The annexation of Crimea and the secessionist movements in Eastern Ukraine, bolstered by Russia, have dramatically reminded everybody that the territorial order in the former Soviet Union is still far from stable. Instead, the region -same as the territory of the former Yugoslavia - has the potential for violent conflicts that pose a threat not only to European stability, but to international peace and order. Apart from the "hot" or "unfrozen" conflict in Ukraine, there are a number of "frozen" conflicts that, after a violent phase have later been de-escalated. However, these conflicts can be "unfrozen" at anytime. The conference will explore themes related to these "frozen" and "unfrozen" conflicts.
The 2017 CERES Graduate Student Conference: “Frozen and Unfrozen Conflicts” will begin on the evening of February 9th with a keynote address presented by Dr. Markian Dobczansky (Petro Jacyk Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Toronto), whose expertise on the history of Ukraine will set an ideal tone for the conference. His address will be followed by a Question and Answer period moderated by Professor Robert Austin. On the second day of the conference, graduate students from Canada will present their research and be given constructive feedback by faculty mentors, who will serve as paper discussants.