The Swedish Defence University host for the 2019 Olof Palme Visiting Professorship

The Swedish Defence University has been appointed by the Swedish Research Council to host the Olof Palme Visiting Professorship in 2019

The Swedish Defence University has been appointed by the Swedish Research Council to host the Olof Palme Visiting Professorship in 2019, which has been awarded to Professor Carol Cohn who is seated at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, USA. Professor Cohn is a leading researcher in the field of war and conflict, addressing issues of gender in global politics, armed conflict and security.

"It is a great honor to host Professor Cohn. As host, we will be able to enrich our own research activities as well as strengthen our international research network in the field of women, peace and security. In addition, we will be given the privilege of working with one of the world's leading educators in this field, "says Professor Robert Egnell, head of the Department of Security, Strategy and Leadership at the Swedish Defense University.

Woman and wars

Professor Carol Cohn has researched and lectured on war and conflict from a gender perspective for three decades. She is interested in women's unique experiences in extreme situations, something that has often been ignored in the public discourse. One of her more well-known publications is Women and Wars (2003, Cambridge: Polity Press): an insightful and powerful book that has been used for educational purposes worldwide.

"The fact that the Swedish Defence University has received the honor of hosting the Olof Palme Visiting Professorship is proof of our increasingly prominent role in conflict research in Sweden. The list of previous host universities and visiting professors is impressive. Now SEDU is joining this distinguished list, and it is to a large extent thanks to our efforts to produce high-quality research on the fundamental causes of conflict and social developments, in particular inequality, in order to promote peace and human security," asserts Professor Egnell.

Facts about the Olof Palme Visiting Professorship

The Olof Palme Visiting Professorship was established in 1987 by the Swedish Parliament, in memory of Sweden's former Prime Minister, and it is awarded annually by the Swedish Research Council. The Professorship gives an internationally prominent foreign researcher the opportunity to spend one year at a university, higher education institute, or research institute in Sweden. The recipient's work should contribute to developing research on topics important to the pursuit of peace in a broad context, including international policy, peace and conflict, and comparative social institutions. Some of the former visiting professors include prominent figures such as Barry Buzan, Charles Tilly, Johan Galtung and Alexander Wendt.