Project description:
This dissertation project takes a transnational perspective on post-war reconciliation, examining the factors that contribute to reconciliation both in the local and war-generated diaspora population of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the linkages between the two. Much attention is often paid to understanding how the goals of reconciliation can be achieved in post-war societies. Nevertheless, international interventions often fail in their attempts to support a transformation of the fundamental conflictive beliefs that reflect continuing societal insecurity and make a return to war possible.At the same time, war generates migration, and migrants often stay deeply connected with their homelands politically, economically and socially. A dearth of attention has been paid to the conditions under which reconciliation in war-generated diaspora communities may be achieved; the nature and extent of their transnational activities; and whether and to what extent these activities impact the conflictive beliefs and attitudes of the homeland population. Understanding why there are differences between the reconciliatory attitudes of diaspora and local communities may help to shed light on the conditions under which conflictive beliefs give way to an ethos of peace. The dissertation approaches this problematic through a critical reading of existing literature on migration and security and a multidisciplinary perspective that incorporates insights from research on international interventions, migration, psychology and socialpsychology. The empirical basis of the project is primarily two nationally representative surveys implemented at both ends of the migration chain linking Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sweden.
Conference Papers and Presentations:
- Hall, Jonathan and Roland Kostic. 2010. Integration for Peace? Integration and Reconciliation among Diasporas. Paper presented at Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW) Brown-Bag, Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO), 19 May, Oslo.
- Hall, Jonathan and Roland Kostic. 2009. Integration for Peace? Integration and Reconciliation among Diasporas. Paper presented at “Exploring the Past, Anticipating the Future,” the 50th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association (ISA), 15-18 Feb, New York City.
- Hall, Jonathan and Roland Kostic. 2009. Integration for Peace? Integration and Reconciliation among Diasporas. Paper presented at the 11th Annual Kokkalis Graduate Student Workshop, The John F. Kennedy School of Government and Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University, 12-13 Feb, Cambridge.
- Hall, Jonathan and Roland Kostic. 2009. Integration for Peace? Integration and Reconciliation among Diasporas. Paper presented at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, 5 Feb, Uppsala.
- Hall, Jonathan. 2008. Diasporas in Civil Conflict and Peace: Motivations, Mechanisms and Impact. Paper presented at “Globalisation: Nation States, Forced Migration and Human Rights,” the annual conference of the Norwegian Association for Development Research, 27-28 Nov, Trondheim.
Hall, Jonathan, 2008. ‘Migrant Transnationalism and Homeland Reconciliation.’ Paper presented at ‘Rethinking Peace and Security: New Dimensions, Actors and Strategies,’ Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, 7-16 July, Coimbra.
- Hall, Jonathan, 2008. ‘The Impact of Diasporas on Civil War and Peace: A Review and Critique of Theory and Evidence.’ Invited presentation. Paper presented at ‘Transnational Migrant Communities and the Study of Civil War,’ a workshop of the Transnational Facets of Civil War Working Group, Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW), Peace Research Institute of Oslo (PRIO), 5-6 June, Oslo.
Hall, Jonathan and Roland Kostic, 2008. ‘Hostland Integration and Homeland Reconciliation: ‘Bosnian Diaspora in Sweden.’ Paper presented at the PhD Symposium in Peace and Conflict Research, 5-6 May, Uppsala.
- Hall, Jonathan and Roland Kostic, 2008. ‘Hostland Integration and Homeland Reconciliation: Bosnian Diaspora in Sweden.’ Paper presented at ‘Bridging Multiple Divides,’ the 49th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association (ISA), 26-29 March, San Francisco.
- Hall, Jonathan, 2007. ‘Summary of Day Two Proceedings.’ Presentation at ‘Diasporas and their Involvement in Peace Processes,’ organized by the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University and funded by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 14-16 May, Uppsala.
- Hall, Jonathan and Ashok Swain, 2006. ‘Diasporas, Extremism and Civil War.’ Paper presented at ‘Globalization and Peacebuilding,’ organized by the Swedish Network of Peace, Conflict and Development Research, 6-8 November, Uppsala.
- Hall, Jonathan and Ashok Swain, 2006. ‘Diasporas, Extremism and Civil War.’ Paper presented at University for Peace High-Level Expert Forum ‘Capacity Building for Peace and Development: Roles of Diaspora,’ 19-20 October, Toronto.
Other project activities
- “Diasporas and their Involvement in Peace Processes”, conference hosted by the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, and funded by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Uppsala, 14-16 May 2007.
- "Globalization and Peacebuilding", annual conference of the Swedish Network of Peace, Conflict and Development Research. (80 participants; 51 papers presented; 30 universities; 18 countries; 16 independent organizations & institutes.) Uppsala, 6-8 November 2006. Principle organizer: Jonathan Hall.
Main financial support:
- Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD)
- HUMCRICON
- The Marie Curie Fellowship Programme