CPS NEWS

"Peace appeals to the

hearts; studies to the

brain. Both are needed,

indeed indispensable. But

equally indispensable is a

valid link between brain

and heart. And that, in a

nutshell, is what peace

studies and peace practice

are all about."

- Johan Galtung

In This Issue

NEW positions

PHD defenses

SPRING 2016

NEW students

Re:PEACE

Photo CPS

Welcome note

It has been an eventful spring semester for Centre for Peace Studies,

both for good and for bad. In February, our devoted colleague Percy

Oware passed away, and we are still recovering from this unexpected

loss. On a brighter note, the Centre is in a process of expansion, and

we are looking forward to the momentum this will create in pushing us

forward with our academic enterprises.

New positions at CPS

The CPS is calling for no less than six new positions this year. First

and foremost, we finally got a professorship in place, to which we re-

ceived many interesting applicants. Furthermore, we are calling for two

positions, shared with the Centre for Gender Studies and the

Centre for Sami Studies, and with the Department of History and Reli-

gious Science, respectively. This fall, there will be a call for two post-

doc positions, one for two years and one for three years. Finally,

in respectful memory of our colleague, we are calling for a new aca-

demic coordinator for the MPCT program.

Centre for Peace Studies Newsletter June 2016

Woldeselassie Zerihun A.– CPS guest researcher

Thesis «Ethnicity: Identity and Belonging»

Based on case study from Ethiopia, the thesis provides an anthropological analysis

on Identity politics, Islamic-reformism and state reconstruction in a post-conflict and

multi-ethnic context. Using original ethnographic data and analysis, it offers a con-

textual knowledge regarding identity and belonging with a particular focus on the

implication of the political recognition of ethnicity and religion as relevant factors in

resolving and transforming conflict. The core findings of the thesis are published in a

reputable journal (Ethnicities) and as a chapter in a book (Muslim Ethiopia) by

SAGE and Palgrave Macmillan.

Vidar Vambheim– CPS associate professor

Thesis “Studies in Conflict, Violence and Peace”

The doctoral thesis treats the relation between conflict and violence, with a specific

focus on conflict in the context of asymmetric power relations. In subchapters of the

thesis, I relate this problem to bullying relations as well as the problem of terror-

ism/”counter-terrorism”. Two chapters of the thesis introduce the concepts of net-

work bullying and bullying by symbolic means. The concept of network bullying may

be a useful tool for understanding structural aspects of bullying relations. Bullying by

symbolic means may often be euphemized by concepts such as “conflict” or

“disagreement”, until we see the underlying power relations. In the chapter on ter-

rorism/”counterterrorism”, I introduce a model of communication that may be useful

for transforming the ongoing cycle of violence between “the West” and “jihadist ter-

rorists”, and produce more productive relations, in which civilians and civil society

can have a voice.

Randolph Wallace Rhea– CPS’ first PhD candidate

Thesis “Ex-Combatant Reintegration in the Great Lakes Region: Processes

& Mechanisms, Trajectories & Paradoxes”

The doctoral thesis explores the social and economic processes through which

members of armed groups in the Great Lakes region of Africa reintegrate into socie-

ty after prolonged periods participating in violent conflict. My analysis is based on

survey data of the experiences of nearly 10,000 ex-combatants, and the communi-

ties they return to, across five countries – Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, DRC, and

Congo. My findings carry direct implications for planning and evaluation of Disarma-

ment, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programming in the region.

MPCT graduates 15 new fresh- baked master graduates

from China, Russia, Norway, Bulgaria,

France, India, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh

leave the Master’s Programme in Peace

and Conflict Transformation and start to

explore their opportunities in the world.

We wish them good luck!

MPCT Alumni

PhD defenses

Alumni survey 2008-2012

CPS conducted a short survey among

MPCT alumni about their career, and

relevance of their jobs to peace studies.

89 questionnaires were sent out and 52

answers received. 33 out of 52 have job

relevant to peace studies, and they were

able to find it in the period of 6 months-

1,5 year after the graduation. 10 alumni

continued as PhD students. This data is

not complete and CPS continues to get

answers.

