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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210726T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210803T170000
DTSTAMP:20211008T140709Z
CREATED:20210913T193637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211008T140709Z
UID:10000764-1627286400-1628010000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Myanmar (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 26\, 28 July\, and 2 August 2021\, CPPF held an expert brainstorming series for the UN on the deepening crisis in Myanmar. The three workshops brought together scholars\, civil society leaders\, and UN officials to discuss national\, regional\, and geopolitical dynamics and explore policy options for the international community.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/myanmar-vtc/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210728
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210729
DTSTAMP:20211008T140619Z
CREATED:20210913T193956Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211008T140619Z
UID:10000765-1627430400-1627516799@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Brown Bag Meeting on the Search for Common Ground Pastoralism Toolkit (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 29 July 2021\, CPPF convened a CPPF Brown Bag Meeting on the Search for Common Ground Pastoralism Toolkit. This meeting was convened to help Search for Common Ground share the results from its recent “Pastoralism and Conflict: Tools for Prevention and Response in the Sudano-Sahel” publication with relevant bodies in the UN system.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/brown-bag-meeting-on-the-search-for-common-ground-pastoralism-toolkit-vtc/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210729
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210730
DTSTAMP:20210913T172916Z
CREATED:20210913T172916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210913T172916Z
UID:10000748-1627516800-1627603199@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Climate Change\, Peace and Security in Central Africa (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 28 July 2021\, CPPF convened a workshop titled “Climate Change\, Peace and Security in Central Africa.” The workshop aimed to strengthen a shared understanding of climate-related peace and security risks in the sub-region and promote collaboration among relevant stakeholders in support of a new Climate\, Peace and Security project led by the UN Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/climate-change-peace-and-security-in-central-africa-vtc/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210908
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210910
DTSTAMP:20210913T180349Z
CREATED:20210908T040000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210913T180349Z
UID:10000721-1631059200-1631231999@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Climate Change\, Peace\, and Security in the MENA Region (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nOn 8-9 September 2021\, at the request of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs\, CPPF convened an expert brainstorming on climate change\, peace\, and security in the MENA region. The two-day workshop aimed to supplement an ongoing UN initiative to create an interagency task force on climate change\, peace\, and security in the region.\n\n\n 
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/climate-change-peace-and-security-in-the-mena-region-vtc/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210914T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210914T170000
DTSTAMP:20210924T165138Z
CREATED:20210914T120000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210924T165138Z
UID:10000677-1631606400-1631638800@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:2020 SSRC Fellow Lecture
DESCRIPTION:Aihwa Ong\nProfessor of Anthropology\, University of California\, Berkeley\nSpeaks on: \nNear-Humans\, Cloned Monkeys\, & CRISPR Babies: Productive Uncertainty in China’s Quest for Biosecurity\n  \n \nWith responses by: \nDuana Fullwiley\nAssociate Professor of Anthropology\, Stanford University \nGuobin Yang\nGrace Lee Boggs Professor of Communications & Sociology\, University of Pennsylvania \nWednesday\, September 23\, 2020 – 4:00 PM (ET) \nWatch the Lecture \n  \nAbout the Lecture\nAnthropological inquiry enhances STS (Science\, Technology\, and Society Studies) by analyzing the diversity of contexts and perspectives that participate in contemporary knowledge-making processes. The focal point for the discipline concerns how values and beliefs about being human mutate and what modes of living and forms of life modernity subsequently puts at stake. Reflexive ethnographic research illuminates how specific cases and contingent circumstances connect to big questions and situated practices contribute to globalized change. Ong’s approach has always been poised at the intersections of particularity and globality\, difference and interconnectivity\, human and non-human\, and stability and uncertainty. \nSuch a vantage point analyzes how Asia’s emerging biomedical sites productively engage and transform contemporary science through a process of de- and re-contextualization\, thus making it cosmopolitan. \nAbout Aihwa Ong\nAihwa Ong is professor of anthropology at the University of California\, Berkeley. She is a member of the Science Council of the International Panel on Social Progress. \nOng has published on a range of topics including the anthropology of labor\, governance\, sovereignty\, cities\, citizenship\, life sciences\, and experimental art in the Asia-Pacific. She has lectured internationally and been invited to the World Economic Forum. Her awards include grants from the MacArthur Foundation and the National Science Foundation\, and some book prizes. \nOng is the author of five works: Fungible Life: Experiment in the Asian City of Life (2016); Neoliberalism as Exception: Mutations in Citizenship and Sovereignty (2006); Buddha Is Hiding: Refugees\, Citizenship\, the New America (2003); Flexible Citizenship: The Cultural Logics of Transnationality (1999); and Spirits of Resistance and Capitalist Discipline: Factory Women in Malaysia (1986). She is also the coeditor of Global Assemblages: Technology\, Politics and Ethics as Anthropological Problems (2005\, with Stephen J. Collier). Other coedited works include Worlding Cities: Asian Experiments and the Art of Being Global (2011); Asian Biotech: Ethics and Communities of Fate (2010); Privatizing China: Socialism from Afar (2008); and Ungrounded Empires: The Cultural Politics of Modern Chinese Transnationalism (1997). Her writings are translated into European and Asian languages.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2020-ssrc-fellow-lecture/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210921T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210922T170000
DTSTAMP:20241213T152858Z
CREATED:20211028T133729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T152858Z
UID:10000789-1632211200-1632330000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Webinar on Conflict and Peacebuilding in Mozambique
DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN)\, in collaboration with the African Leadership Center (ALC) of Kings College London\, and Wilton Park held a virtual two-day webinar on “Conflict and Peacebuilding in Mozambique\,” from September 21 to 22\, 2021. The webinar was the latest in a “Peacebuilding in Africa series” launched in 2015 aimed towards ‘moving peacebuilding beyond state and elite-centered approaches to encompass the wider communities involved in conflict\, including youth and women’s networks on the continent.’ Participants included high-level practitioners\, scholars\, activists\, and staff and fellows of the African Leadership Centre (ALC)\, African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Science in Africa (NextGen) programs of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC). \nThe webinar commenced with an introduction and welcome remarks by Robert Grant\, program director at Wilton Park\, followed by a Town Hall discussion on “The future of Mozambique.” The panel of speakers included Adriano Nuvunga and Constancio Machanguana\, both of Eduardo Mondlane University\, Maputo\, Mozambique and Ambassador Welile Nhlapo of African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)\, South Africa. The panel was moderated by Funmi Olonisakin\, the Vice President (International) of Kings College\, London. The presenters spoke to the fragile peace in Mozambique\, noting the ways in which elite-centric extractivism and global trade in natural resources are undermining governance\, peace and development in the country. Other identified challenges included  the unfinished business of Security Sector Reforms (SSR)\, disputed election outcomes\, marginalization of certain regions of the country to the point of the near absence of state authority and development\, aid dependency and the effects of climate change. During the discussions that followed\, participants noted the issue of a lost historical opportunity to rebuild the country after the Rome Agreement of 1992\, the lost connection between the ruling FRELIMO ruling party and its social base after independence\, corruption and the need for more transparent and accountable governance. Of note were discussions around the activities of extremist groups in Cabo Delgado province and the terms of engagement of international peacekeepers from the South African Development Community (SADC) and Rwanda. \nThe second day was a closed session that afforded presenters a greater opportunity to delve deeper into some of the issues discussed the previous day. The webinar commenced with opening remarks by Robert Grant\, program director at Wilton Park\, Cyril Obi\, program director of SSRC’s APN and Shuvai Nyoni\, executive director of the ALC. Their remarks were followed by a session on “Identity and Statehood\,” followed by breakout sessions on\, “Strengthening the role of next generation peacebuilding actors.” The breakout sessions were divided along the lines of the following sub-themes: Mozambique corridors: regional dynamics; Gender and reconciliation; Future Governance; and Intergenerational contestations. The speakers at the session on identity and statehood were Joao Honwana\, a retired UN official and consultant and Brian Kagoro\, director of the  Africa Regional Office of the Open Society Foundation (OSF). They described how the Mozambican state exists in conjunction with multiple identities that did not exist in harmony. It was noted that the ruling FRELIMO party and the ruling elite have yet to build national unity and some hope was expressed that a new elite would emerge to bridge the division between the haves and have-nots and embark on a new national conversation that would move the country towards social transformation. It was argued that the local context “should be read transnationally” and solutions must be approached from the local\, regional and global levels. \nDiscussions focused on the local challenges: regional disparities\, widespread poverty\, youth unemployment\, marginalization of women\, fragile peace agreements\, and regional challenges — including the relatively poor response of the SADC — particularly its penchant for state-centric elitist responses and weak peace and security architecture. At the global level\, the extractive nature of big business was noted alongside aid dependency and the activities of transnational criminal networks and extremist groups. Emphasis was placed on paying attention to the role of non-state approaches to peacebuilding\, including the role of civil society in engaging the state and big business\, the need for psychological support to marginalized and traumatized groups. The need for additional research\, education\, youth and women’s empowerment and devolution of power to local communities\, including a role for traditional leaders\, were also emphasized. \nIn the closing and wrap up session\, Monde Muyangwa of the Wilton Center\, provided a succinct summary of the discussions over the two days\, pointing to the shortcomings of the Mozambican state as well as a global power structure that had fallen short of protecting African people. She also underscored the centrality of inclusive governance as a key ingredient for transforming peacebuilding in Africa\, noting that the “people are the owners of peace.” She then explored the possibilities for building networks of solidarity and emphasized the need to “re-envision the state in Africa” in ways that would make the state serve the ordinary people—and help build inclusive and sustainable peace and development.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/webinar-on-conflict-and-peacebuilding-in-mozambique/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210928T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210930T170000
DTSTAMP:20241213T152850Z
CREATED:20211028T134230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T152850Z
UID:10000788-1632816000-1633021200@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:APN and Next Gen 2021 Virtual Fellows Research Methods Workshop
DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (Next Gen) programs held their joint virtual fellows Research Methods Workshop from September 28-30\, 2021. The workshop featured activities ranging from keynote lectures by leading scholars\, cohort/thematic workshop and one-on-one mentoring sessions\, and a joint fellows discussion panel. The opening address at the workshop was given by Cyril Obi\, the program director of the APN and Next Gen programs\, followed by welcome remarks by Ron Kassimir\, the SSRC’s Vice President of Programs\, and an introduction of fellows and facilitators by Duncan Omanga\, the program officer of the APN and Next Gen. \nThis was followed by a keynote presentation by Prof. Sabelo Ndlovu-Gasheni\, on “The Contemporary Politics of Knowledge and Agenda of Decolonization in the 21st Century.” The presentation pointed to the need to theorize methodology in relation to how knowledge frames reality\, particularly how it can be instrumentalized to control the mind of the colonized. To overcome such control and the ‘coloniality of power\,’ would require unpacking knowledge production in ‘an age of epistemological turbulence\,’ ‘rethinking\, rethinking itself\,’ and decolonizing methodologies of knowledge production in an era characterized by four methods of subjecting the human mind to the cognitive empire These were identified as at the structural\, epistemic\, relational and personal levels. In conclusion\, Prof. Ndlovu-Gasheni explored options for addressing cognitive injustices and decolonizing knowledge production\, ranging from epistemic disobedience and learning to take ourselves seriously as knowers\, by being strategic and clever. The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session\, which offered further clarifications and advice to fellows. The keynote session was followed by the cohort and thematic sessions during which fellows engaged with each other and their facilitators on various aspects of their research projects and dissertations. \n  \nThe second day of the workshop commenced with another keynote presentation by Prof. Ismail Rashid  on\, “Navigating Elements of Complexity\, Reflexivity\, and Flexibility: Reflections on Research Ethics During Global Pandemics.” The presentation explored the disruptive impact of pandemics on everyday life\, zeroing in on field research methods\, particularly in relation to travels\, social interactions\, and transnational research collaborations. Using Ebola and Covid-19 as examples\, Prof Ismail explained how the pandemics exposed social inequities\, forced us to reflect on hierarchies and prejudices\, and to be critically reflective of what it means to be African and how to be an ethical researcher. Prof. Ismail urged researchers to stop and think about the ethical issues related to the pandemic\, including the feasibility of starting new research projects. Some of the proposed options to address challenges emerging from conducting research during pandemics included project cancellation or postponement modifying or changing topics\, and  tweaking the duration of such projects. Other topics covered included educating field assistants and respondents on relevant national health protocols and guidelines\, increasing the level of attentiveness\, and exploring the feasibility and accessibility of using digital tools and platforms. He cautioned against taking shortcuts and advised participants to take research ethics seriously\, particularly in terms of doing no harm: having sensitivity\, solidarity and compassion. The question and answer session explored issues related to research ethics\, epistemology\, knowledge production and the costs and benefits of digital research tools and methodologies. The keynote session was followed by the cohort and thematic sessions during which fellows engaged with each other and their facilitators on various aspects of their research projects and dissertations. \nCohort\, thematic and one-on-one sessions of  fellows and mentors continued on the third day of the workshop. These were followed by the joint APN and Next Gen fellows’ discussion panel on “Doing Research in the Context of a Pandemic: Planning\, Reducing Risk and Ensuring Validity.” The panelists spoke to the ways the Covid-19 pandemic affected their research plans\, and how they addressed the challenges posed by travel restrictions  research budget cuts and data collection. Some spoke to specific types of research that did not lend themselves to the use of digital research methods\, and how this impacted timelines\, research completion rates and decisions to cut down of the scope of their research. In her discussion of the various presentations\, Prof. Eunice Camara emphasized the importance of research principles based on adaptability\, sensitivity to contexts\, safety\, as well as the significance of using technologies in overcoming challenges related to data shaped by the context of the pandemic. She also spoke to options for navigating issues of validity and the ethical considerations surrounding these. Her presentation was followed by robust discussions by fellows\, who  drew  from their personal experiences in the field\, detailing the  challenges they faced and how these were resolved. \nIn the closing session\, APN and Next Gen fellows presented feedback on the various sessions of the workshops\, sharing their key takeaways as well as experiences working with peers and experienced mentors. They all agreed that the workshop had been a life-changing experience\, helping them to refine their project proposals and research designs\, and inspiring them to expand the frontiers of their research. This was followed by closing remarks by Duncan Omanga and Cyril Obi who expressed their profound thanks to the fellows and facilitators for contributing to the overall success of the workshop.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/apn-and-next-gen-2021-virtual-fellows-research-methods-workshop/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20211004
