Workshop Panel at 2008 ACUNS annual meeting

The ACUNS Secretariat has accepted our proposal for a workshop panel at the 2008 ACUNS annual meeting in Bonn.

The panel in brief

Title: Institutionalizing UN Studies - Progress report on the Working Group on UN Studies

For the final version of our panel proposal, please click here.

Date and location: The panel will take place on June 7, 2008 at 1.30pm, at the Gustav-Stresemann-Institute in Bonn.

Abstract:

At the 2007 ACUNS annual meeting in New York City, the UN Studies Working Group was launched by a group of ACUNS members, dedicated to advance research and teaching about the UN and to establish a UN-focused, interdisciplinary field of study – UN Studies. The workshop panel “Tackling Future UN Studies – Views of the next UN generation” allowed for a first discussion on this subject, covering the normative vision, interdisciplinary approaches, learning methods, interactive teaching and learning techniques, as well as the public (perception) side.

The proposed workshop panel at the 2008 annual meeting aims to provide ACUNS members with a follow-up report on this international communication and collaboration project. Working group members will present and discuss the progress and/or results of their UN Studies-related activities. Continuing our dialogue with the ACUNS membership is hoped to further raise awareness and foster a consensus on the subject of UN Studies as well as to discuss opportunities for joint action - important steps towards institutionalizing UN Studies.

Purpose:

Since the UN Studies Working Group evolved from the 2007 ACUNS meeting, we hope to connect back with the wider ACUNS membership. The purpose of the proposed panel workshop is thus to inform interested ACUNS members about the background, objectives and activities of the group, to solicit their feedback and to discuss new ideas concerning UN Studies.

Participants will first hear about the normative side of UN Studies. Individual members of the working group will then introduce their work on specific aspects of UN-focused research and teaching, paying attention to the underlying theories, methods, approaches and tools. A special and timely report will be given on the results of the “Seminar on UN Research and Teaching”, to be held prior to the ACUNS annual meeting. As a result, participants will be engaged in a discussion about UN Studies and learn about the various activities and possibilities to engage in a collaborative effort to design and institutionalize this new field of studies.

Panelists

The following representatives of the working group will report on their activities.

• Henrike Paepcke, Co-Chair, UN Studies Working Group – Introduction: the UN Studies Working Group and the concept of UN Studies (normative side)
• John Mathiason, Professor of International Relations, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; Director, Geneva Summer Practicum, Syracuse University - Progress report on work on the implications of multi-stakeholder governance for the future of the UN (new directions in research)
• Luise Druke, Faculty member, Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Political Science, MIT / Leibniz University of Hannover - UN and Humanitarian Governance (new directions in teaching)
• Kirsten Haack, Associate Lecturer, Open University - Supranational leadership by the UN Secretary-General - what we have learned thus far about the UN Secretary-General and where to go next" (new directions in research)
• A member of the group will report about the seminar on UN research and teaching on June 4: "Past, present and future views on the United Nations - Creating new content for innovative UN research and teaching"
• Chair: open to ACUNS

All panelists are ACUNS members.

More information on the ACUNS conference and our working group seminar on research and teaching.

In the following, you will find the key information that helped us plan the workshop panel.

Initial proposal (planning phase October 2007 - January 2008)

Summary (initial)

At the 2007 ACUNS annual meeting in New York City, the working group on UN Studies was launched by a group of ACUNS members, dedicated to advancing research and teaching about the UN and establishing a UN-focused, interdisciplinary field of study and research. The workshop panel “Tackling Future UN Studies – Views of the next UN generation” allowed for a first discussion on this subject, covering the normative vision, interdisciplinary approaches, learning methods, interactive teaching and learning techniques, as well as the public (perception) side.

