Understanding political change: power, democracy and instability
In this seminar, three international experts will discuss their perspectives on political change and the innovative research methodologies that they r
Date: 2014-05-16
Time: 09:30 to 13:00
Venue: Seminar room
, ISS Pretoria
RSVP: Anu Klaassens
Phone: +27 12 346 9500
Email: [email protected]
The concepts of power and democracy, as well as efforts to measure these, are highly contested in the field of international relations. Both are difficult to predict and are at the heart of complex processes of political change that, at times, imply instability and violence. This ISS seminar, organised by the Innovation Section, will host three academic experts who view political change from different perspectives and rely on innovative research methodologies.
Dr Jonathan Moyer, Associate Director at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, will speak about Diplometrics. This is a project that proposes new quantitative measures of diplomatic influence and national power to grasp how global governance is likely to shift over time.
Megan Reif, a research fellow with the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg Department of Political Science will present key insights from the V-Dem Project, which aims to produce better indicators of democracy and touches upon issues such as election violence and fraud.
Finally, Dr Philip Schrodt, senior research scientist at Parus Analytical Systems and former professor of political science at Pennsylvania State University will speak about the development of data and software for the analysis and forecasting of political conflict.
Chair: Dr Julia Schünemann, Senior Researcher and Project Leader, Institute for Security Studies
Speakers:
- Dr Jonathan Moyer, Associate Director at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver
- Dr Philip Schrodt, Senior Research Scientist, Parus Analytical Systems
- Ms Megan Reif, Research Fellow, V-Dem Institute
