Identity formation, Masculinity and Humanitarianism - Discussing Research on Humanitarian Action
October 31st Pax et Bellum invited Tanaji Sen, Qi Cui and Christian Huber and of the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) programme to present and discuss their thesis at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies. All three of them had spent some time in the field to collect their data. These were certainly not the most common places: a refugee camp in Algeria, a Masaai village in Tanzania and an indigenous community in Colombia.
Tanaji Sen raised important questions about refugee identity. Who are you when you have never been in the place where you think you come from? His research showed how the identity of Saharawi children, whose parents come from the Western Sahara, is significantly shaped by living in the refugee camps on Algerian territory. Tanaji underlined that these children need to be included in the peace process, to address their feelings of frustration and isolation.
Qi Cui travelled to East Africa and discussed sensitive topics such as masculinity, sexuality and HIV/AIDS with young men. She found that this group was unjustly marginalized in HIV/AIDS policy. Men as well as women should be equally considered in gender based research and policy, since both are part of the solution. Perceptions of masculinity and sexuality need to be addressed in all layers of society.
Christian Huber conducted his fieldwork in the Colombian bushes, while doing research among members of the Misak indigenous community and Afro-Colombian community in the Cauca region. He was interested in how these cultures determined people’s perceptions of humanitarianism, and more specifically, how and why people supported victims of armed conflict.
Pax et Bellum wants to thank Tanaji, Qi and Christian for sharing their enlightening research findings with us and wishes them good luck with their future career!
Divided History - Turkish and Armenian perceptions of what happened in 1915
Since the first World War the Ottoman Empire (and its follow-up state Turkey) is accused for the Genocide on the Armenians during the war. While Armenians speak of over 1.000.000 victims of Ottoman atrocities, intended to extinguish the Armenian people, the position of Turkey is slightly different: less casualties, no intention to extinguish, just a relocation caused by the war.
Both sides pay a lot to bring the "true story" into the public with publications and documentaries. On September 8 and 10, Pax et Bellum presented two movies with following discussions on the movies "Ararat" (Armenian production) and "Sari Gelin" (Turkish production)
Career Day
In the end of May Pax et Bellum organised the first 'Career Day' for students of Peace and Conflict Studies and International Relations. Get in touch with possible future employers
Students could get in touch with possible future emploers and listen to personal experiences, good advice, and tips for your future career!
In addition students could bring their CV or Resume to become a critical feedback and advice how to formulate and design the self portrait in the most attractive way.
Speakers at the event were:
Åsa Blomquist, Recruitment Officer, Field Personnel, Swedish Red Cross; Professor Peter Wallensteen, Uppsala University; Uppsala Conflict Data Program staff; Hanne Martinek, PhD Candidate, Dept. of Government; Anna Widepalm, Program Officer, Conflict Prevention in Practice, Folke Bernadotte Academy; David Moheim, Strategic Analysis and International Relations Office, Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets Materielverk); Maria Wold-Troell, IT-Consultant who will give us a unique, practical and experienced spin on how to get a job in “the real world”
Others organisations present:
Save the Children, International Red Cross, and the International Women’s Institute for Peace and Freedom (Internationella Kvinnoförbundet för Fred och Frihet).
CV Advice for European and American formats was given by Andreas Jarblad, Jonathan Hall, Kristine Eck, Maria Wold-Troell.
Darfur-Dimensions and Dilemmas of a complex situation
an introduction by Professor Adam Azzain Mohamed and Johan Broshé
In late April 2008 UN officials had to admit that the death estimates of the five year long conflict in Darfur had to be increased by about 100,000. This development is just the latest act of the deadly play and illustrates once again the powerlessness of the international community to deal with the situation in the Darfur region.
In a general overview Johan Broshé from the Dept Peace and Conflict research will attempt to highlight the current situation in Sudan and Darfur and try to identify the roots of the current situation. Brosché will touch upon issues regarding actors, peacekeeping and negotiations.
In addition Professor Adam Azzain Mohamed from the University of Khartoum/Sudan, who is this year's Claude Ake Visiting Professor at the Dept of Peace and Conflict Research will give a deeper insight to the conflict. In an interview with the Nordic Africa Institute Azzain Mohamed said: ‘My theory is that Sudan is characterised by uneven development. The government of independent Sudan continued the policies of the British colonial rulers, leaving Darfur underdeveloped.'
See publications for background info.
The World after Iraq: New Challenges for the International System
in cooperation with Anna Lindh Minnesfond, Uppsala University and Utrikespolitiske Förening
On Friday the 25th of April more than 150 people came to hear a panel discussion on international leadership, responsibility and cooperation with Professor Samantha Power from Harvard University and visiting Professor Jan Eliasson, Uppsala University.
