contributors

Articles by Ninna Mörner

1. Feminists in Eastern and Western Europe – Researchers and activists

   “Why is there no happiness in the East?” was the, according to many, provocative title of a conference put on by CBEES and Södertörn University September 8–10 of this year. The organizers of the conference, Teresa Kulawik, Renata Ingbrant and Youlia Gradskova, wanted to bring together feminist scholars for a discussion about conditions facing feminism in the East and in the West after the Berlin Wall, as well as the role of the EU and politics in the development of feminism.

2. Modernization is much needed in Russia

   Natalia Zubarevich, Department of Geography, Moscow State University, is keynote speaker at Baltic Worlds Annual Roundtable: Market Reform and Socio-Economic Change in Russia, October 6. She notes a growing polarization between people and regions. Modernization is necessary.

3. Baltic Worlds Roundtable 2011 Market Reform and Socio-Economic Change in Russia

   Baltic Worlds Roundtable illuminates the tremendous changes that Russian social and economic life has undergone due to the introduction of market economy after the fall of state socialism. The Rondtable takes place October 6, 2011.

4. Belarus. Discussion for Bringing about Change

   A number of representatives of the opposition in Belarus participated in a seminar “The Way Forward for Belarus”. The seminar addressed such issues as the difficulties experienced by the opposition in working for democracy and human rights in Belarus and what the outside world can do to support their work.

5. Memory and manipulation. Is anyone’s suffering more important than anyone else’s?

   Balkan experts attending the symposium “Memory and Manipulation: Religion as Politics in the Balkans", agree that the war was directed from the top, and that “top-down” is the key to understanding how the war began in the region.

6. Russia maintains its focus on gas. And everybody is fed up with Ukraine

   The Russian energy strategy for the next few years includes lofty goals. While other countries are investing 1.5 percent of their GDP in the energy sector, Russia is spending 5 percent. This was noted at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) Annual Conference on Russian and Eurasian Studies.

7. Human trafficking is likely to increase and become even more complex

   Professor Shelley was the keynote speaker at the “Human Trafficking: The Nexus Between Research and Operative Work” conference in Uppsala, Sweden on November 25, 2010. She noted that human trafficking always grows where there are large social gaps and little opportunity for poor people to improve their situation. However the organization, manifestation and methods used in the combat are culturally distinctive.

8. Welcome to Baltic Worlds new Election coverage.

   Baltic Worlds will be commenting on the parliamentary and presidential elections taking place in countries around the Baltic Sea region and in Eastern Europe. The comments and analyses, written by researchers and in a few cases by expert journalists, present the parties, the candidates and the main issues of the election, as well as analyze the implications of the results. First out: a report from the election in Poland this summer.

9. ICCEES Eight World Congress. Gorbachev and Perestroika

   ICCEES’ (International Council for Central and Eastern European Studies) Eight World Congress “Eurasia: Prospects for Wider Communication” took place in Stockholm, Sweden in July 2010. Host was the Swedish Society for the Study of Russia, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Sällskapet ). Here you may read Mikhail Gorbachev´s speech, presented at the Opening Ceremony by Pavel Palazhchenko, advisor and interpreter to Mikhail Gorbachev. Also available is an essay based on Professor Archie Browns key note lecture “Gorbachev and Perestroika: a 25th Anniversary Perspective”. The Opening Ceremony and a discussion between Archie Brown, Jack Matlock, author and US ambassador in Moscow 1987‐1991 and Pavel Palazhchenko is published as video films here.

10. Report from Helsinki. Hot feelings about Cold War

    During the Cold War each side produced propaganda which highlighted the differences between the two systems and peoples, “the others”. There were, however, also conceptions of “the other” derived from sporadic but real meetings, meetings which awoke curiosity and a willingness to establish closer relations. The Aleksanteri Institute’s ninth annual conference, “Cold War: Interactions Reconsidered”, held in Helsinki fall 2009, examined these more low-key contacts and varying interpersonal relations and attitudes.