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20211005
DTSTAMP:20210930T160701Z
CREATED:20211004T040000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210930T160701Z
UID:10000775-1633305600-1633391999@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:2021 College and University Fund for the Social Sciences Conference
DESCRIPTION:Social Science Reckonings\n  \nOn October 4\, 2021\, the Social Science Research Council will convene the institutions of the College and University Fund for the Social Sciences for a virtual conference centered on the theme of “Social Science Reckonings.” \nIn the past year\, the social sciences have been extraordinarily active in furthering understanding of the multiple upheavals we have all experienced – a pandemic\, a US electoral crisis\, and a racial reckoning sparked by police violence but with deep historical and structural roots. At the same time\, the historical and structural roots of racism and exclusion within the social sciences (and elsewhere in the academy) are now foregrounded in ways that call for recognition and action. This conference will be a forum to openly and critically discuss and debate the need for reckonings in social science\, and to investigate paths forward for making the social sciences more inclusive. \nConference Program\nWelcome and Opening Remarks\nAnna Harvey\, SSRC President \nPanel Conversation: Reckoning with the Canon\nDarrick Hamilton\nThe New School for Social Research \nShose Kessi\nUniversity of Cape Town \nAldon Morris\nNorthwestern University \nPanel Conversation: Reckoning with Research Methods and Ethics\nJill A. Fisher\nThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill \nFarhana Sultana\nSyracuse University \nDeborah Thomas\nUniversity of Pennsylvania \nPanel Conversation: Reckoning with Institutional Practices and Incentive Structure\nRyan Cecil Jobson\nUniversity of Chicago \nChristopher P. Long\nMichigan State University \nKimberly Mealy\nAmerican Political Science Association \nNext Steps\nAnna Harvey\, SSRC President \nThe conference agenda was developed in coordination with the 2021 conference planning committee: \nEd Balleisen – Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies\nDuke University \nBill Maurer – Dean\, School of Social Sciences\nUniversity of California\, Irvine \nMelissa Nobles – Chancellor\nMassachusetts Institute of Technology \nRaka Ray – Dean\, Social Sciences Division\nUniversity of California\, Berkeley \nAmanda Woodward – Dean of the Division of the Social Sciences\nUniversity of Chicago \nHeld every other year\, the College and University Fund Conference provides a rare opportunity for academic leaders to devote a full day to collectively considering shared opportunities and challenges facing the social sciences and related fields. The 2019 conference focused on the present and future of transregional and global research. Highlights and recommendations from the 2019 event are available here. \nFor more information about the College and University Fund for the Social Sciences Conference\, please contact us at CUF@ssrc.org.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2021-college-and-university-fund-for-the-social-sciences-conference/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211014T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211014T130000
DTSTAMP:20241213T152845Z
CREATED:20211014T150000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T152845Z
UID:10000784-1634209200-1634216400@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Book Launch of When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudan
DESCRIPTION:The virtual book launch commenced with brief introductions of the author of When Peace Kills Politics\, Sharath Srinivasan\, and discussant\, Devon Curtis\, by the program director of the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa programs\, Cyril Obi. Sharath Srinivasan provided an overview of the book against the background of the theories\, history\, and practices of peacemaking in Sudan. He examined the roles of various national\, regional\, and continental actors such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)\, the African Union (AU)\, and the United Nations (UN)\, focusing on how international interventions have fed into violence. Noting the messy nature of peacemaking\, the author analyzed how such interventions have undervalued and undermined non-violent political action. The author drew on Hannah Arendt’s thoughts on political action to explain the relationship between politics and violence\, including how international solutions and models get caught up in local politics with rather violent consequences. He also interrogated the assumption that it is possible for all political actors to come together equally without some form of domination or cooptation coming into play\, deepening existing contradictions and crises. \nNoting that the book addresses the ineffectiveness of actions by outsiders in terms of institutional fixes aimed at advancing peace in the conflict-affected (North-South) Sudans\, Sharath observed that such depoliticized approaches to peacemaking risk and kill the political dimensions of civil war\, thereby complicating the nature of conflict with rather tragic consequences for peacebuilding. He also raised concerns that the means had overrun the ends\, resulting in a paradox of peace—achieving its exact opposite by fostering authoritarianism and conflict in the Sudans. In examining the dialectics of peacemaking\, he argued against simplifying the war as a North-South conflict\, urging instead that more attention be directed at the ways peacemaking in the Sudan has prioritized edifice-building over political action. \nIn her discussion of the issues raised during the overview\, Devon Curtis drew attention to the structural factors and idealism that shape and constrict the space for civil and political action\, resulting in the legitimization of violence for political purposes by contending interests. Some of the issues raised during the question-and-answer session that followed ranged from what research methods to adopt in war zones\, how to access local gatekeepers\, and the nature of the contending local forces and the State in the Sudan. Others included the possibility of having peace without politics\, the nature of conflict and international peacemaking\, and where attention should be directed in understanding the politics of peacemaking in the Sudan. The importance of critiquing the dominant peacemaking project was noted alongside the possibilities that need to be explored. The event provided an opportunity for the author and participants to exchange views on a rather innovative book that opens the door to a critical perspective on international peacemaking in Africa\, drawing on the case of the Sudans.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/virtual-book-launch-of-when-peace-kills-politics-international-intervention-and-unending-wars-in-the-sudan/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211022T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211022T100000
DTSTAMP:20241213T152841Z
CREATED:20211022T120000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T152841Z
UID:10000790-1634889600-1634896800@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Book Launch of Media\, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Africa: Conceptual and Empirical Considerations
