The 2019 MA Conference: 30th May - 31st May

The MA Dissertation Conference is hosted annually by students of the PAIS Department, University of Warwick. The conference aims to provide a platform for MA students to present their provisional dissertation plans and discuss their ideas with academics and peers to help them refine and improve their plans.

Whilst we recognise the importance of peer-to-peer learning and a relaxed atmosphere for constructive feedback on current research, we also want to bring participants into contact with the newest research, research methods and topics conducted by experts. This year, we have invited Jonathan Joseph from the University of Sheffield, Joachim Koops who is an expert on the intersection of regional and International Organisations, Global Governance and Global Security Governance, Hugh Sykes, a journalist employed by BBC News, Gabriel Siles-Brügge, Nick Vaughan-Williams and Oz Hassan as speakers for the Dissertation Conference.

Furthermore, you will be able to present and discuss your dissertation plans. To give you as much support as possible, we have decided to round up the conference with informal workshops on resources and referencing, proof reading, time management, planning and structure of a dissertation with library staff and Warwick PAIS PhD students.

The event is surely one not to be missed! Not only will it provide much needed support, direction and feedback on your research and proposed methods but it is a great opportunity to engage with experts on their own research, pitfalls they’ve encountered and strategies to avoid them. IF that wasn’t enough…. there will be free tea, coffee and snacks available throughout the conference, with buffet lunches provided both days. Ideally, you should not be coming just for the food and drink, but hey, your brain does require energy to function. The closing ceremony will be followed by a BBQ, held on the grounds, including a celebration and a musical treat to finish on a high! More details will follow!

Speakers

Thursday, May 31, 10.45 - Nick Vaughan-Williams - Introduction remarks

PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PAIS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

His programme of research focuses on the international politics of border security; the changing nature, location, and impact of borders particularly in the European context; and bordering practices as a lens to examine questions relating to sovereignty, migration, identity, violence, and the everyday politics of inclusion and exclusion.
He will give introductory remarks at the start of the conference.

Thursday, May 31, 11-12am - Gabriel Siles-Brügge

PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR FOR THE MA IN PUBLIC POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

Bound by gravity or living in a "post geography trading world": Post-Brexit trade policy and the Anglosphere

Gabriel's research interests sit at the interface of the study of European Union politics and International Political Economy, where he is currently focusing on the politics of trade and investment negotiations (regulatory cooperation; trade in services; investor protection and the role of civil society protest); the role of economic ideas in policymaking, notably of quantification and econometric modelling; the political economy of Brexit, including of emerging UK trade policy; and the role of emotions in International Political Economy.

Thurday, May 31, 16.15-17.15 - Jonathan Joseph

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

Varieties Of Resilience

Jonathan Joseph's research focus is on the intersection of philosophy, social theory and international relations. He examines this through the concepts of hegemony and governmentality. Currently, he is developing a critical approach to the idea of resilience and how it is used in international interventions, civil protection and security policies.

Friday, June 1, 10-11am - Hugh Sykes

JOURNALIST, CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY BBC NEWS

From the Arab Spring to Erdogan - doors closing on freedom

Hugh Sykes is a journalist employed by BBC News, specifically reporting for news programmes on BBC Radio 4. Sykes can regularly be heard reporting for PM, The World at One, Broadcasting House and The World This Weekend. Hugh has reported extensively from Iraq, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, the occupied Palestinian Territories, South Africa, Germany and Northern Ireland. He has also sent fea tures from India, China, Syria, Russia, France, Italy and Spain. In 2004 and 2005, Hugh won the Gold and Silver Sony Radio Academy awards for Journalist of the Year.

Friday, June 1, 3-4 pm - Joachim Koops

RESEARCH PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AT THE INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES, DEAN OF VESALIUS COLLEGE; VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL, COURSE DIRECTOR OF THE EXECUTIVE COURSE IN GLOBAL RISK ANALYSIS AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT

The Future of UN Peacekeeping - including some re ections on the academia-think tank nexus

Joachim Koops' research interests include the European Union as an international actor and 'Integrative Power', the theory and practice of (effective) multilateralism and global governance, inter-organizational cooperation and rivalry (with special focus on NATO, the EU, United Nations and African Union) as well as crisis management, peacekeeping and peacebuilding (including the Responsibility to Protect / Rebuild).

