Category: Countries

Seminar with Dr. Minna Lundgren

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Dr. Minna Lundgren, Mid Sweden University, Department of Social Sciences, TEMAG: Abkhazia: Migration Memories and Contested Belongings.

Abstract

Abkhazia, de jure an autonomous republic within the Georgan Republic, proclaimed independence in 1999 and is today functioning as a de facto independent state under Russian patronage. Abkhazia has been an object of study in numerous studies from several disciplines such as political science, peace and conflict studies, law, and economics. However, apart from reports from international organizations, only a few studies have a micro level focus on the people who are living in Abkhazia today. People whose lives are affected by unresolved conflict, unrecognized statehood, political isolation, economic blockade, and restricted mobility. In this presentation Minna Lundgren will therefore aim to explore three interconnected themes connected to everyday life experiences of people living in Abkhazia or claiming a right to do so: 1. Abkhazia as a migration nexus – a point of departure and of return; 2. Abkhazia as a locus of disputed belongings, and 3. Abkhazia as a riskscape, a landscape embedded with different layers of risk, that affects people differently depending on an unequal distribution of power. I will draw on material from fieldwork in the region from 2012 to 2017.

When: May 21, 15.15-17.00

Where: Malmö University, Nordenskiöldgatan 1, Niagara building, Conference room on the 9th floor. Since this seminar will take place in a part of the building with limited public access, RUCARR personnel will be available in the lobby area on the bottom floor of the Niagara building (in front of the C elevators) at 15.00 sharp, to meet and accompany you to the location.

Declarations of Independence in the Caucasus – 100 Years Anniversary Celebration

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Following the disintegration of the Russian Empire and the turbulent political development during the end of the First World War, several entities that had been part of the Russian Empire, declared their independence in 1918. In the Caucasus this applies to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the North Caucasian Mountain Republic.

Hundred years have passed since these events and RUCARR will devote a one-day seminar commemorating this period and discussing the contemporary role and importance of these short-lived periods of independence.

The seminar includes presentations from researchers, politicians as well as representatives from the embassies of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sweden. The two morning sessions are devoted to Georgia and to Azerbaijan, and the two afternoon sessions will focus on Armenia and the North Caucasus Mountain Republic

Preliminary program:  http://wpmu.mah.se/rucarr/2018/05/15/preliminary-prog…iversary-seminar/ ‎

Time: May 22, 09:30-16:15

Venue: Malmö University, Niagara building, Nordenskiöldsgatan 1 (meeting-point on the 5th floor, in front of the C elevators).

Compulsory registration no later than May 17 by https://form.jotformeu.com/72362326539358

For more information, please contact rucarr@mah.se 

Book release – Parliamentary Elections in Russia, by Derek Hutcheson

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Congratulations to the new book! Release of Parliamentary Elections in Russia: A Quarter- Century of Multi-Party Politics by RUCARR researcher, Ass. Prof. Derek Hutcheson.

Russia is often in the news at the moment. As a nuclear power, permanent UN Security Council member, emerging Arctic hegemon and the largest state in the world, the country is of extreme importance in global politics. In the first long-term analysis of Russian parliamentary elections, Derek Hutcheson explores the country’s seven rounds of election since 1993, and also sets Russian politics into a wider context. Through the twists and turns of political reform, he combines official data, primary material and in-depth analysis to investigate the changes in Russia’s political system.

Book release on Parliamentary Elections in Russia

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RUCARR is pleased to announce the launch of the book Parliamentary Elections in Russia: A Quarter- Century of Multi-Party Politics by Dr Derek Hutcheson, Associate Professor of Political Science in the Department of Global Political Studies, at Malmö University.

The launch will take place at 15.30 hours on Thursday, 19 April 2018 in the Niagara Building, Nordensköildsgatan 1, Malmö, with an introduction by Prof. Bo Petersson (Co-director, RUCARR), a brief talk by Derek Hutcheson, and a reception.

Because the event will take place in a part of the building where public access is limited, please register in advance with anastasia.egorova@mau.se, by 16 April. Arrangements will be made on the day to meet and and accompany you to the location.

