During the academic year 2015-16 a series of lectures and seminars was held in the framework of the Swiss Center colloquium. These lectures cover a variety of topics, relevant to conflict, peace and inter-group relations from psychological, political, media related and sociological perspectives.
In cooperation with the Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations, we hosted two lectures related to international relations and conflict resolution during the first semester. Two scholars presented their work on Autonomy, Secession and Conflict: A Strategic Model and The Occupier's Dilemma: Foreign-Imposed Nation-Building after Ethnic War. These lectures attracted both current and former students and teachers in the conflict research program, as well as research students from other programs at the Hebrew University.
All seminars are organized and coordinated by Dr. Yiftach Ron.
19.10.15
Meeting Title: Opening of the year meeting - acquaintance with the program and the program's lecturers
Date: Monday, October 19, 2015
Aba Even Hall, Truman Institute.
16.11.15
Lecture Title: Autonomy, Secession and Conflict: A Strategic Model
In collaboration with Prof. Danny Miodownik - Head, The Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations
Chair: Prof. Danny Miodownik
Lecturer: Prof. Simon Hug
The Department of Political Science and International Relations
Universite De Geneve
Opening Comments: Dr. Yiftach Ron
Date: Monday, November 16, 2015
Media Room no. 32, Central Library, Mount Scopus Campus
21.12.15
Lecture Title: The Geopolitics of Power Grids: The Case of Israel-Arab Countries
Chair: Dr. Yiftach Ron
Lecturer: Prof. Itay Fischhendler
The Department of Geography
The Hebrew university of Jerusalem
Date: Monday, December 21, 2015
Media Room no. 32, Central Library, Mount Scopus Campus
4.1.16
Lecture Title: The Occupier's Dilemma: Foreign-Imposed Nation-Building after Ethnic War
In collaboration with Prof. Danny Miodownik – Head, The Leonard Davis Institute for International Relations
Chair: Prof. Danny Miodownik
Lecturer: Prof. Nicholas Sambanis
The Department of Political Science
Yale University
Date: Monday, January 4, 2016
Media Room no. 32, Central Library, Mount Scopus Campus
14.3.16
A seminar held in cooperation with the Department of Communication and Journalism at the Hebrew University as part of a conference organized by the Department of Communication and Journalism, The Swiss Center for Conflict Research and The Smart Family Institute of Communication. The conference discussed conflict from political communication, journalism, public opinion, discourse and psychological perspectives.
Panel Title: Journalism, Politics and Conflict
Chair: Dr. Keren Tenenboim-Weinblatt
Speakers: Dr. Keren Tenenboim-Weinblatt, Prof. Motti Nieger, Dr. Christian Baden, Prof. Gadi Wolfsfeld, Prof. Moshe Negbi
Date: Monday, March 14, 2016
Room 501, Maiersdorf Faculty Club
4.4.16
Lecture Title: The Plan to Increase the Use of Mediation in Courts: Implementation,
Lessons Learnt and Future Implications
Chair: Dr. Yiftach Ron
Lecturer: Adv. Carmit Fenton, Adv. Nathaly Levi, Michal Lifshitz
Date: Monday, April 4, 2016
Media Room no. 32, Central Library, Mount Scopus Campus
30.5.16
A seminar held in cooperation with the Department of Communication and Journalism at the Hebrew University as part of a conference organized by the Department of Communication and Journalism, The Swiss Center for Conflict Research and The Smart Family Institute of Communication. The conference discussed new media, conflict resolution and cultural, political and technological aspects.
Panel Title: New Media, Culture, Religion and Technology
Chair: Dr. Nicholas John
Speakers: Dr. Nicholas John, Dr. Neta Kligler-Vilenchik, Prof. Menahem Blondheim, Dr. Hananel Rosenberg.
Respondent: Prof. Zizi Papacharissi
Date: Monday, May 30, 2016
Room 501, Maiersdorf Faculty Club
THE MARGUERITE WOLFF ANNUAL SEMINAR
Lecture Title: The Geopolitics of Power Grids: The Case of Israel-Arab Countries
Chair: Dr. Yiftach Ron
Lecturer: Prof. Itay Fischhendler, The Department of Geography, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Abstract: The academic literature highlights the economic, social and environmental benefits of international electricity grids. Therefore, countries and international institutions often attempt to establish electricity integration via regional electricity grids. However, whereas research on natural resources, such as oil and gas, frequently seeks to understand policy outcome through a geopolitical prism, when it comes to electricity studies the prism is always economic or technical. This oversight may explain the failure of many attempts to establish power interconnections. Hence, this study is a first attempt to identify the geopolitical dimension of international electricity grids. The study argues that similarly to many other contentious natural resources issues, the resolution of conflicts relating to electricity transmission requires identifying how the geopolitical dimension interplays with the physical dimension of regional electricity integration. This study first presents the expected benefits from transboundary electricity grids. Then it suggests four geopolitical bottlenecks that may explain why many of the social benefits of electricity grids have not fully materialized. To examine the role of these geopolitical bottlenecks, the study examines negotiations protocols, spanning over 15 years, on establishing ten grid connections between Israel and its Arab neighbors. It finds that electricity geopolitics has been used both as a platform for deeper international cooperation and as a stick against neighboring states. When policies are driven by a peace dividend, proposals for grid connection appear to evolve and overcome the dependency and the security-economy bottlenecks. When relations deteriorate, proposals for grid connections appear to undergo reconsideration and to be held hostage by higher politics. For both options, the geopolitical dimension of electricity network is attributed to the nature of the electricity network as a twofold package.
Date: Monday, December 21, 2015
Media Room no. 32, Central Library, Mount Scopus Campus
Prof. Fischhendler is a member of the Geography Department at the Hebrew University. His research engages in environmental disputes resolution, and climates and political changes.
He examined cases in Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Canada, USA and Mexico. He publishes in academic journals dealing with environmental politics, geography, water, conflict resolution, ecological economics, changes in climates and more. Today he is involved in two projects of the European Union ( FP7) dealing with disputes in international waters and integrated coastal management.