Past Conferences

GLD Annual Conference 2017: Layered Authority Past

5/31/2018 8:30:00 AM - 6/1/2018 5:30:00 PM

Gothenburg, Sweden

The Program on Governance and Local Development (GLD) at the University of Gothenburg will hold its second annual conference on May 31 - June 1, 2018 with the theme, "Layered Authority." In contexts where the state is weak, scholars have highlighted the importance of traditional authorities and other non-state actors when it comes to dispute resolution, tax collection, and a variety of other functions. And yet citizens abiding by traditional authorities in some domains may encounter state authorities in others -- for instance, if they send their children to public school or seek care from public hospitals. Moreover, the authority of state and non-state actors may overlap in ways that can create confusion or cause conflict -- for example, when it comes to land titling. Even in contexts where the state is seen as quite strong (i.e., upper- and middle-income countries) people may defer to religious authorities and other non-state entities when it comes to making decisions about marriage, schooling, and funeral rites. The tension that can arise between state and non-state authorities in the West is evidenced by recent legal battles over same-sex marriage, access to contraceptives, and abortion. We seek to showcase research that examines the ways in which different authorities interact, and the extent to which they complement or clash with each other. We also wish to understand how such interactions affect governance more broadly -- at the community as well as the state level. We aim to stimulate dialogue on such questions among scholars, policymakers, and other members of the development community.

Policy Dialogue Day 2018 Past

5/30/2018 10:00:00 AM - 5/30/2018 5:00:00 PM

Gothenburg, Sweden

We are pleased to announce an invitation to attend the Policy Dialogue Day 2018 “New Research = Better Policies: Insights on Democracy, Governance, and Armed Conflict” in Gothenburg, Sweden, May 30, 2018. This year’s Policy Dialogue Day is organized by the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute, the QoG (Quality of Government) Institute, GLD-Gothenburg (Program for Governance and Local Development), UCPD (Uppsala Conflict Data Program) and ViEWS (a Political Violence Early Warning System). The annual Policy Dialogue conference bridges the gap between analysis and practice and aims to shed light on questions relating to democracy support and governance. The conference serves as a meeting platform for practitioners, policy makers, and academics.

SAFEResearch Handbook Workshop Past

4/27/2018 10:52:02 AM - 4/27/2018 10:52:43 AM

Gothenburg, Sweden

Conducting field research has become an increasingly risky endeavour in recent years, particularly in regions characterized by violent conflict, repressive political regimes, or state failure. Working under such conditions is challenging. Researchers need to think of ways to assure the physical safety of their respondents, they need to protect themselves, and they must consider whether and how the confidentiality of information can be maintained. Despite these conditions, and despite the fact that journalists, NGO workers, and scholars across a range of disciplines face similar challenges, guidance on how to prepare and conduct safe field research is not readily available. SAFEResearch aims at addressing these shortcomings. We want to sensitize the academic community to the risks faced by many researchers and to draw on the experience of practitioners. Safe fieldwork comprises several interrelated dimensions. In addition to the physical safety of research participants and researchers, research in politically sensitive settings may require additional measures to ensure the confidentiality of data. Contact details, field notes, interview transcripts and other forms of research-related information needs to be stored, transmitted, and handled in a responsible way, balancing concerns about safety and confidentiality with transparency norms in the discipline.

The SAFEResearch Handbook: Gothenburg Workshop is supported by the Program on Governance and Local Development (GLD) and the School of Global Studies (SGS). This event is aimed at presenting key findings from the Handbook, spreading awareness of the project, and targeting research practitioners from academia, as well as key administrative professionals from academic institutions and bodies funding academic research.

SAFEResearch Handbook Workshop Past

4/27/2018 10:52:02 AM - 4/27/2018 10:52:43 AM

Gothenburg, Sweden

Conducting field research has become an increasingly risky endeavour in recent years, particularly in regions characterized by violent conflict, repressive political regimes, or state failure. Working under such conditions is challenging. Researchers need to think of ways to assure the physical safety of their respondents, they need to protect themselves, and they must consider whether and how the confidentiality of information can be maintained. Despite these conditions, and despite the fact that journalists, NGO workers, and scholars across a range of disciplines face similar challenges, guidance on how to prepare and conduct safe field research is not readily available. SAFEResearch aims at addressing these shortcomings. We want to sensitize the academic community to the risks faced by many researchers and to draw on the experience of practitioners. Safe fieldwork comprises several interrelated dimensions. In addition to the physical safety of research participants and researchers, research in politically sensitive settings may require additional measures to ensure the confidentiality of data. Contact details, field notes, interview transcripts and other forms of research-related information needs to be stored, transmitted, and handled in a responsible way, balancing concerns about safety and confidentiality with transparency norms in the discipline.

The SAFEResearch Handbook: Gothenburg Workshop is supported by the Program on Governance and Local Development (GLD) and the School of Global Studies (SGS). This event is aimed at presenting key findings from the Handbook, spreading awareness of the project, and targeting research practitioners from academia, as well as key administrative professionals from academic institutions and bodies funding academic research.

SAFEResearch Handbook Athens Workshop Past

1/24/2018 10:52:02 AM - 1/28/2018 10:52:43 AM

Athens, Greece

Conducting field research has become an increasingly risky endeavour in recent years, particularly in regions characterized by violent conflict, repressive political regimes, or state failure. Working under such conditions is challenging. Researchers need to think of ways to assure the physical safety of their respondents, they need to protect themselves, and they must consider whether and how the confidentiality of information can be maintained. Despite these conditions, and despite the fact that journalists, NGO workers, and scholars across a range of disciplines face similar challenges, guidance on how to prepare and conduct safe field research is not readily available. SAFEResearch aims at addressing these shortcomings. We want to sensitize the academic community to the risks faced by many researchers and to draw on the experience of practitioners. Safe fieldwork comprises several interrelated dimensions. In addition to the physical safety of research participants and researchers, research in politically sensitive settings may require additional measures to ensure the confidentiality of data. Contact details, field notes, interview transcripts and other forms of research-related information needs to be stored, transmitted, and handled in a responsible way, balancing concerns about safety and confidentiality with transparency norms in the discipline.

The SAFEResearch Handbook: Athens Writers’ Workshop aims to produce the draft handbook on research safety. The workshop will bring together 24 participants drawn from diverse professions (e.g., academia, human rights, journalism) and with broad regional expertise. The workshop will be held at the Swedish Research Institute (SRI) in Athens, from January 24-28, 2018.