 

                                                Synopsis of the book:

Russia is often in the news at the moment. As a nuclear power, permanent UN Security Council member, emerging Arctic hegemon and the largest state in the world, the country is of extreme importance in global politics. In the first long-term analysis of Russian parliamentary elections, Derek Hutcheson explores the country’s seven rounds of election since 1993, and also sets Russian politics into a wider context. Through the twists and turns of political reform, he combines official data, primary material and in-depth analysis to investigate the changes in Russia’s political system.

 

 

 

Guest lecture by Aram Terzyan

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Dr. Aram Terzyan, guest researcher at the Department of Global Political Studies (GPS), Malmö University, and Assistant Professor at Yerevan State University will give a lecture for staff and students on February 27. The title is: Explaining the evolution of Armenia’s foreign policy.

Welcome to attend on campus or online!

When: February 27, 15.15–17 (Swedish time).
Where: Niagara building, 5th floor, Glocal Classroom http://bit.ly/2lk3i1G
The lecture will also be available on streaming video/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhCcLkX6B2A&t=2s

Circassians in the 21st century, Conference November 23-24

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The conference Circassians in the 21st century: Identity and Survival – in the homeland and diaspora was hosted by Russia and the Caucasus Regional Research (RUCARR) and the Section for Caucasus Studies, Malmö University, November 23-24 2017. Thank you to all presenters and other participants!

PROGRAMME

ABSTRACTS

(Photos: Elnur Aliyev & Karina Vamling)

Poster presentations – Circassians in the 21 century

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Circassian organisations and research materials were showcased in the poster presentations at the conference Circassians in the 21st century: Identity and Survival – in the homeland and diaspora, hosted by the research platform Russia and the Caucasus Regional Research (RUCARR), Malmö University, November 23-24.

Circassian Women Solidarity Association in Turkey – Gunsel Avci & Didem Baş Bilge
Circassian Culture Association of Nuremberg Germany – Faidi Mahmoud Barsbai
Book presentation: Circassia Born to be Free – Adel Bashqawi (not present)
Federation of Caucasian Associations (Kaffed) – Ufuk Çevik
Circassian Cultural Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia – Merab Chukhua
The Association for the Study of EthnoGeoPolitics – Caspar ten Dam
Circassian Charity Association in Jordan – Zuhdi Janbej Janbek
Circassian Repatriation Organization – Basel Katt & Tina Abzakh
Caucasus Studies at Center for East European Studies, Warsaw – Hamed Kazemzadeh
Archive materials – Walter Richmond
Circassian Congress and Circassian Union – Avraham Shmulevich

(Photos: Elnur Aliyev & Karina Vamling)

Second Annual RUCARR conference 22-23 Nov

Gallery

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The Second Annual RUCARR conference was hosted by the research platform Russia and the Caucasus Regional Research (RUCARR) at the Faculty of Culture and Society, Malmö University, November 22-23, 2017. The specific focus of the event was on ethnicity, ethnic conflict, and nationalism issues, with keynote speaker Dr. Paul Goode of Bath University. The conference included the panel discussion “New authoritarian tendencies in Europe and Eurasia?” (co-organiser: Europe Direct)

Read more: http://wpmu.mah.se/rucarr/research/secondannualconference/

(Photos: Elnur Aliyev, Karina Vamling)

Research project on urban planning in Russia and Sweden

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RUCARR researchers Bo Petersson and Derek Hutcheson are embarking on a new research project Legitimacy, urban planning and sustainability in Russia and Sweden (LUPSRUSS) with funding from the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD).

Abstract:
The project seeks to examine the processes of urban planning in Sweden and Russia, with a focus on the input, control and output legitimacy of that process. The concept of input legitimacy will be examined through an examination of the actors in the processes of urban planning. Control/throughput legitimacy will be examined through examination of the processes of urban planning. Output legitimacy will focus on the policy outputs of the process.
Through paired comparison of different examples of urban planning, this project will give insight into the quality of governance at the local level. Moreover, the focus will be on the politics and processes behind sustainable planning and development in a number of comparable regions in each country. Finally, the project will also be capacity-building, building on existing networks and fostering new ones between scholars and local government units in Sweden and Russia

Read more about the project and partners at the project website: http://wpmu.mah.se/rucarr/research/lupsruss/ and the ICLD’s research page: http://icld.se/en/article/legitimacy-urban-planning-and-sustainability-in-russia-and-sweden