforcement and unemployment – an exciting lecture with many new insights!
Through the Lens: A Look at Israeli Settlements in the West Bank: November 26th
On Friday November 26, over 30 members of Pax et Bellum gathered in the Department of Research for “Through the Lens: A Look at Israeli Settlements in the West Bank.” The event, organized by Pax et Bellum in cooperation with Settler Watch and B’Tselem, consisted of a panel discussion with Carin Smaller, the European Representative of B’Tselem, and Palestinian camera volunteer Naser Nawaja, and it focused on the legality of the housing settlements within Palestine. Throughout the two-hour event, participants were shown pictures and film clips of the areas and the settlements, and they were also presented with various legal opinions and international policy options directed towards the issues. Everyone in attendance was also permitted to ask questions pertaining not only to the work of B’Tselem and their camera volunteers, but also to the founders of Settler Watch, and the focus of the questions ranged from the living conditions on the ground, as well as touching on Israeli public opinion of the settlements. Through the Lens provided a captivating look at the much discussed ‘settlement issue’, and Pax et Bellum looks forward to working with both Settler Watch and B’Tselem in the near future!
Working with Conflict: A Workshop on Trauma and Secondary Traumatization: November 22nd
On Monday 22nd of November 2010 Pax et Bellum invited its members to a workshop organized for us by the TRAST network from the Hugo-Valentin-Centre to learn about trauma and secondary traumatization when working with conflict. Ivana Macek gave an introduction on some psychological basics and how working in conflict countries, in post-conflict countries or even working with the issue indirectly from a save environment can cause traumatization. She captured the participants attention by always referring back to her own experiences from working as an anthropologist in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The second part of the workshop was built by an exercise by Stéphane Bruchfeld on “Systemic Constellation Work” where he helped one of the participants to analyze some of her inner dilemmas regarding her research area and future aspirations.
It was a remarkably interesting workshop that was perceived very positively by the participants so that a follow up is already planned for the 23rd of February 2011. You are welcome to join us!
Making a Point: (Ab)use of the Media in the August War: November 17th
On the 17th of November Pax et Bellum organized an event devoted to the usage of media in conflict. The case study used was the August war in 2008 regarding South Ossetia (Georgian – Russian war). The event was opened by professor Dmitry Strovsky, Professor Journalism at the Ural State Univeristy, and Greg Simons, Senior Researcher at the Russian Studies Centre at Uppsala University. Afterward the organizers screened clips from multiple documentaries and movies in order to create an overall view of the ways the different governments influenced/used the media to get their point across. The event was enthusiastically welcomed by the audience, the format and the topic were highly appreciated by the participants.
Talking to the Enemy, A Book Reading with Scott Atran: November 12th
On November 12th, acclaimed anthropologist Scott Atran joined Pax et Bellum to present his latest book “Talking to the enemy”. Atran examined the question of what motivates suicide bombers to take their own life? The two-hour presentation and subsequent chats with the professor during fika left all participants inspired and full of thoughts to explore further.
Hydropolitics in the Mediterranean Sea: November 9th
Yacob Arsano from the University of Addis Ababa is this years Claude Ake Visiting Chair of the DPCR in collaboration with the Nordic Africa Institute. On Tuesday the 9th of November 2010 at 17:00 in Hall 1 DPCR Pax et Bellum invited participants to join for a lecture given by Yacob Arsano on the topic of his expertise: Hydropolitical Conflict and Negotiations in the Nile-Basin. Despite daunting weather conditions interested students found their way to the department to listen to an enthusiastic 45 minute lecture on the topic and afterward engaged in an animated discussion with Yacob. Matching the elemnt that was at the heart of the lecture (water) the event was sweetened by “Blue Fika”.
Study Trip to Åland Island: November 5th and 6th
To view more photos from this event, please click on the photo. Photo: Kai Hagelauer
With the aim in mind to learn more about Autonomy as a conflict resolution mechanism Pax et Bellum organized a study trip to the Ǻland islands on November 5th 2010. After a very early start in the day at 7:30 the group traveled by bus, ferry and bus from Uppsala to Mariehamn, capital of Ǻland. Already on the ferry we met with the governor of the islands and despite some difficulties with the traffic (How to fit 22 people into 12 empty seats on the bus?! And how to convince the police that you were only speeding because it is a matter of urgency to get to the Parliament?!) we made it to the Ǻlands lagting where we had a veryenthralling meeting with two parliamentarians: Harry Jonsson and Marine Holm- Johansson. This was followed by a presentation by Heidi Öst from the Ǻland Peace Institute and Lukrecija Bielskyte currently interning at the same. After this the official program was over and three participants had to return to Uppsala. The rest however, spent the night in Mariehamn and enjoyed a cosy evening together and a relaxing walk along the western seaside before returning home to Sweden.
The Arctic Question? Implications for the Future of the North: October 27th
To view more photos from this event, please click on the photo.
Pax et Bellum’s first ever event on the Arctic region, The Arctic Question? Implications for the Future of the North, was held on October 27th in Brusewitzsalen in the Department of Government at Uppsala University. With a panel featuring Canada’s Ambassador to Sweden, Her Excellency Alexandra Volkoff, and Annika Nilsson of the Stockholm Environment Institute, the event was a smash success! Participants had the opportunity to learn not only about the sovereignty debate in the North, but also about the importance of issues such as climate change, international trade, migration, devolution, and international security. Following the presentations, the audience was also able to engage with the panelists on a more informal level through a thirty-minute question period, which focused on a wide range of topics from oil and gas exploitation to travel through the North West Passage. Be sure to stay tuned for more great events from Pax et Bellum!
A Future For Afghans?: October 21st
A Future for Afghans? – with this question in mind Pax et Bellum organized a debate and film screening on Thursday, October 21st 2010 at 17:30 in the DPCR. After a great (speedy) introduction to the country’s history and current status by Ralph Sundberg from the DPCR participants were ascribed certain roles to argue from five different positions (NATO, Civil Society, India, Pakistan and the Taliban) why their respective actor should be important for the Future of Afghanistan and its citizens. After the debate, that rather took up the character of a role play, the event concluded with the screening of the movie “The Kite Runner”.
The Dream Of Damascus – A Book Reading with Aron Lund: October 7th
To view more photos from this event, please click on the photo.
On Thursday the 7th of October 2010, 18:00 at the DPCR Pax et Bellum invited its members to a book reading with and by Aron Lund. Aron is a former student of Uppsala University and now working as a freelance journalist for several Swedish newspapers as for example the Expressen. In the course of his studies he spent some time in Syria and just recently published his book “Drömmen om Damaskus” (The Dream of Damascus). It is the first comprehensive guide to modern and historic politics in Syria published in Swedish. At the Pax et Bellum event Aron not only presented his book but also answered questions concerning the topic in a 45 minutes discussion session. The animated exchange was not only proof for the students interest in the issue but as well for the authors excitement about the topic and his enthusiasm to inform about Syria – a country whose role as a regional actor in the Middle East is often understated.