Current research projects include United Nations Peacekeeping, the European Union as a Diplomatic Actor, the EU’s cooperation with NATO and the United Nations, theories of cooperation and rivalry among major international organisations and lessons learned from the UN Peacebuilding Commission and the Standby High Readiness Brigade for United Nations Operations (SHIRBRIG) for UN Peacekeeping.

Friday, June 1, 5.15-5.30 - Oz Hassan - Closing remarks

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF GRAUDATE STUDIES IN THE POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

Oz Hassan will give closing remarks at the conference. He has published widely on U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa, European foreign policy, transatlantic relations, civil society development, assistance programs, counterterrorism and counterproliferation strategies, and democratization.

Workshops

PAIS PhD students will run workshops to help students improving their dissertation writing and research skills. Students will be able to discuss their inquiries about the dissertation writing process such as resources and referencing, proof reading, time management as well as planning and structure of a dissertation.

Participation and Conference Registration

We know that you’re interested.
For the hassle-free registration to our conference, whether you want to present, or to participate, please see below the section that applies to you and register by sending an email to paismaconf@warwick.ac.uk.

For Presenters

There is space left for more student speakers, and we urge you to present your dissertation ideas at the annual PAIS MA Dissertation Conference. Please submit your provisional dissertation title as well as a couple of sentences explaining your topic to paismaconf@warwick.ac.uk so that we can allocate you to the appropriate panel.

We will then let you know which student presentation panel we have assigned you to as well as some further details on the preparation.

For Participants

Just to keep track on the numbers, we still require you to register by sending an email to paismaconf@warwick.ac.uk by the 26th May.

Socials

The free food and drink comprises of lunch on both days, a barbecue in the Social Science Courtyard, and a drinks reception in the Terrace Bar to end the conference on Friday evening.

Schedule

Day 1 (31/05)

10:00-11:00 H0.52 Set Up & Registration

10:45-11:00 H0.52 Introduction by Prof. Nick Vaughan-Williams, Head of the Department of PAIS at the University of Warwick

11:00-12:00 H0.52 Keynote Lecture by Dr. Gabriel Siles-Brügge, University of Warwick: Bound by gravity or living in a “post geography trading world”: Post-Brexit trade policy and the Anglosphere

12:00-13:00 H0.60 Student Presentations: International Relations

13:00-14:00 D2.04 PAIS Common Room Lunch (Door Code: 1005)

14:00-14:45 H0.60 Networking Session

14:45-15:45 H0.60 Student Presentations: International Political Economy

15:45-16:15 H0.52 Tea and Coffee

16:15-17:15 H0.52 Keynote Lecture by Prof. Jonathan Joseph, Department of Politics, University of Sheffield: Varieties of Resilience

17:15-17:20 H0.52 Brief closing remarks

Day 2 (01/06)

10:00-11:00 H0.52 Keynote Lecture by Hugh Sykes, journalist, BBC News: From the Arab Spring to Erdogan - doors closing on freedom

11:00-12:00 H0.60 Student Presentations on Politics in Global Finance

12:00-13:00 H0.60 Workshop on dissertation writing with PhD Student Jennifer Philippa Eggert, expert on conflict and Middle East studies and qualitative research

13:00-14:00 D2.04 PAIS Common Room Lunch (Door Code: 1005)

14:00-15:00 H0.60 Student Presentations: China, India and Asia Pacific

15:00-16:00 H0.52 Keynote Lecture by Prof. Joachim Koops, Dean of Vesalius College Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Research Professor at the VUB’s Institute for European Studies (IES), Director of the Global Governance Institute (GGI)

16:00-16:30 H0.52 Tea and Coffee

16:30-17:15 H0.60 Student Presentations

17:15-17:30 H0.52 Closing remarks by Dr. Oz Hassan, Director of Graudate Studies in the PAIS Department at the University of Warwick

18:00- open end Social Science Courtyard: Barbecue Terrace bar: drinks reception

Contact

This should do, but if you are really smart and figure out something that we did not, email us at: paismaconf at warwick dot ac dot uk

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