Stein goes to Washington

Our very own Stein has been awarded a one year Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship from the Unites States Institute of Peace (USIP), starting 1 October 2010. While at USIP, Stein will work on his beloved East Asian Peace, writing a monograph that will be framing his research efforts on this topic over the next few years. I am extremely happy on Stein’s behalf, and I am glad that PRIO shall now have – for a year – its own representative in the US capital.

Stein’s personal scholarship comes on top of a closer working relationship between PRIO and USIP. In 2010, our Gender Team will work with USIP to mark the 10th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325. I am in regular contact with USIP on Afghanistan and Pakistan. They do interesting and PRIO-relevant work on a number of issues – including law, religion, peacekeeping – and there is plenty of interest at USIP in expanding collaboration.

The illustration displays USIP’s new headquarters, under construction close to the Mall, opposite the George Washington monument. The website doesn’t flag an opening date, probably for a reason. So, it is unclear whether Stein will be able to move into the new facilities, or if he shall be working from the building of the National Restaurant Association on the corner of 17th and M street. In any case, he shall be in good company, this year’s list of scholars sets a pretty impressive standard. And – if not quite as centrally placed as Oslo – Washington is still an interesting place to live.

PS: I was extremely pleased with the lively logo debate on my blog earlier this week. Thanks! My response is among the comments.