Strategies for Peace and Security — Northern Linkages, Perspectives and Experiences
PAX Nordica 2009:
International academic conference at Umeå University 17-18 September,
Open symposium at Umeå Folkets hus 19 September.
Background
At first glance, the circumpolar territories seem remote from the core areas and processes in global development. Historically and on closer inspection, however, it is clear that all countries surrounding the Arctic Ocean have played significant roles in the development of their respective sub-continents. Despite its perceived remoteness and population scarcity, developments in the Arctic hemisphere have influenced political and economic processes globally since the advent of the modern era. More recently, the rise of ecological concerns in Europe and North America in conjunction with the accelerating global need to exploit natural resources have brought the complex and internationally unregulated status of the Arctic to the fore. How can a peaceful development in the Arctic and the Circumpolar North be established and sustained? 2009 highlights the importance of this part of Sweden's history, most especially in the context of the 200 year commemoration of the end of the Swedish-Russian War 1808-09.
Objective
The objective of the conference is primarily threefold:
- Initialise and start up new research projects or strenghten existing networks
- Contribute to research contacts across traditional subject boundaries
- Disseminate knowledge and provide opportunities for the general public, and staff and students at universities and colleges to take part in the most recent research on peace and security in the Nordic countries
Theme - Workshops
On the 17th and 18th of September 2009, the conference Strategies for Peace—Northern Linkages, Perspectives and Practices opens a forum for scientists and practitioners from various fields of knowledge related to circumpolar peace and security. Above all, humanists and social scientists are invited to partake in the various sessions and contribute with their specific expertise. Participants will be able to choose from a total of six workshops with main themes which cross over several interdisciplinary fields. Every workshop is headed by an individual who is responsible for leading the presentations and discussions:
• Circumpolar security: the return of the North?
• Peace crises: choices, strategies, and perspectives among the Nordic countries after 1809
• Conflict management, reconstruction and peacebuildning
• Russia and the Nordic countries: continuity or change?
• Homeland security: modern threats
• OSCE: Network conference Sweden–Finland: Preventing conflict - establishing peaceGeneral Schedule
Open for the general public, students and researchers
Umeå University, the City of Umeå, and the County of Västerbotten jointly support this invitation with a view to creative discussions with international participation as well as multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral networking about current and future strategies for peace and security. The event forms an independent part of the overall year of commemoration in Sweden in remembrance of the end of the Swedish-Russian War 1808-09. The conference takes place exactly 200 years after the peace treaty between Sweden and Russia was signed.
PAX Nordica
In connection with the conference the open symposium PAX Nordica takes place on September 19 in the city of Umeå. The event, at Umeå Folkets hus, will focus upon a set of internationally renowned public speakers and it will be open to the public. PAX Nordica is annual day of lectures featuring a significant number of themes connected with peace and security. Conference participants will be given the opportunity to attend. PAX Noridica 2009 is a collaboration between Umeå University, Umeå Municipality, Västerbotten County Council, the Regional Council of Västerbotten and the Swedish National Defence Society.
All presentations and discussions will be held in English or Swedish.
All presentations will be considered for publication of some kind after the conference.
For more information, contact:
Niklas Eklund, Dept. of Political Science
Phone: +46 (0)90-786 61 72
E-mail: niklas.eklund@pol.umu.se
Martin Hårdstedt, Department of Historical, Philosophical and Relgious Studies
Phone: +46 (0)90-786 71 49
E-mail: martin.hardstedt@historia.umu.se