DESCRIPTION:The virtual launch commenced with a brief introduction of the book\, Media\, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Africa\, the co-editors\, and reviewers by the program director of the Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa programs\, Cyril Obi.  Professor Karoi Mbugua—chairman of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies\, University of Nairobi—and the representative of Dr. Pilisano Masake—dean of Human Sciences\, Namibia University of Science and Technology—also provided remarks. The co-editors Jacinta Maweu and Admire Mare provided an overview of the book and some of the contributors spoke on their chapters. \nMare provided a concise description of the book’s Africa-centered approach to peace journalism as a modality for giving voice to the poor\, the marginalized\, and politically disenfranchised people in Africa. Maweu elaborated on how the book goes beyond the usual narrative of conflict by speaking to the nexus between media and peacebuilding. She also explained how the book explores the structural and cultural underpinnings of conflict and peacebuilding by using media as its lens. Yiva Rodny-Gumede spoke to her coauthored chapter with Colin Chasi\, underscoring the importance of African notions of harmony and applying the decolonization of scholarship to peace journalism. Noting that peace is not a neutral concept\, Phillip Santos\, whose contribution adopted a human rights approach to journalism\, discussed the importance of challenging the Western canon in a context where it continues to disempower the media and its mediatory or peacebuilding role. In his contribution\, Fredrick Ogenga pointed to the important role of African values such as Umoja\, Utu\, Ubuntu\, and Harambee in African peace journalism\, calling for a form of intellectual democracy in projecting Southern Voices on peace in ways that transcend the polarization of ideas\, borders\, and practices. \nIn the question-and-answer session and discussions that followed\, the importance of adopting a position that acknowledges and recognizes Africa’s unique context and the importance of avoiding polarization was emphasized. It was broadly agreed that the key issue was to focus on a shared human identity. Other issues discussed included how journalism can contribute to peace in different contexts and circumstances. The discussion also included the relevance of factors like place of conflict\, poverty\, values\, identity\, culture\, and ethos in relation to the practice of peace journalism. There was an emphasis of the need to recognize the heterogeneity of the media\, the role and influence of social media\, and the growing role of citizen-journalists. It was also noted that journalism would need to go beyond reporting on direct/physical violence to include cultural violence\, focus on the media-mediation process\, and unpack issues around the concept of ethos. The event closed on a positive note that underscored the important contribution of the book to the development of African peace journalism and its connection to the notions and practices of African peacebuilding.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/virtual-book-launch-of-media-conflict-and-peacebuilding-in-africa-conceptual-and-empirical-considerations/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211028T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211028T140000
DTSTAMP:20211103T130709Z
CREATED:20211028T170000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211103T130709Z
UID:10000785-1635426000-1635429600@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:SSRC/NEH Sustaining Humanities Infrastructure Program (SHIP) Grant Informational Webinar
DESCRIPTION:On October 28 at 1 p.m. ET\, join the SSRC for an informational webinar that will cover the NEH/SHIP Sustaining Humanities Infrastructure Program application process\, eligibility criteria\, and will end with a 10 minute Q&A segment.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/neh-ssrc-sustaining-humanities-infrastructure-program-ship-grant-informational-webinar/
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LOCATION:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcOs4b2jcQ
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211028T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211028T170000
DTSTAMP:20250213T195323Z
CREATED:20211021T173025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250213T195323Z
UID:10000787-1635436800-1635440400@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Arts Research with Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship Public Information Session
DESCRIPTION:Please join the SSRC for a public information session answering your questions on the new Arts Research with Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship\, supporting year-long\, qualitative studies of arts organizations of color. \nThe first information session is scheduled for Thursday\, October 28 at 4 p.m. ET. An additional public information session will be offered on Tuesday\, November 9 at 4 p.m. ET.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/arts-research-with-communities-of-color-arcc-fellowship-public-information-session/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211103T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211103T123000
DTSTAMP:20220921T174756Z
CREATED:20211103T150000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220921T174756Z
UID:10000792-1635937200-1635942600@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:2021 SSRC Fellow Lecture: Pratap Bhanu Mehta
DESCRIPTION:Pratap Bhanu Mehta\nLaurence S. Rockefeller Professor for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton University\nSpeaks on: \nUniversities and Intellectual Life in The Age of Populism\nWednesday\, November 3\, 2021 \n11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (ET) \nfollowed by an informal conversation with \nIra Katznelson\nFormer SSRC President\nRuggles Professor of Political Science and History\, Columbia University  \nAnna Harvey\nSSRC President\nProfessor of Politics and Director\, Public Safety Lab\, New York University \n  \nEvent Recording\n \n\nAbout the Lecture\nAcross the world\, from Hungary to India\, United States to Brazil\, universities are increasingly becoming sites for battles over populism. Although the contexts vary\, the tropes deployed by populists in their engagement with the university are uncannily similar. Most of the discussion focuses on the institutional implications of populist politics for universities: regulation of syllabi\, codes governing free speech\, funding decisions\, erosion of autonomy of the university\, and a general attack on expertise and elitism. By the same token\, universities are often thought to relate to populism not as communities of scholars pursuing a vocation\, but rather as a privileged group defending its privileges. How did the university come to be a site of populist contestation? This lecture will place the populist interest in universities in the broader context of the relationship between universities and nationalism in the twentieth century. It will offer some comparative reflections on the phenomenon\, and argue that universities will have to confront some deeper contradictions if they are to overcome the challenge of populism. \nAbout Pratap Bhanu Mehta\nPratap Bhanu Mehta is Laurence S. Rockefeller Professor for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton University. He was previously vice-chancellor of Ashoka University and president of the Center for Policy Research\, Delhi. He has been a professor at Harvard University\, Jawaharlal Nehru University\, and the Global Faculty Program at the New York University School of Law. Dr. Mehta has published widely in political theory\, constitutional law\, governance and political economy\, international affairs\, and on society and politics in India. \nHis most recent publications include The Oxford Handbook to the Indian Constitution (co-edited with Madhav Khosla and Sujit Choudhary)\, Rethinking Public Institutions in India (with Devesh Kapur and Milan Vaishnav)\, Non-Alignment 2.0 (with Srinath Raghavan\, Sunil Khilnani\, et al.)\, The Oxford Companion to Politics in India (with Niraja Jayal)\, Shaping the Emerging World: India and the Multilateral Order (with Bruce Jones and W.P.S. Sidhu)\, and The Burden of Democracy. \nDr. Mehta has also served in a number of policy roles in India\, including as a member convenor of the Prime Minister of India’s National Knowledge Commission\, member of the National Security Advisory Board\, and member of the Lyngdoh Committee. He chairs the jury for the Holberg Prize. \nDr. Mehta has engaged prolifically in public affairs. He is an editorial consultant to Indian Express\, where he writes a regular column. In addition\, he has written for the Financial Times and a number of leading national and international publications. He is on the editorial board of the American Political Science Review and Journal of Democracy. \nDr. Mehta holds a BA (first class) in Philosophy\, Politics\, and Economics from Oxford and a PhD in politics from Princeton. He received the 2010 Malcolm S. Adiseshiah Award and the 2011 Infosys Prize for Social Sciences–Political Science.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/2021-ssrc-fellow-lecture/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211109T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211109T170000
DTSTAMP:20250213T195202Z
CREATED:20211029T133048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250213T195202Z
UID:10000791-1636473600-1636477200@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Arts Research with Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship Public Information Session 2
