Eventful PRIO

Wonderful summer party! It was very good seeing so many of you at the summer party, and to see that so many kids (of all ages!) and spouses there. I had the impression that everybody enjoyed themselves. I take it as a good sign when spouses hang out at the party long after their PRIOite mate has left. The party was wonderfully prepared in all possible ways, thanks to a committee combining efficiency with creativity, probably with a slant of hard work. The food was just really really good; the band was over the top, felt as tailor-made; and the NRX facilities must be made for parties like this. I take the event as a strong indicator - despite my realization that not everything is perfect – that PRIO is a thriving social environment. I am already looking forward to next year’s party.



The following day, the CSCW hosted a policy conference with the fitting title ‘Facts and Myths about Civil War’. We got a preview of the Uppsala conflict data (that shall be released with the next issue of JPR) by Peter Wallensteen and Erik Melander. An inpsiring keynote was given by Idean Salehyan. We had very interesting panels on three issues – democratization (Scott Gates), ethnic grievances (Lars-Erik Cederman), transnational dimensions (Kristian S. Gleditsch), each accompanied by a policy brief based on key findings from a number of earlier publications. Andrew Mack summed up the day.

Even though the event coincided with the annual OsloForum, where MFA invites mediators from all over the world to a high profile gathering at Losby Gods, it was well attended. There were pointed presentations, good discussions, and relevant findings. We were also told, by one MFA representative, not to underestimate the policy influence of what we do, even though it does not always come about in the ways we expect (CSCW’s policy briefs on power-sharing in West Africa came just at a time when Nepal was high on the agenda, and inspired policy there). All in all, the seminar was a model of how research and policy should go together at PRIO: solid academic research and publications; tailor-made policy outputs; and engaged debate on issues of real importance.