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World War 1 and Contemporary Policy on War and Peace
September 26, 2014 - September 27, 2014
On the centenary of World War 1 The Group of 78 and Project Ploughshares are pleased to organize this conference with the assistance of the Canadian War Museum to reflect on how we can reduce the incidence of armed conflict and reinforce the foundations of a more stable, just and peaceful world. Historians will cast light on the events preceding, during and following the war. Others will draw attention to how our world is similar, where it diverges, and the development of multilateral institutions and international law to avoid war and build human security.
Our aim in convening this conference is to bring historians and commentators from civil society, the diplomatic and military communities to consider the “Great War” in relation to issues of contemporary international peace and security. What can we learn from World War 1 to prevent armed conflict in our day, strengthen the tools of diplomacy and peace-building, inhibit the innovation of increasingly destructive weaponry, and reduce the stockpiles of costly weaponry?
There can be no greater tribute to those who suffered and died in World War 1 than to learn from their experience, and strive to avoid their mistakes. That is the aim of our proposed conference. It will complement many other events being planned to commemorate World War 1 during this centenary year and in the next four years that will be focused on the battles and bloodshed. While Canadian perspectives will predominate, voices from other countries—from both sides of the conflict—will also be heard.
Each panel will open with a perspective from a historian followed by perspectives from representatives of civil society and the diplomatic and military communities. The non-historians will draw out implications or insights for war and peace in our own time. The Chair of each session will be encouraged to engage all of the speakers in dialogue, with opportunity for the audience to participate in the discussion as well. The organizers are particularly committed to engaging youth in the conference.
The conference will focus on the following themes:
Efforts to prevent war up to 1914
Technological innovation in WWI
Canada’s decision to go to war and its consequences
Canadian civil society and WWI
War on the home front
The aboriginal role in WWI
Ending the war, and the failure of peace
The emergence of multilateral diplomacy to deal with war and peace
On the centenary of World War 1 The Group of 78 and Project Ploughshares are pleased to organize this conference with the assistance of the Canadian War Museum to reflect on how we can reduce the incidence of armed conflict and reinforce the foundations of a more stable, just and peaceful world. Historians will cast light on the events preceding, during and following the war. Others will draw attention to how our world is similar, where it diverges, and the development of multilateral institutions and international law to avoid war and build human security.
Our aim in convening this conference is to bring historians and commentators from civil society, the diplomatic and military communities to consider the “Great War” in relation to issues of contemporary international peace and security. What can we learn from World War 1 to prevent armed conflict in our day, strengthen the tools of diplomacy and peace-building, inhibit the innovation of increasingly destructive weaponry, and reduce the stockpiles of costly weaponry?
There can be no greater tribute to those who suffered and died in World War 1 than to learn from their experience, and strive to avoid their mistakes. That is the aim of our proposed conference. It will complement many other events being planned to commemorate World War 1 during this centenary year and in the next four years that will be focused on the battles and bloodshed. While Canadian perspectives will predominate, voices from other countries—from both sides of the conflict—will also be heard.
Each panel will open with a perspective from a historian followed by perspectives from representatives of civil society and the diplomatic and military communities. The non-historians will draw out implications or insights for war and peace in our own time. The Chair of each session will be encouraged to engage all of the speakers in dialogue, with opportunity for the audience to participate in the discussion as well. The organizers are particularly committed to engaging youth in the conference.
The conference will focus on the following themes:
PeaceQuest is proud to co-sponsor this event.
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