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
• Lessons from WWI for the long war on terror

PeaceQuest is proud to co-sponsor this event.

Documents

• Backgrounderconference 2014
• Preliminary Program July 11
• Preliminary Program_fr July 11
• Registration form 14_fr
• Registration form 14