Good results so far! Updates for all clas-

ses will come in the next issue

Spring 2016

Boko haram seminar

Narvik excursion

BPEN seminar (Tromsø)

BPEN seminar

(Murmansk)

CPS PhD guest from

Russia

Other CPS-UiT events

*Seminar with Antonius

Robben “Violence,

Memory and Collective

Trauma in Latin America”

WarPed seminar “Violent

Modern Subjects: Foreign

Fighters in Spain and

Syria»

In memory of Percy Oware

CPS has lost a colleague

It is with grief that we inform of Percy

Oware's passing away 17.02.2016. CPS

is in mourning for having lost so unex-

pectedly our devoted colleague and fri-

end. Both students and employees knew

that Percy’s office was always open to

those who needed a talk, a laugh, some

advice, or courage to deal with difficult

situations. He will be deeply missed.

In April, CPS contributed to a Boko Haram seminar, hosted by VCS. Multiple factors under-

pin the motivations and violent acts of Boko Haram. The seminar attempted to elucidate

some of the reasons that lead many civilians to support or join the organization. See link

http://site.uit.no/bokoharam/

CPS and MPCT students had a two-days excursion to the Narvik Peace Centre together

with the History students. The focus was on WWII and the Battle of Narvik, and we got to

see both the Old Red Cross War Memorial Museum as well as the localities for a new ex-

hibition, and a new Narvik Peace Center, to open late summer 2016. Finally, we got to visit

the memorial grounds of the concentration camp in Beisfjorden. See link http://

www.warmuseum.no/no/

In May, we gathered BPEN partners from Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Petrozavodsk in

Tromsø for an open seminar and training in the Red cross street mediation program. CPS

students got a chance to learn about "Russian notions of peace and challenges of 'liberal

peace' thinking", Practical Work with young people in conflict transformation in Arkhan-

gelsk region and “Using SABONA in teaching practice”.

In May, CPS co-arranged a seminar for students at Murmansk Arctic Humanities Universi-

ty with the objective to introduce practical peace work programs for students of the Peda-

gogic department.

Throughout the spring semester, CPS has enjoyed the company of Svetlana Belilshchiko-

va, a Russian PhD student/ guest researcher from Moscow Pedagogical State University.

Researching conflict literacy, Belilshchikova found that 70% of her student group did not

possess the basic skills needed to resolve conflicts in a healthy way. Titled «Argumentation

as a way of solving conflicts», her research project aims at creating a program for future

teachers for the prevention and resolution of conflicts through dialogue at school. Belil-

shchikova emphasizes that the new generations of society need guidance on how to com-

municate effectively, even if they have different views, different interests and values. Her

stay at CPS was meant to inspire her research. She took part in MPCT programme activi-

ties, visited civil society organizations in Tromsø, and visited the Nansen Peace Center at

Lillehammer. We wish her all the best, and hope to see her again soon, in Russia, within

the framework of the Barents Peace Education Network.

Contact Us

Centre for Peace Studies

Huginbakken 9/Lower Pa-

vilion

UiT, The Arctic University of

Norway

N-9037 Tromsø

Norway

(+47) 776 44744

mail@peace.uit.no

Visit us on the web at

www.peace.uit.no

Be with us on Facebook

https://

www.facebook.com/

centreforpeacestudies/

New master students from August 2016 We look forward to meeting our new students this coming August! We

received many strong applications this spring from highly motivated stu-

dents who are eager to spend 2 years in Tromsø studying Peace and

Conflict Transformation. Even with the government’s cancellation of the

Quota scholarship program the number of applicants to the MPCT re-

mained unchanged.

While our new students bring their unique experiences from all over the

globe, they all share a common interest in peace and conflict transfor-

mation. This creates a unique setting where students can learn from each

other. This year we will have students from Netherland, Ghana, USA, Ne-

pal, Kyrgyzstan, Canada, Germany, Kenya, as well as from all over Scan-

dinavia.

We have already prepared the schedule, syllabus, and some of the guest

lectures. Now we are planning the introduction week and other happen-

ings. Everything will be well prepared so that we can wish the new stu-

dents a warm welcome!

Christin Elisabeth Webb

Activity of our MPCT students

Re-Peace magazine: worth reading

Our MPCT students do a wonderful job– they have initiat-

ed a student peace magazine.

The magazine re:PEACE was founded in 2015 by a

group of graduate students at the Centre for Peace Stu-

dies at the University of Tromsø, Norway. The idea was

to share some concepts and ideas studied in the Master

of Peace and Conflict Transformation. The magazine is a

collection of articles, pictures, poems and other interes-

ting pieces that are related to academic topics as well as

social and political issues.

re:PEACE is a non-profit magazine, run entirely by volun-

teers. None of the contributors are paid, nor are the exe-

cutive staff. Funding for this project is based on student

initiative money and covers only the costs of printing and

publishing.

The third volume is published and can be found here

http://www.repeacemag.com/vol3/