Call for Papers, Summer Academy, "Conflict Transformation in Central Asia - the OSCE at the Crossroads", Kazakhstan

Summer Academy, "Conflict Transformation in Central Asia - the OSCE at the Crossroads"
crossposted from Central Asia- L List
13.-19.6. 2010, Astana, Kazakhstan

We invite paper proposals for the Summer Academy "Conflict
Transformation in Central Asia - the OSCE at the crossroads" which
will take place from June 13th till-19th  2010, in Astana, KAZ. The
event will be held at Kazakh University of Humanities and Law, hosted
by German Academic Exchange Service, German Embassy in Astana,
Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Philipps-University of Marburg and others.

"Conflict transformation in Central Asia - the OSCE at the crossroads"

Fueled by the OSCE Chairmanship of Kazakhstan in 2010, which called in
advance for critics and various expectations at the same time, the
debate about the future of the security organization was revitalized.
Even the skeptics among the European OSCE member states look forward
to the year 2010. Right now it seems as if the future development and
agenda of the OSCE is closely linked to the still expected results
obtained under Kazakh presidency.

As far as the OSCE is concerned, some even speak about crossroads, as the
Kazakh government itself is among the countries which have been
criticized in the past for neglecting principles of free elections, Human Rights violations
and the inappropriate observance of democratic standards.

Following on from that, the substantive focus of the Summer Academy is
entitled "Conflict Transformation in Central Asia - the OSCE at the
crossroads" and serves to discuss the possibilities and limits of
OSCE`s engagement in Central Asia with particular account on regional
perceptions of conflicts and security risk.

Since the establishment of the KSCE/OSCE in 1975, the organization
underwent a lot of changes and developments that shaped the structure.
A milestone in the history of the OSCE has been the accession of the
former Soviet Republics in 1992. Since then a belt of
secular-orientated states with a Muslim majority demark the
territorial boundaries of the OSCE in the Eurasian part.

While the OSCE seems to be committed to Human Rights, the promotion of
pluralism and democracy as well as rule of law, some of its member
states - mainly the new ones - attempt to alter the weighting of the
three dimensions in favor of the economic and military branch. To the
latter does Kazakhstan count as proponent together with Russia,
Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states.

Together with experts from the non-governmental sector, international
organizations and representatives from the state administration, young scientists will
gain the opportunity for an interdisciplinary dialogue in combination
with academic research and practical experience.

Subject of this is the development of realistic approaches for the
regulation of various conflicts that occur within the OSCE fields of interest.

All aspects of social and political sciences, law and economics
related to the OSCE and its various activities in Central Asia are
welcomed for paper topics.

* Methods and models of conflict analysis and conflict regulation
* Areas of conflict in Central Asia that are in compliance with the
  OSCE dimensions
* Traditional security issues (border management, terrorism,
  proliferation of weapons e.g. )
* Economical security issues (illegal migration, organized crime,
  corruption e.g.)
* Environmental security issues (transnational degradation of water
  resources and pollution, climate change e.g.)
* Human dimension (Gender, minorities, human trafficking e.g.)
* Political dimension (elections, pluralism e.g.)
* OSCE and its structure, processes and mechanism.

Practitioners and young scholars (holder of a Master degree, PhD
students and in exceptional cases advanced students) from Central Asia
[Kg, Uz, Tj, Tkm, Kaz] and Germany in the named disciplines are
encouraged to participate.

Please make sure you provide us with:

1. Name

2. Current institutional affiliation

3. Title/position

4. E-mail address

5. Telephone

6. Title of Paper

7. Abstract of Paper (a summary of the paper of 200-300 words)

Submitted papers will be peer-reviewed by an independent committee
(KazUHL, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, University of Marburg/Germany,
German Embassy Astana, German Academic Exchange Service). The
organizational committee plans to publish the papers of the
participants subsequently.

Travelling and accommodations:

The organizational committee plans on providing prospective participants with funding for accommodation and travel

Important notes:

1) Submit your proposal in .rtf, .doc or .pdf. Other formats won't be accepted.

2) By submitting a proposal, you are indicating your serious intention
  to participate, including your commitment to take the necessary steps
  to obtain any required visa.

3) As stated above we try to find sponsors for travel and
  accommodation costs. In order to avoid increasing travel expenditures
  we ask you to buy the tickets for your traveling in advance and after
  your arrival in Astana you will be refunded.

4) Working language will be English. All presentations are to be made
  in English.

5) Those accepted to the summer academy should confirm their
  participation by the 10th May 2010.

Schedule of key dates:

Send the paper to astanasummeracademy2010(at)gmail.com until 20th of April 2010.

The papers will be peer-reviewed till the 5th of May 2010 and the participants informed via e-mail.

Commitments that are binding are expected until the 10th of May 2010.

We expect you to send the final papers till the 6th of June 2010
together with digital versions of your presentations (.ppt-format)

We are looking forward to receiving paper proposals from young Central
Asian scholars and researchers.


Organizational Committee OSCE summer academy
International Office
Kazakh University of Humanities and Law
Korgalzhinskoye Highway 8
Astana 010000 Kazakhstan
astanasummeracademy2010(at)gmail.com