The Hankø sessions

Most of us spent Tuesday and Wednesday this week at Hankø - where we brainstormed, discussed, played, danced, explored the ecology - a delicate synergy of productivity and fun. The PRIO crowd came to Hankø super-inspired, and from what I gathered, talking to people on the bus back home, were no less inspired at the end of the two days. I am certainly inspired, the pool of ideas that we have after the creative session at Hankø is more than anybody could have dreamt of.

We spent the first session walking the Hankø forest, two and two. There was some mumbling about rigging when the first pair of names that Lars Even pulled out of his paper cup proved to be Inger and Kristian, but no signs of post selection violence. Some of us (i.e. the director and the deputy) got lost in the forest - but traversing cliffs and surviving snakes, made it back – with ideas for PRIO’s future research agenda. Summing up, grouping, and connecting the ideas on the second day was great fun (see Alf’s picture). Pavel, kicking of the stand-up reflections, inserted a bit of realism when he told us that good as they were, few of those ideas had much newness to them.

We discussed PRIO’s mode of operation, as seen from within, in a more conventional setting, sitting on chairs. Inspired by introductions from Lars Even (review of previous strategy) and Agnete (the Argument reputational inquiry), nine groups threw itself into the discussion. The feedback from the groups threw light on PRIO’s strengths and weaknesses, and came up with amazingly concrete suggestions for how to move forwards. The group on publishing, led by Peter, came up with a new and clever conceptualization of PRIO’s outreach strategy , a triangle with three audiences; policy, public and academic (the latter being the centre of gravity). To me this is not only a succinct conceptualization of how and for whom we publish, it captures PRIO’s very identity.

The last afternoon was spent on a boat, fittingly, since the topic was what changes we expect in PRIO’s external environment. We thought that being in deep waters would help us take that larger perspective. I admit that the sea was a bit rougher than expected, and realize that for some people that may not have given the kind of creativity boost that was intended. Nonetheless, I take it as an indication that we must define our ways within a rapidly changing environment, while being watchful of the unexpected. I have no doubt that we are sufficiently robust to maneuver the rough waters, cultivating a good working environment and setting the agenda in peace research.

We are now entering the Strategy Month, where the bulk of the work on the new strategy will take place. You will all, in one form or another, be asked to contribute. The six member StratCom meets early next week to sum up the Hankø sessions and pin down the next steps. Meanwhile, keep the conversation going and the ideas flowing! The concrete aim is to be defining PRIO’s strategic priorities on a piece of paper. But, what is really going to matter is our ability to maintain a vibrant strategic reflection.

Thanks to all who made Hankø such an inspiring and useful event. Thanks in particular to the StratCom members, and to Cathrine, for excellent planning. Thanks also to Olga and Mete, for bringing the PCC perspective. I look very much forward to working with you all in the weeks ahead (for the strategy document) and in the years ahead (for that strategic reflection). THANKS!