Seminar: Arctic science diplomacy

During the Cold War the Arctic was a principal theatre of strategic nuclear weapons systems and early warning. Since then, the area has been shaped by two major international systemic events of the past 25+ years; the end of the Cold War and the rise of China.

The continued struggle over the post-Cold War position of Russia in the international system is acute in Caucasus and Eastern Europe as evident in the 2008 Georgia war and the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Likewise, the return of China to its historical relative position in the world economy drive power transition from Western states to Eastern states. This makes the Arctic a clear example of science diplomacy’s potential for managing power transition.

On February 22nd Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen hosts a seminar with Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, Professor of Northern Studies and Barents Chair in Politics at the Department of Sociology, Political Science and Community Planning at the University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway. Growing up in Iceland, Rasmus has a deep personal and professional commitment to the region. Rasmus is also Senior Researcher at Aalborg University and affiliated to the Public Diplomacy Collaborative (Harvard Kennedy School of Government), the Sino-Danish Center (University of Chinese Academy of Sciences), Institute for Security and Development Policy (Sweden), and the University of Iceland.

Professor Emeritus, Bertel Heurlin, will moderate the debate.

When:
22 February, 13.00-15.00

Where:
NIAS-Nordic Institute for Asian Studies (meeting room), CSS 18.1 (Entrance E), Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen

With:
Professor Rasmus Gjedssø Bertelsen, Northern Studies and Barents Chair in Politics at the Department of Sociology, Political Science and Community Planning at the University of Tromsø-The Arctic University of Norway.
Moderator: Professor Bertel Heurlin, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

Organiser:
Centre for Military Studies, University of Copenhagen
ThinkChina Working Group on Politics

Register by emailing Natascha Vogel (Deadline: 19 February 2016, 12.00)