Upcoming events for European Studies @ the Wilson Center
“Ethnocracy Instead of Democracy in Macedonia”
Monday September 12, 12:00-1:00pm, 6th floor Boardroom
Featuring: Naum Panovski, independent scholar/researcher in arts, culture, and politics
On June 5, 2011, Macedonia held parliamentary elections. The outcome confirmed the fears of many observers, analysts, and democracy advocates that the ruling VMRO-DUI government coalition (both ultra-nationalist parties) will remain in power for the next four years with dire consequences for the future of Macedonia. Over the last four years, the government strongly protected nationalist projects and ethnic alliances, rather than the rule of law. The re-elected government has already shown disrespect for the rule of law, democracy, civil society, human rights, and freedom of speech in its earliest actions, which jeopardizes Macedonia’s attempt to accede to the European Union.
“The Environment and Human Rights: the International Community’s Responses to Emerging Local and Global Challenges”.
Co-sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson Center and the Embassy of Switzerland as part of the U.S. - Swiss Dialogue
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 from 11:00am-1:00pm
5th floor conference room
Featuring:
¦ Prof. Andrew Clapham // Profesor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International Law and Development Studies, Director of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. ¦ Charles Beer // Geneva State Councilor. ¦ Daniel Baer // Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State. ¦ Prof. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes // Professor of International Law, University of Geneva; Member of the Advisory Committee of the UN Human Rights Council.
Discussant: Ruth Greenspan Bell // Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center.
Moderator: Geoffrey D. Dabelko // Director, Environmental Change and Security Program and Coordinator, Global Health Initiative Adjunct Professor, Monterey Institute of International Studies.
Recent natural disasters have confirmed that environmental damage can have negative implications for the effective enjoyment of human rights. While the many linkages between protection of human rights and protection of the environment have long been recognized, the use of a human rights-based approach to address this increasingly urgent challenge remains contested from both a policy and a legal point of view.
The United Nations has taken up the issue on numerous fronts. Recently, the Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a Resolution on human rights and environment. Other multilateral environment fora have also recognized in some way the need to take human rights into consideration when developing environmental policies and sustainable development.
This event will address the interrelation between environmental damage and human rights, and examine how the international community—and in particular the UN—has approached this issue at a local and global level and discuss possible ways to optimize approaches and processes.
Partners include: Republic and State Geneva, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Universite de Geneva - Faculty of Law, The Graduate Institute of Geneva
Crisis and Decisions in Cyprus: Euro-Contagion and Prospects for Reunification
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 from 10:00am-11:00am
6th Floor Boardroom
Featuring: Farid Mirbagheri, Professor of International Relations and Dialogue Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Nicosia, Cyprus..
As Cyprus struggles to forgo being another player in the Eurozone debt calamity, many tough choices will have to be made in the coming weeks and months. Reshuffling the cabinet and tight fiscal policies could stiffen resolve behind austerity measures that, if adopted, could possibly see Cyprus through its economic crisis. For the first time in over half a century of the Republic’s history there is a call for early elections.
These are certainly difficult times for Cyprus. With the coalition party, DIKO, pulling out and leaving AKEL the only party supporting the administration, the economy edging towards a bail-out, and the whole Mari fiasco explosion there is little room for any serious talks or remedies for successful negotiations with Turkish Cypriots.
Can Christofias hold on to his post for the next 18-months of his presidency to regain voter confidence? Will Cyprus need an EU bail-out or can it pull through the economic crisis on its own? And in the wake of a politically feeble government and economy, what are the prospects for a settlement of the Cyprus problem?
The event is being co-sponsored by Strategy International (Thessaloniki, Greece)
“Theatre and the Holocaust in Romania: A dramatic reading of the Journals of Mihail Sebastian”
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 from 4:00-6pm
6th Floor Auditorium
Featuring: Dan Istrate, actor; Ovidiu Creanga, USHMM; Dennis Deletant, Georgetown University; Radu Ioanid, USHMM; and Cristina Bejan, Title VIII supported Research Scholar, WWICS)
Romania officially condemned its involvement in the European Holocaust following the Elie Wiesel Commission Report of 2004. A first-person account of being Jewish in Bucharest under fascist dictatorship is given by playwright and novelist, Mihail Sebastian, in his diary. Adapted for the stage by David Auburn in 2004, Sebastian comes to life in this one-man show based on his journal. The panel discussion following the performance will be an opportunity for the panelists and audience to discuss anti-Semitism, memory, theatre, repression, creativity and Holocaust remembrance and education in Romania today. This event brings together partners from the Woodrow Wilson Center, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Romanian Embassy to the United States.
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