DESCRIPTION:The SSRC is proud to host a public information session answering your questions about the new Arts Research with Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship\, supporting year-long\, qualitative studies of arts organizations of color funded by the Wallace Foundation. \nThe upcoming public information session is scheduled for Tuesday\, November 9 at 4 p.m. ET. The session will cover details on application guidelines\, eligibility requirements\, and answer any questions that participants may have. Register here.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/arts-research-with-communities-of-color-arcc-fellowship-public-information-session-2/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211119T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211119T100000
DTSTAMP:20211119T170142Z
CREATED:20211119T170104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211119T170142Z
UID:10000797-1637308800-1637316000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Expert Brainstorming on Somalia (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 19 November 2021\, CPPF convened an expert briefing on Somalia with Amb. James Swan\, the UN Secretary-General’s Representative in Somalia.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/expert-brainstorming-on-somalia-vtc/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211122T073000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211122T104500
DTSTAMP:20211122T153143Z
CREATED:20211122T153143Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211122T153143Z
UID:10000798-1637566200-1637577900@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Workshop on International Community Engagement and Support to the P-DDRCS (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 22 November 2021\, CPPF held a preparatory workshop to unpack definitions and generate a shared understanding amongst the international community in DRC of ‘community-based’ approaches to DDR\, reintegration\, CVR\, and stabilization\, based on evidence and lesson learned.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/workshop-on-international-community-engagement-and-support-to-the-p-ddrcs-vtc/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211130T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211130T170000
DTSTAMP:20250213T195148Z
CREATED:20211119T162022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250213T195148Z
UID:10000796-1638288000-1638291600@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Arts Research with Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship Public Information Session 3
DESCRIPTION:The SSRC is proud to host a public information session answering your questions about the new Arts Research with Communities of Color (ARCC) Fellowship\, supporting year-long\, qualitative studies of arts organizations of color funded by the Wallace Foundation. \nThe upcoming public information session is scheduled for Tuesday\, November 30 at 4 p.m. ET. The session will cover details on application guidelines\, eligibility requirements\, and answer any questions that participants may have. Register here.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/arts-research-with-communities-of-color-arcc-fellowship-public-information-session-3/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211201T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211201T163000
DTSTAMP:20211109T165215Z
CREATED:20211109T155152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211109T165215Z
UID:10000793-1638370800-1638376200@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Just Tech Fellowship Public Information Session 1
DESCRIPTION:The SSRC’s Just Tech program is proud to host a public information session answering your questions about the new Just Tech Fellowship\, a two-year\, full-time\, $100\,000 per year (plus supplementary funding) remote fellowship supporting a diverse community of researchers and practitioners investigating the intersection of technology and social justice. \nThe upcoming public information session is scheduled for Monday\, December 1\, 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET. The session will cover details on application guidelines\, eligibility requirements\, and answer any questions that participants may have. Register here. \nThe Just Tech program is funded by a broad range of philanthropic foundations committed to cultivating critical work on the intersection of technology and social justice\, including the Ford Foundation\, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation\, the Surdna Foundation\, and Democracy Fund.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/just-tech-fellowship-public-information-session-1/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211203T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211203T130000
DTSTAMP:20211203T183346Z
CREATED:20211203T183346Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211203T183346Z
UID:10000799-1638525600-1638536400@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Expert Brainstorming on Iraq (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 3 December 2021\, at the request of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs\, CPPF held an expert brainstorming on Iraq’s national and regional dynamics in its post-electoral period.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/expert-brainstorming-on-iraq-vtc/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211209T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211209T233000
DTSTAMP:20211109T165124Z
CREATED:20211109T155036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211109T165124Z
UID:10000794-1639044000-1639092600@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Just Tech Fellowship Public Information Session 2
DESCRIPTION:The SSRC’s Just Tech program is proud to host a public information session answering your questions about the new Just Tech Fellowship\, a two-year\, full-time\, $100\,000 per year (plus supplementary funding) remote fellowship supporting a diverse community of researchers and practitioners investigating the intersection of technology and social justice. \nThe upcoming public information session is scheduled for Thursday\, December 9\, 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET. The session will cover details on application guidelines\, eligibility requirements\, and answer any questions that participants may have. Register here. \nThe Just Tech program is funded by a broad range of philanthropic foundations committed to cultivating critical work on the intersection of technology and social justice\, including the Ford Foundation\, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation\, the Surdna Foundation\, and Democracy Fund.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/just-tech-fellowship-public-information-session-2/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220110
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220112
DTSTAMP:20220111T194855Z
CREATED:20220111T194724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220111T194855Z
UID:10000800-1641772800-1641945599@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:7th Annual MENA RC Forum (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:On 10-11 January 2022\, CPPF held the 7th Annual MENA RC Forum in collaboration with the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. This forum will brought together UN resident coordinators\, UN officials from across the MENA region\, and external experts to discuss regional trends and developments ten years after the Arab Spring.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/7th-annual-mena-rc-forum-vtc/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220120T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220120T100000
DTSTAMP:20241213T152824Z
CREATED:20220120T130000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T152824Z
UID:10000801-1642665600-1642672800@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Virtual Book Launch: The Failure and Feasibility of Capitalism in Africa
