|
Ph.D. candidate travels to Mali to understand the Malian conflict
|
|
Mali is a beautiful country in west Africa with a complicated past. In the 1990s, Mali was a model of democratic change; however, since the turn of the century, political paralysis and coups have stopped the country’s trajectory towards sustainable development. Insecurity, fear, poverty and desperation have risen in Mali in recent years due to the resurgence of internal conflict and attacks by violent extremist groups that have roots in Mali’s complex history. These conflicts have occurred in the setting of climate change, which has led to increasing competition for natural resources. All of these problems, against the backdrop of a weak state, make one wonder – is there hope for Mali?
In October 2019, I was invited by his excellence Former President Pierre Buyoya, the High Representative of the African Union for Mali and the Sahel, to discuss conflicts in Africa with an emphasis on conflicts in the Sahel and Mali. Former President Pierre Buyoya was the president of Burundi, and his experience in conflict and diplomacy on the African continent is impressive. During the visit, the President and I discussed the capacity of international, regional and national institutions to manage conflicts in Africa. For example, we discussed how the United Nations is working with the African Union to solve the conflict in Mali.
While I was in Mali, I took the opportunity to meet with leaders in the fields of politics, international organizations, culture, religion, anthropology, and the media, in order to obtain a full understanding of the conflict in Mali. After meeting President Buyoya, I went to visit the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (also known as “Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations unies pour la stabilisation au Mali [MINUSMA]” in French). MINUSMA was established by the UN Security Council Resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013 with the goal to support Mali’s political processes, undertake tasks related to security and stabilize the country. While at MINUSMA, I had the honor to interview its Political Affairs officers. Later on, I met the Permanent Secretary of the Government in charge of Conflict in Central Mali.
To gain a better understanding of the Malian conflict, I visited and dined with Tuaregs, Peuhls and Bambara to learn more about their perceptions of different ethnic groups. I also had the opportunity to talk to former rebels from the northern region. At the University of Bamako, I met a French anthropologist who has been teaching and studying Malian culture since 1988. A highlight of my trip to Bamako, as a journalist, was the chance to sit down with my colleagues - fellow journalists. Some of the journalists work closely with the government and others work with international institutions such as the Institute of Security Studies.
To read full story by Jean-Marc Akakpo, click here
|
|
|
Addressing adolescent mental health
|
|
|
Addressing the social and emotional health issues that middle and high school students face might not sound like a typical project for a student pursuing his master’s degree in information technology, but Jake Sciotto embraced the opportunity to help local children.
Sciotto wants to support kids who might be in the type of situation he experienced at their age. Sciotto said he went through “a low point in my life” a few years ago when his cousin committed suicide and a close friend died from a drug overdose.
.... Sciotto is on the team with four fellows from other master’s degree programs: Bienvenue Konsimbo (conflict management), Chelsea Meeker (social work), Sarah Navarro (social work) and Ashley Ramsey (public administration). A sixth student, Nikita Raper (social work and business administration), participated during the two-week class and the summer. The students applied to be part of the fellowship, and Nandan selected them based on their diverse backgrounds, interests and skillsets.
Original story by Paul Floeckher here
|
|
|
Salerno Symposium showcases faculty research
|
|
The symposium featured seven researchers who shared their latest discoveries with KSU students and faculty colleagues.
Our very own, Joseph Bock, Director of the School of Conflict Management and Professor of International Conflict Management gave a presentation on his new book proposal, “Humanitarianism Unleashed: How to Take the World into Your Own Hands”
“The Salerno Symposium is fast becoming the premier campus-wide celebration of the vibrant and growing research culture at KSU,” said Jonathan McMurry, associate vice president for research in KSU’s Office of Research and the symposium organizer.
Through the lens of materials chemistry, Poyraz’s research focuses on exploring alternative materials to coat a rechargeable battery’s cathode – the positive charge of a battery – which starts to breakdown during the charging/discharging phases.
Poyraz explained that the novel cathode-free zinc-ion battery design he is developing would help lower the costs of manufacturing large-scale energy storage devices as well as improving and extending battery life and performance.
“Having an event like this is really a great opportunity for us to present our research and to learn more about other research activities at KSU,” said Poyraz. “This is my second year participating and I feel more excited to be a part of the symposium.”
Original story by Joëlle Walls here
|
|
Conflict Resolution Quarterly Call for Papers
|
|
CfP on ADR in International Trade & Diplomacy Dispute
- This call for papers is designed to elicit the latest research and practice trends in the fields of international trade and diplomacy. Each article should include a review of the applicable literature and support all claims with research and references.
- The deadline for this Call for Papers is December 1, 2019, but submissions received after this date may be considered for inclusion in a later edition of CRQ.
More information on Call for Papers here
Please include a 100-word abstract and adhere to CRQ formatting guidelines. CRQ uses a double-blind peer review process to assure fair and equal access to all authors.