Lead by Professor Peter Wallensteen from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, the panel discussed what and how to learn from previous experiences, like the one's of UN representative of 34 years, Sergio Vieria de Mello, about putting human security before states' security and preventing genocide and mass violence in the 21st century. Samantha Power, author of the biography of Vieria de Mello ‘Chasing the Flame,’ stressed the necessity of global solutions for global problems like the one's in Iraq and Darfur, as well as seeing the UN as a global organization useful in such cases. An important point Jan Eliasson, who is currently negotiating as UN-Special Representative in the Darfur region, agreed upon in order to create the necessary support among the international community of today, and also elaborate the debate on the responsibility to protect the world's populations from ethnic cleansing, war crimes and mass violations of human rights. For further interesting information on these issues Pax et Bellum encourage everybody to read Samantha Power's new book ‘Chasing the flame’!
After the engaging discussion, Prof. Berit Hagekull, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science, invited to a reception in the historic halls of Uppsala University’s Mainbuilding, where everyone attending got the chance to get in touch with the discussants and discuss the issues further joining the hope for change, while enjoying a glass of traditionally served sherry.
Samantha Power holds the Anna Lind Chair of Practice of Global Leadership at the J.F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She has just published her new book Chasing the Flame (Penguin Press 2008) about the late Sergio Vieria de Mello, the UN Special Representative who died in the suicide attack against the UN building in Baghdad in 2003. Her previous work A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide was widely praised and won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction.
Jan Eliasson is a Visiting Professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University and the UN Special Envoy for Darfur, Sudan. His previous appointments include being Sweden’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1994-2001), Ambassador to the United States and to the United Nations, and Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs (2006). He was the President of the UN General Assembly 2005-06 and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs 1992-94. He is chairing the Anna Lindhs Minnesfond and Honorary member of Pax et Bellum. (Poster of the event)
Summary by Katja Christensen |
Photos by Florian Krampe
Rethinking reconciliation: Concepts, Methods and an Empirical Study of Truth Telling and Psychological Health in Rwanda
Public dissertation defence by Karen Brounéus
'The dissertation combines psychology with peace and conflict research in a cross-disciplinary approach to reconciliation processes after intrastate armed conflict. (...) The results of this study challange the claim that truth telling is healing, suggesting instead that there are risks for the individuals on whom truth-telling processes depend. (...) The results of the dissertation can be used to improve the study and the design of truth and reconciliation processes after civil war and genocide' (Summary on the back cover).
Visit to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Exclusivly for Pax et Bellum members the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) presented their work, in particular focussing on their research and methods. SIPRI publishes annually the SIPRI Yearbook on Armaments, Disarmament and International Security.
Conflict Resolution between NATO and United Nations - Panel discussion
in cooperation with the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation
On April 17, 2008 Katarina Engberg from the Swedish Ministry of Defence, Hans-Wulf Bartels from the German Embassy and Robert Silverman from the US Embassy discussed with Erik Noreen, Head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, and Pax et Bellum the dilemma NATO and UN as international Organisations are in.
What became visible in the post-cold war period is, that both organisations are trapped in what one could describe as a horizontal dilemma where two international organisations are captured between legitimacy on the one hand and efficacy on the other. The United Nations acting too slow and weak but are still the only legitimate international actor. On the other hand NATO acts much more efficient but what legitimacy does a military alliance really have in a post-cold war world and as a peacemaker?
After their introductory statements the discussants quickly came to a more or less unanimously conclusion that both organisations must cooperate in the future to act strong and in the best case preventive. Thus they concluded comparably to Madeleine Albright’s statement from 1996, by then US permanent representative to the United Nations: “In responding to crises, then, both the UN and NATO can contribute much, but neither is without its limitations. When an emergency has many dimension - and most today do - a division of labour will be required.”
Beside this optimistic strategy in overcoming the dilemma through cooperation the discussant responded very open on the problems that erupt in the context of the concept ‘Responsibility to Protect’ that was adopted by the World Summit in 2005, and the double standard in today’s intervention policy. Interests of course drive states to intervene actively in conflicts today. As Mr Silverman visualized it, there are no ‘free-givers’, thus intervening parties want and need to get something back in response to the intervention. Although these answers left the questions open for ‘responsibility’ in conflict regions that have nothing to ‘give back’ the sincerity of all three discussants on this topic is noteworthy.
Before and after the discussion participants had the chance to get free publications presented by the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation who co-organised the event. The Foundation plays an important role in the identification of new issues and the formulation of new concepts, policy proposals, strategies and work plans towards solutions and so keeping the legacy of Dag Hammarskjöld alive (www.dhf.uu.se) (Poster of the event).
Summary by Florian Krampe
Kosovo and the Balkans: Regional Implications and Challenge
Tomislav Dulic, Researcher at the Uppsala Programme for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, gave a very up-to-date and detailed lecture concerning the historical process of the Balkans’ region in its relation to the recent declaration of independence of Kosovo.
He summarized how Kosovo has noright to secession from Serbia when looking at it from the legal perspective with respect to national sovereignty and international law. Furthermore, Dulic spoke about the regional risks and implications as well as nations’ underlying interests for recognizing the state of Kosovo or not: spheres-of-influence and power politics, and oil pipelines. With focusing on problems and prospects for the future, Dulic wrapped up for example a largely young population, extreme unemployment, a thriving black market economy but a weak official economy. Dulic was very knowledgeable and interesting—clearly an expert on the issue.