DESCRIPTION:The event started with opening remarks and an introduction of the author\, Kenneth Omeje\, and two discussants\, Ndongo Samba Sylla and Toni Haastrup\, by the moderator and director of the SSRC’s APN and NextGen program\, Cyril Obi. This was followed by an overview of the book by the author. He identified the main objectives of the book as providing a critical assessment of capitalism in Africa\, providing explanations for the failure of capitalism to lead to Africa’s development\, and exploring options of transforming African political systems in ways that could lift millions of Africans out of poverty. \nOmeje noted that the book is provocatively titled partly to sensitize African leaders to their responsibility to change the unsustainable status quo. He made connections between the failure of capitalism\, poverty\, vulnerability to violence and conflict\, forced migration\, and the lack of socio-economic progress. In terms of its perspective\, the book argues that there were indigenous forms of capitalism in Africa that preceded colonialism and that their evolution was disrupted by European imperialism to develop Europe at Africa’s expense. The author posits that\, at independence\, African power elites and leaders inherited an aberrant form of capitalism into which they inserted their private accumulation interests that resulted in a dysfunctional form of capitalism bereft of robust domestic economies and economic sovereignty. \nIn his discussion of the book\, Ndongo Samba Sylla noted that it was didactic\, provocative\, cogent\, and intellectually stimulating. He identified chapters one and three for special mention and reflected on eight issues raised in the book. These ranged from its historical analysis\, use of economic indicators\, Africa’s over-integration into the global market\, the definitions of capitalism\, and its use of a neo-Weberian lens to explain Africa’s underdevelopment relative to Asia’s developmental states. Ndongo also spoke to the oversight in not reflecting on similar works by African development economists such as Thandika Mkandawire and Samir Amin and not exploring developmental options beyond capitalism. \nToni Haastrup noted that the book is extremely well-researched and was a tour de force in the political economy of development. She identified chapters three and six for special mention\, interrogated the definition of capitalism based on its failure\, and raised questions about alternatives. Toni also spoke on capitalism in Africa in relation to the coloniality of power and the continent’s security\, asking if the situation was redeemable. In addition\, she interrogated the agency of Africans and asked how issues of emancipation and justice could fit into the quest for workable alternatives or developmental transformation. \nBoth discussants commended the book for its analysis of the negative impact of French colonialism and neocolonialism in terms of the loss of monetary and economic sovereignty in Francophone Africa. They observed that France-Afrique had peaked and was beginning to wane. In their view\, the COVID-19 pandemic was creating new issues related to Africa’s place in the world and the prospects for transforming global power hierarchies. Participants raised questions about theoretical perspectives to capitalist development in Africa\, the scope of the book\, and the nature of Africa-China relations. In wrapping up\, the discussants recognized the need for greater reflection on how data is interpreted and used and how Africa could be better placed in the global value chain.  They agreed on the need for the continent to develop on its own terms\, after which the author thanked the discussants and participants for their incisive insights and contributions to the robust scholarly debate generated by the book. \n 
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/virtual-book-launch-the-failure-and-feasibility-of-capitalism-in-africa/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220128T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220128T150000
DTSTAMP:20220308T155725Z
CREATED:20220128T183000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220308T155725Z
UID:10000802-1643376600-1643382000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Abe Global 2022 | Polishing Japan's Silver: Aging Sustainably in the 21st Century
DESCRIPTION:Across the world\, societies are struggling to design sustainable policies for their aging populations. In much of the developed world\, an increasing share of the population is over 60. In Japan\, which has long been viewed as the pioneer “super-aging” society\, nearly 30% of the population is now over 65. Individuals are living much longer lives due to improvements in nutrition and health care\, while evolving lifestyles and shifting socio-economic conditions have kept birth rates at historic lows. The combination has produced a crisis in the social welfare systems which provide financial and care support for older citizens. The result has been increased unpaid labor for carers\, elder work-force participation\, and healthcare spending. A roundtable of five Abe Fellows will discuss these issues\, share stories from their research\, and examine potential policies for end-of-life care and an aging global society. \nThe event was held January 28\, 2022 from 1:30pm-3:00pm EST. \n \nA version of the video with Japanese subtitles is available here. \nAbe Global 2022 is held in partnership with the Reischauer Institute of Japan Studies\, the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies\, and the Oxford Brookes Healthy Ageing and Care Network. \nAn initiative of the Abe Fellowship Program\, the Abe Fellows Global Forum (Abe Global) brings Abe Fellow research and expertise on pressing issues of global concern to broader audiences. Abe Global hosts events each year in partnership with academic and civic organizations. The Abe Fellowship Program is a partnership between the Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/abe-global-2022-polishing-japans-silver-aging-sustainably-in-the-21st-century/
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LOCATION:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBsJqgU1G2U
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220202T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220202T150000
DTSTAMP:20220203T150019Z
CREATED:20220202T194808Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220203T150019Z
UID:10000803-1643810400-1643814000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Presentation of the CPPF Study on Climate\, Transboundary Water\, Peace\, and Security in the Andean Region (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:CPPF presented the results of its study on climate\, transboundary waters\, peace\, and security in the Andean region conducted for UNDP\, in an event with UN agencies\, government officials\, and civil society members from Bolivia\, Colombia\, Ecuador\, and Peru.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/presentation-of-the-cppf-study-on-climate-transboundary-water-peace-and-security-in-the-andean-region/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220203T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220203T110000
DTSTAMP:20220203T140831Z
CREATED:20220203T140831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220203T140831Z
UID:10000804-1643878800-1643886000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Guatemala Series No. 2 (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:CPPF convened its fourteenth virtual meeting among Guatemalan civil society members to brainstorm opportunities to address rule of law and corruption issues in Guatemala.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/guatemala-series-no-2-vtc-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220207
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220209
DTSTAMP:20220208T144337Z
CREATED:20220208T144140Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220208T144337Z
UID:10000806-1644192000-1644364799@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Workshop on Enhancing IOM’s Partnership with the UN Peace and Security Pillar
DESCRIPTION:On 7-8 February 2022\, CPPF convened a two-day workshop on forced migration in Africa\, the Middle East\, and Latin America in support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN’s Peace and Security Pillar.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/workshop-on-enhancing-ioms-partnership-with-the-un-peace-and-security-pillar/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220208T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220209T120000
DTSTAMP:20241213T152816Z
CREATED:20220208T050000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T152816Z
UID:10000805-1644310800-1644408000@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Conference on Conflict and Peacebuilding in North Africa and the Sahel
DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council’s (SSRC’s) African Peacebuilding Network (APN)\, in collaboration with the African Leadership Center (ALC) of Kings College London\, and Wilton Park held a two-day virtual conference on “Conflict and Peacebuilding in Sahel and North Africa.” The conference was the latest in the “Peacebuilding in Africa” series launched in 2015 aimed towards “moving peacebuilding beyond state and elite-centered approaches to encompass the wider communities involved in conflict\, including\, youth and women’s networks on the continent.” The event explored the connections between peacebuilding and the “historical and extensive socio-cultural\, economic\, and strategic connections between North Africa and the Sahel (NASAH). Participants included high-level practitioners\, scholars\, activists\, and staff and fellows of the SSRC and ALC. \nThe virtual conference commenced with an introduction and welcome remarks by Robert Grant\, program director at Wilton Park\, followed by a town hall discussion on “Conflict and Peacebuilding in North Africa and the Sahel.” The panel of speakers included the keynote speaker\, Abdoulaye Bathily\, visiting professor at the African Leadership Center (ALC)\, and panelists Radwa Saad\, a researcher and PhD candidate at Cornell University\, and Mohammed Gain of the African Institute for Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation (AIPECT). The panel was moderated by Funmi Olonisakin\, Vice President (International) of Kings College\, London. The keynote speaker focused on the challenging and ever more complex dimensions of conflict and instability in the Sahel and North Africa\, including the interconnections between the various flashpoints of conflict. This included how the unfinished business of decolonization in Western Sahara has strained relations between Morocco and Algeria\, and practically crippled the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). The presenter also provided critical insights into the role of various actors\, including transnational criminal networks\, in the conflicts in Libya\, Mali\, the Lake Chad region\, Chad\, and Sudan and the impact of extremist groups on instability and disorder in neighboring regions. He also shed light on the role of irredentist movements\, communal uprisings\, governance deficits\, climate change\, and geopolitical rivalries between international actors—France\, the EU\, Russia\, China\, Gulf states\, Israel\, Turkey\, etc.—in posing complex challenges to peacebuilding in the region. He was critical of the militarization of the region by state actors and international parties while noting that peacebuilders were becoming part of the conflict. Drawing attention to the limitations of Peace Support Operations and the loss of credibility of the UN and ECOWAS\, he made a case for reviewing traditional approaches to peacebuilding and reorganizing the democratic system to address complex challenges. \nIn her presentation\, Radwa Saad analyzed the role of the youth in conflict and peace in North Africa and the Sahel. She cautioned against the romanticization of youth as agents of change or disruptive actors and called attention to the structural constraints in the region\, particularly the trend towards the depoliticization and pacification of politics. Other issues addressed included how the youth were changing the narratives of peace through non-violent protest\, transcending sectarian divisions\, and struggling for democracy and social justice. Citing examples from Sudan\, Algeria\, Tunisia\, and Egypt\, Radwa explained how youth and women are engaging the state\, learning from each other\, and building connections across borders. Noting that North Africa is the least integrated region in Africa\, she was of the view that youth were well poised to seize the many opportunities being thrown up by developments at the societal level across both regions. \nIn his presentation\, Mohammed Gain of AIPECT spoke to the disconnections of Maghreb-Sahel relations\, the implications of migration flows for relations between North Africa and Southern Europe\, rivalries between external powers\, including France\, residual identity discontent linked to historical grievances\, perceived injustices and inter-communal conflict\, the rise of the Islamic State in the Maghreb\, and the securitization of the region at the expense of local concerns. Mohammed noted how hegemonic security visions were dominated by the global war on extremist groups\, access to the region’s vast natural resources\, climate change vulnerability\, and the divergence between the pursuit of global strategies and local concerns of people living in North and West Africa. In his view\, the crux of the security challenge in North Africa and the Sahel lay in the crisis of governance facing states and the need to change the global narrative of the two regions. He also identified the deadlock in Morocco-Algeria tensions over Western Sahara as a major factor in the instability in the Maghreb\, which is further worsened by the EU’s patronizing attitude to the region with the effect of undermining peace and integration. \nThe discussions that followed emphasized the need to humanize peacebuilding and security. Contributors also argued that the state is losing trust in the peripheries\, in a context where Africa is continuously being viewed as a source of economic opportunities\, markets\, raw materials\, and competition between established and emerging global powers. There was an emerging consensus that military options cannot solve the security problems facing the region and that civil society\, including the youth\, need to be at the forefront of conflict transformation and building a new African security paradigm centered on the people. \nThe second day featured a town hall discussion (closed session) on conflict and peacebuilding in North Africa and the Sahel\, which afforded presenters the opportunity to fully explore the ramifications of existing frameworks for networks and dialogues at the center of peacebuilding and the possibilities for reorganizing them along more inclusive and cooperative lines. The session commenced with opening remarks by Robert Grant and Cyril Obi\, program director of SSRC’s APN. Their remarks were followed by a session on the “Role of states and cross-border networks in conflict and peacebuilding\,” followed by breakout sessions on\, “Fostering transregional links and cooperation.” These were organized along the lines of the following questions: How can states across the regions strengthen their cooperation to successfully adjust to the challenges posed by the impacts of climate change? In what ways are youth innovatively shaping peacebuilding efforts in both regions? What opportunities are being created and how can such opportunities be consolidated? What factors have inhabited a cohesive trans-regional organizational approach to peacebuilding\, and what can be done to address them? What is the role of civil society actors and what strategies are likely to connect them to ongoing regional approaches to peacebuilding in a more participatory and comprehensive manner? \nThe speakers at the first session were Salem Mezhoud\, Associate Senior Fellow at ALC\, Kings College London\, Njoya Tikum of the UNDP\, Osai Ojigbo of Amnesty International Nigeria and Eka Ikpe of ALC Kings College London. The first presentation focused on the role of transnational actors and networks in conflict and peacebuilding in the region\, including countries such as Denmark\, Norway\, Estonia\, Turkey\, Russia\, the Arab Gulf States\, Israel\, and private military actors\, including Russia’s Wagner group. Other developments identified as critical to the peace and security trends in both regions were the failings of diplomacy in a region marked by the paradox of plenty (rich in minerals\, but immersed in high levels of poverty)\, the high levels of militarism in Algeria\, and the failure of the Tunisian revolution. Other points touched on the struggles of youth in Algeria and Tunisia in their demand for a total overhaul of the political system\, and the potential advantages of closer North Africa–West Africa (NAWA) regional cooperation. The emerging peace and security challenges in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic were explored\, including the transnational nature of the challenges in the Sahel and how they were complicating the efficacy of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) due to the inability to address conflicts in the Sahelian countries. The second presentation also interrogated the assumptions underpinning the Sahel and North Africa nexus\, noting that most Sahelians see threats as emanating from Libya\, rendering assumptions of shared interests and connections with North Africa problematic. Echoing the point made by earlier presentations about the delegitimization of ECOWAS\, the distrust of states by citizens was reaffirmed and a case was made for regional networking led by citizens of the region. Another presentation interrogated the effectiveness of AU and ECOWAS sanctions on military governments in Africa\, noting that such interventions had failed to end human rights violations. It also spoke to the disruptive aspects of climate fragility\, farmer-herder conflicts\, external extractive actors\, and the struggles over national resources. While noting that it was not possible to have peace without justice\, questions were raised about the place of women\, ties between people across borders\, and opportunities being explored by youth who are refusing “to do things the old way.” In concluding the presentation\, there was a call for the identification of alternative conveners for peace in the region and the building of trust and inclusiveness in governance systems. The discussions that followed focused on the breakdown of trust and legitimacy and how states across both regions can strengthen cooperation and respond to emerging challenges. \nFeedback from the thematic breakout sessions focused on the role of local and international conflict and peace actors\, conflict prevention\, the potential of the Sahel as a source of alternative and renewable energy\, addressing the nexus between the environment and climate security\, strategies for strengthening democratic governance\, and the rise of youth movements as the next generation of peacebuilders in the region. Also noted was the problem of harmonization of policies leading to the total neglect of certain aspects of regions\, weaknesses of states and RECS in relation to peacebuilding\, and the need for civil society to play a key role in community building\, capacity building\, and communications. The closing and wrap-up session provided a succinct summary of the discussions over the two days\, pointing to the epistemic issues underpinning the geography of Africa and the borders versus integration debate\, particularly in relation to issues such as racism and xenophobia. The overview also underscored the importance of critiquing formalistic structures\, including the heterogeneity of external actors\, emphasizing the point of documenting and marketing successes\, while recognizing the significant role of civil society and its potential to do more. Other issues highlighted included the possibilities of innovative responses to climate change as well as how regional projects such as AfCTA could contribute towards building inclusive and sustainable peace and development through transregional cooperation in Africa.