All submissions are to be made electronically via this website: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/crq
|
|
Sites of Reckoning Symposium Call for Papers
|
|
|
This two-day symposium scheduled for March 5-6, 2020 at Georgia State University will bring together a distinguished group of U.S. and international scholars to consider memorials and museums as important sites for truth telling and accounting for past violence. It will also explore how these sites narrate violent histories in particular ways—privileging some truths over others—and with distinct intents. The ongoing controversies about removing Confederate statues across the US – and especially in the South – are obvious examples of these dilemmas. In addition, we have planned an optional field trip on Saturday, March 7, 2020 to visit The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, Alabama.
Jennie E. Burnet, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Associate Director
Georgia State University Global Studies Institute
jburnet@gsu.edu
|
|
Journal of Conflict Management Call for Papers
|
|
The Journal of Conflict Management (JOCM) has been established to fill the need for an interdisciplinary journal to disseminate research and practice in the broad fields of conflict management, mediation, dispute resolution and related areas. JOCM is a refereed (peer-reviewed) journal. The Editorial Board is composed of nationally recognized scholars and professionals in the field. Articles will typically be between 3,000 and 7,000 words in length, but longer articles may be approved by contacting the Editor. A clear and concise abstract of 100 to 150 words should be included at the beginning of the article.
JOCM will be published quarterly and will be available freely online, without subscription fees to readers and without requiring authors to pay "publication fees" to have their work published.
Manuscripts may emphasize research (quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method), theory, education or practical application/best practices. Articles from many disciplines, settings and locales are considered. click the Information for Authors link to the right for details on how to prepare and submit manuscripts for JOCM.
Dr. LaVena Wilkin
Editor, Journal of Conflict Management
Sullivan University
3101 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205
502.413.8774
Editorial correspondence
Correspondence regarding JOCM, including submission of manuscripts for consideration, should be addressed to Dr. LaVena Wilkin, Editor via e-mail at editor@jocm.net.
|
|
Scholarship Call for Applications
|
|
The Laura Bassi Scholarship, which awards a total of $8,000 thrice per annum, was established by Editing Press in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed. The scholarships are open to every discipline and the next round of funding will be awarded in December 2019:
Winter 2019
Application deadline: 25 November 2019
Results: 15 December 2019
All currently enrolled master’s and doctoral candidates are eligible to apply, as are academics in the first five years of their employment. Applicants are required to submit a completed application form along with their CV through the application portal by the relevant deadline. Further details, previous winners, and the application portal can be found at: https://editing.press/bassi
|
|
|
|
Join us to celebrate the graduating Ph.D. and MSCM students this fall!
|
|
|
Dissertation defense of Deniz Gumustekin, PhD Candidate for International Conflict Management, which will be taking place on November 12, 2019, at 10:00am in room 1056 in the Convocation Center (CC 1056).
At that time, Ms. Gumustekin will present “Kurds Under Threat: The Role of Kurdish Transnational Networks During Peace and Conflict (2004-2017”.
Her dissertation committee is comprised of Dr. Charity Butcher, co-chair; Dr. Darina Lepadatu, co-chair, Dr. Maia Hallward, and Dr. Idean Salehyan, University of North Texas.
Please join us for this presentation on November 12, 2019.
|
|
|
Dissertation Defense of Cyrel San Gabriel, PhD Candidate for International Conflict Management, which will be taking place on November 19, 2019, at 9:30am in room 1056 in the Convocation Center (CC 1056).
At that time, Ms. San Gabriel will present “Does Aid Really Help? The Nexus Between Development Aid and State-Society Resilience in Fragile Situations”.
Her dissertation committee is comprised of Dr. Volker Franke, chair, Dr. Charity Butcher, Dr. Brandon Lundy, and Dr. Patrick Safran (Incheon National University, Republic of Korea).
Please join us for this presentation on November 19, 2019.
|
|
|
Amanda Reinke, published Applied Anthropology in Juridical Grey Spaces in Anthropology in Action
|
|
|
Maia Hallward delivered a keynote at a workshop on Beyond ‘Sectarianism’? Towards an Alternative Understanding of Identity Politics and Communal Antagonism in Cambridge, England.
|
|
|
|
Debarati Sen received the Association for Feminist Anthropology's honorable mention for the Michelle Z. Rosaldo Prize, awarded to Debarati Sen for her 2017 book, Everyday Sustainability: Gender Justice and Fair Trade in Darjeeling (SUNY Press).
|
|
|
Tim Hedeen gave two trainings for the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit in early October, a training on mediation for new lawyers with the Georgia Legal Services Project at the end of October, and will give a training on navigating conflict for the Castell Project in early November
|
|
|
|
Conflict Coaching Appreciation Circles: Improving Relationships Using Solution-Based Approaches
November 13, 2019
|
|
|
Establishing Healthy Boundaries at Work
November 20, 2019
|
|
|
|
42-Hour Domestic Relations Training
January 14-20, 2020
|
|
|
General Civil Mediation Training + Practicum
January 27-31, 2020
|
|
|
|
The 3-Step Conflict Resolution Prevention Process
February 7, 2020
|
|
|
Creating a Culture of Superior Customer Service Through Effective Conflict Prevention and Resolution
March 6, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