About 35 students and researchers attended the lecture and joined in a lively discussion afterwards, which was thought-inspiring and motivating. We were very happy to see the participants interest and hope to get such a turn-out for upcoming events.
Summary by Sandra Johansson
Challenges and perspectives for Conflict Resolution in 2008
On 12th March at 17h, Peter Wallensteen, Honorary Member of Pax et Bellum and Dag Hammarskjöld Professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University presented in his lecture a special perspective on Conflict Resolution for the year 2008.
Watching at the latest devlopment Wallensteen presented major paterns that will be the challenges for conflict resolution actors in 2008. That are Electoral Violence, increasing prices, the spreading of conflicts and climate change.
Darwin’s Nightmare - Film and discussion
After the members meeting members stayed together to watch the documentary Darwin's Nightmare. The film by Hubert Sauper recounts a tale about North and South, globalization, and fish. A booming multinational industry of fish and weapons has created an ungodly globalized alliance on the shores of the world’s biggest tropical lake, Lake Victoria, where an odd combination of an army of local fishermen, World bank agents, homeless children, African ministers, EU-commissioners, Tanzanian prostitutes and Russian pilots all meet.
Member Meeting
On the first member meeting in 2008 the members agreed on changes of the statutes of Pax et Bellum. The new version of the statutes is published in the 'about us' section of this webpage. Furthermore, the suggestions of honorary members was discussed and improvments in the conducting of events.
Burma: Struggle for freedom - Presentation and workshop on Burma
In cooperation with the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Pax et Bellum offered a presentation and open discussion on the Burmese struggle for freedom on Wednesday, December 12th, 18:30h at the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (Övre Slottsgatan 2, www.dhf.uu.se).
The lecturer, who just came back from a one month stay in Thailand, close to the Burmese boarder, inform the participants about the development in Burma over the last month and especially how the current situation in Burma is.
After the presentation, participants and lecturer discussed the topic with a focus on the role and possibilities of student leaders in national transition processes, from initialising change till making it durable. Furthermore, how students and citizens can get involved in supporting other students and citizens, especially in Burma, in their struggle for freedom.
At the end of the meeting the participants expressed their wish to work more and deeper on the topic of Burma's struggle for freedom and decided to found an informal group that will meet ones a month to discuss possible events and actions that can be taken from Uppsala to support the students and citizens in Burma.
Movie presentation: Pax et Bellum and Why democracy? invited to have “Dinner with the President”
About 25 students joined the movie presentation from Pax et Bellum and Why democracy on November, 26th at the Department for Peace and Conflict Research.
The documentary film shown was done by an Indian female filmmaker and shows the different perceptions and angles of democracy in different corners and levels of society in Pakistan. The main issue of making the film was to show the views and perspective of the President of Pakistan, General Musharaf, who came to power by a military coup and claims Pakistan to be democratic and moving through a transformation of empowerment of the people and development of the country. Other perspectives on democracy in Pakistan were presented by the poor farmers and truck drivers, the religious tribe leaders and the modern rich youth and intellectuals of the country.
The following debate of the participants started out with the big question of whether a dictator can bring democracy to Pakistan? And if so, how? And what are the opsticals? The influences of religion, development, grass-rotes and education of the people lead the discussion towards the issue of different views of democracy and democratization around the world and the participants of the discussion.
For 2008 Pax et Bellum and Why democracy? will organise another movie presentation, the topic then will be Terrorism and Democracy. Information will be posted on our homepage and in our newsletter soon.
Group picture for Burma
About 70 students and citizens supported our Petition for Burma by joining the group picture in front of the University main building.
Petition || Flyer || Pictures
Visit to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) in Stockholm
'Claude Ake lecture' by Dr. Charles Villa-Vicencio
Where the Old and New meet: Transitional Justice and Traditional Reconciliation Practices in Africa.
Events academic year 2006/2007
Seminar: Turkish Foreign Policy
2007-02-23 (Uppsala, Sweden)
Special Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, Mr. Cemal Erbay, presented a lecture on current developments in Turkish foreign policy, with a special focus on the EU.
Meeting at U.S. Embassy in Stockholm
2007-03-23 (Stockholm, Sweden)
Pax Et Bellum members met with U.S. diplomats, including Ambassador Michael M. Wood. The discussion centred on U.S. foreign policy, and was highlighted by Ambassador Wood’s keynote address on alternative energy and climate change.
Uppsala Model United Nations (UMUN)
2007-03-02 (Uppsala, Sweden)
Pax Et Bellum, in conjunction with the Uppsala Association of International Affairs, and the Uppsala UN Student Organization, co-organized the first Uppsala University Model UN. (http://www.umun.se/)
Workshop: European Court of Human Rights
2007-04-03 (Uppsala, Sweden)
This workshop, led by Dr. Anna Jonsson, dealt with the European Court of Human Rights, with a particular emphasis on the Chechen trials against the Russian state.
Workshop: What is Genocide?
2007-04-18 (Uppsala, Sweden)
Led by Dr. Mark Klamberg from Stockholm University, this workshop aimed to broaden the audience’s knowledge on genocide. Dr. Klamberg addressed the role of the UN Convention on Genocide, the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.