The proposed workshop panel at the 2008 ACUNS annual meeting aims to provide ACUNS members with a follow-up report on this international communication and collaboration project. Working group members will present the results of their first year's activities and invite the audience to engage in the discussion, offering their experiences, expectations and ideas. Continuing our dialogue with the ACUNS membership is hoped to further raise awareness and foster a consensus on the subject of UN Studies as well as to demonstrate opportunities for joint future action - important steps towards institutionalizing UN Studies.

Panel background and purpose (initial)

The increasing complexity in global affairs, emerging modes of governance and new technologies call for imaginative thinking about the field of International Organization and other UN-related Studies in order to better qualify the younger generation of UN experts—academics, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners alike—to face the new challenges of the 21st century.

The UN Studies Working Group is an emerging international community of UN practitioners and academics, dedicated to reform and advance research and teaching about the UN. Launched at the 2007 ACUNS annual meeting, the group today comprises over 25 members with a wide spectrum of interests – ranging from teaching and learning methods to multi- and interdisciplinary research; from UN reform to all types of governance issues (such as internet, humanitarian and environmental governance).

The group’s overall vision is to promote the development of an interdisciplinary, UN-focused field of studies and research at graduate level, integrating the different dimensions of the UN; and to build a strong UN Studies community that takes UN research and teaching to the next level –“the next generation” of UN Studies.

The group pursues two complementary objectives:

• to provide for the ideational basis by defining the special need for and working towards a common understanding and concept of UN Studies; including key contents, features, methods and tools.

• to set in motion a process of institutionalization of the next generation of UN Studies by creating the necessary framework and structures.

The working group offers a future-oriented place for communication and collaboration across disciplines, fields, and professions. The platform and network is open to all interested parties who seek to enter into a dialogue with like-minded UN researchers and practitioners; as well as to all those who wish to engage themselves actively in the community, contributing with ideas, information or projects.

With the help of new web technologies, members can share expertise, best practices and knowledge within the group, and beyond (www.igloo.org/unstudies; upcoming: www.unstudies.org). Our projects and related activities include the development of syllabi, UN textbooks and a journal on IO Studies; as well as the generation of new research ideas, teaching material, training tools, inter alia.

The purpose of the proposed panel workshop is to inform about the background, objectives and activities of the working group and to engage in a discussion with panel attendees that have an interest in research and teaching about the UN and seek an outlet for their questions and ideas. Attendees will hear about the normative side of UN Studies and gain insight into current projects. They will also learn about the various dissemination channels such as the internet or publications, as well as about future activities and possibilities for their engagement.

Since this group evolved at the 2007 ACUNS meeting, we hope to connect back with the membership, attract further interest, solicit feedback, discuss and explore new ideas – all of which are deemed important steps to institutionalize UN Studies.

Panel Structure (initial)

Representatives of the working group could specifically report on:

• the concept of UN studies and an overview of research and teaching about the UN
• the planned seminar on teaching techniques to be held prior to the ACUNS annual meeting
• concrete research projects
• the publication projects and the new wiki portal

Submitted on behalf of the UN Studies Working Group by:

Henrike Paepcke

Julia Harfensteller

Joint planning for the annual meeting

As can be seen from the proposal above, we have about 4 to 5 slots open on this proposed panel - to be filled by members of the working group who plan to attend the conference and would be willing and interested to report about their activities.

• Is there anybody else who is planning on presenting his / her progress report? -- HenrikePaepcke - 20 Sep 2007
• I would be interested in presenting a progress report on my work on the implications of multi-stakeholder governance for the future of the United Nations. -- JohnMathiason - 11 Sep 2007

List of interested parties and suggested topics/ideas:

• Don Daniel - book on quantitative analyses of peacekeeping operations, in cooperation with Birger Heldt from the Folke Bernadotte Academy in Sweden
• Luise Druke - UN and Humanitarian Governance
• Kirsten Haack
• John Mathiason - progress report on work on the implications of multi-stakeholder governance for the future of the UN
• ??? - report on the outcome of the previous seminar on research and teaching

-- HenrikePaepcke - 6 Mar 2008