EDDA

November 4, 2013

Retrenchment or renewal? Welfare states in times of economic crisis

EDDA – Center of Excellence has, in cooperation with the Nordic Centers of Excellence NordWel and REASSESS, published the book Retrenchment or renewal? Welfare states in times of economic crisis. The work is part of a book series initiated by NORDWEL (The Nordic Welfare State – Historical Foundations and Future Challenges). The editors are Prof. Guðmundur Jónsson and Dr. Kolbeinn Stefánsson.

The global economic crisis, which began in 2008, has posed serious challenges to welfare states and shaken their financial, social and political foundations. This book analyzes the impact of what has become the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression on social policy and welfare state developments in Europe and North America. The varied national experiences are examined and put into a wider intellectual and historical context. The book poses such questions as the following: What has been the impact of the current crisis on social policy? Has the crisis heralded a new phase of entrenchment and austerity or are there signs of opportunities opening up for progressive social reform? Read more »

September 25, 2013

Claiming the North: (Re-)territorializing the “Westnordic Arctic”

Events

On Friday October 4 the Centre for Arctic Policy Studies at the University of Iceland, Denmark and the New North Atlantic and EDDA – Center of Excellence will host a symposium titled “Claiming the North: (Re-)territorializing the “Westnordic Arctic”“. The symposium will take place at the University of Iceland, Askja building, room 132, at 13:00-18:00.

This international and cross-disciplinary symposium will facilitate a discussion on current and potential restructuring in the circumpolar North with a focus on the West-Nordic Arctic and Subarctic regions. Particular attention is paid to identity politics, with a focus on the processes that construct majorities and minorities, core and peripheries. Discussions will focus on the multiple transnational effects of colonial ties, climate change, industrial activity and increased mobility on sovereign and indigenous rights, economic interests and cultural issues. Read more »

September 17, 2013

EDDA in the Media: Interviews with Catherine de Wenden

EDDA in the Media

The daily newspaper Morgunbladid published an interview with Catherine de Wenden in relations to her open lecture on the globalization of migration. The radio programme Spegillinn, aired by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, broadcasted an interview with Catherine de Wenden in relations to her open lecture as well.

September 11, 2013

Public Lecture: The Globalization of Migration: the Case of Southern Countries

Events

Research professor Catherine de Wenden, research director and teacher at the Center for International Relations at the Sciences Po-University in Paris and the La Sapienza-University in Rome, will give a public talk entitled “The Globalization of Migration: the Case of Southern Countries” on Friday 13 September 2013. The lecture will be held at the Lögberg building, room 101, University of Iceland at 12:00. The lecture is held in collaboration with the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland and the French Embassy in Reykjavik.

Summary of Catherine de Wenden‘s Lecture:

In her lecture, Catherine de Wenden will focus on southern countries and illustrate them as departure points, a final destination or a transit place. This discussion will shed a light on contemporary migration systems. De Wenden calls for a global governance of migration, in order to make migration less precarious and more beneficial to the migrants themselves as well as to societies of destination and origin. Read more »

May 13, 2013

GEST joins the United Nations University

Events

The Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (GEST) at the University of Iceland became formally part of the United Nations University (UNU-GEST) on 9 May 2013. It followed the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Icelandic Minstry for Foreign Affairs, the United Nations University, and the University of Iceland.

The UNU-GEST started as a pilot project of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the University of Iceland in 2009. It forms part of Iceland’s development cooperation and builds on the same goals and foundation as the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP), the United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme (UNU-FTP) and the United Nations University Land Restoration Programme (UNU-LTR).

Since the GEST Programme started in 2009, 21 fellows from Afghanistan, Palestine, Mozambique and Uganda have graduated. On 31 May 2013, eight more students will join this group of graduates. The GEST Programme has worked in close collaboration with the EDDA – Center at the University of Iceland and will continue to do so as UNU-GEST. Read more »