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/conference-on-conflict-and-peacebuilding-in-north-africa-and-the-sahel/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220218T084500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220218T124500
DTSTAMP:20220218T174413Z
CREATED:20220218T174350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220218T174413Z
UID:10000807-1645173900-1645188300@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:CPPF Haiti Workshop (VTC)
DESCRIPTION:CPPF convened a workshop on Haiti to help inform the review of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). This workshop provided a deep-dive into current political\, governance\, and socioeconomic dynamics\, as well as the role and impact of the UN in Haiti.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/cppf-haiti-workshop-vtc/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220301T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220301T141500
DTSTAMP:20220324T190416Z
CREATED:20220301T180000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220324T190416Z
UID:10000808-1646139600-1646144100@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:Launch Event: Just Tech Platform
DESCRIPTION:On March 1\, the Social Science Research Council will launch the Just Tech platform\, a new website dedicated to mapping research and showcasing scholars and practitioners leading the field of social justice and emergent technology. The platform is a project of the Council’s Just Tech program\, which investigates questions of power\, justice\, and the public impact of new technologies while imagining and creating more just and equitable futures. \nJoin us at 1:00 p.m. on March 1 to celebrate the Just Tech platform launch with a live demo and Q&A session\, featuring remarks from Ruha Benjamin\, Timnit Gebru\, Alondra Nelson\, and Safiya U. Noble.  \nThe platform will feature an extensive set of resources that will be valuable to anyone interested in a synoptic view of this emergent field of research and practice: \n\nfield reviews about the state of research on discrete subjects at the intersection of novel technology and social justice\, written and reviewed by experts \nessays and interviews from leading researchers and practitioners\nprofiles of Just Tech’s network of researchers and practitioners\, including fellows\, grantees\, and contributors to the platform\na free-to-use database of citations that leverages Zotero\, an open-source citation library\na regularly updated calendar of public events\n\nRegister to learn more about the forthcoming Just Tech platform. \nClosed captioning will be provided.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/launch-event-just-tech-platform/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220317T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220317T123000
DTSTAMP:20220419T183514Z
CREATED:20220318T150000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220419T183514Z
UID:10000809-1647514800-1647520200@www.ssrc.org
SUMMARY:The Future of the (non) Maghreb Peace and Integration
DESCRIPTION:The Social Science Research Council’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA) held a webinar on “The Future of (non)Maghreb Peace ad Integration.” The webinar provided an opportunity to brainstorm the implication of the persistent paralysis in North African integration and its implication for peace and security in the region. Participants included experts and activists\, APN fellows and alumni\, scholars\, and practitioners in the field. The event commenced with welcome remarks by the Director of the SSRC’s African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa program\, Cyril Obi\, who chaired and moderated the event. His remarks were followed by presentations by two experts. In his presentation\, Hamza Meddeb\, a nonresidential scholar at Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center\, spoke to the issues underpinning the paralysis in Maghreb integration. He identified the issues as a lack of political will among political elites and leaders of member-states of the Arab Maghreb Union\, strained relations between Algeria and Morocco\, and the failure of top-down approaches to integration. He pointed out that\, while the top-down approach to integration had failed\, a lot was happening in terms of people-to-people integration\, drawing on successful initiatives in the following areas: education\, joint infrastructure development\, and renewable energies. Hamza\, however\, reiterated the importance of reactivating Maghreb integration against the background of its strategic relations with Europe and neighboring African regions and the need to build on cross-border flows and informal integration between Libya and Tunisia. However\, in advancing his case for renewing Maghreb integration\, the presenter observed that security would be a major factor in determining success or failure. Of note in his view was the obstacle posed by the deadlock in Algeria-Morocco relations\, the competition for influence between both countries\, the instability in Libya\, and the absence of a cohesive regional approach to peacebuilding in Libya. In his presentation\, Mohammed Masbah\, the director of MIPA and a 2018 APN fellow\, identified the competition between Algeria and Morocco as the main driver of the paralysis afflicting the non-Maghreb integration. Drawing on the history of the ruptured relations between both countries\, he underlined the centrality of political causes to the rivalry between the two regional giants. Reflecting on MIPA’s 2020 Maghreb Integration Report\,  Mohammed demonstrated that\, despite a low level of integration and the close of the borders between the two countries\, there was ample evidence of interest among local people to interact and engage with those on the other side. Noting the serious challenges posed to economic integration in the Maghreb by the political nature of the problem\, including the role of political elites\, he also pointed out that civil society was constrained in its ability to act. In his view\, the situation of non-integration of the Maghreb was a serious one\, given the militarization of the region and growing neglect of socio-economic challenges facing the people of the region. He\, therefore\, argued that a more realistic approach would be to seek to focus on mitigating risk and ameliorating the current situation to avoid escalation and military confrontation. Commenting further on the situation\, Hamza identified three critical issues to consider. These included the absence of regional strategic thinking and the lack of drivers and incentives for regional integration. Examining potential areas of growth\, he noted complementarities between Libya and Algeria as oil-producing countries\, Tunisia and Morocco in the context of an evolving Free Trade framework with Mercosur\, and Mauritia’s fisheries industry. He also spoke to the key role of the private sector in the area of such economic activities and relations with Europe. \nIn the discussions that followed\, questions were raised about the implications of overlapping membership of regional organizations\, the gaps between competing national and regional interests\, the crisis in Libya\, the role of China in the Maghreb\, and the implications of the Abraham Accord for Algeria-Morocco relations. Participants agreed that\, although the formal regional integration in the Maghreb was virtually non-existent and faced complex threats\, strategic thinking was required to reactivate the process by carefully designing initiatives to change the mindsets of decision-makers to better connect national to regional interests\, beyond this resetting the region’s relations with Europe\, Africa\, and the Middle East.
URL:https://www.ssrc.org/events/the-future-of-the-non-maghreb-peace-and-integration/
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