About the author:
Olivia K. Bornyi, a Master’s student in International & Development Studies, (Conflict, Peace Security) at the Geneva Graduate Institute was one of the Europaeum Spring School attendees last week. Olivia was one of 36 participants in the event which was attended by Master’s and PhD students from universities across the Europaeum network.
She kindly took the time to reflect on the experience of attending the Spring School in the form of a travel diary.
My Time at Oxford – ‘Transatlantic Futures’
Stepping off my plane at London Heathrow Airport and getting whisked into Oxford on a bright and early Sunday morning, I was thrilled with the exciting journey ahead– getting not only to attend, but present at a conference on ‘Transatlantic Futures’! I settled in nicely at St. Peter’s College, before heading out to explore the town. Strolling down to the Paper Boat Café, I enjoyed a much-needed flat white and ‘flapjack’ with raspberry jam, walking along the rivers Thames and Cherwell through Christ Church’s meadow to admire the moorish scenery. I shared dinner with a friend from the Institute, Mariairene, and we had a classic Sunday roast supper at the Bear Inn.
Monday morning, we kicked off day of the conference with a stimulating discussion on shifting geopolitical relations shaping the transatlantic relationship– from Europe, the Americas, and stretching internationally. We even got to hear from Mr. Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister himself, by analyzing *the* Davos speech, where he eloquently described some of the plagues of the international system.
These perspectives were shaped by both student panels focusing on security issues and keynote speakers alike, concluding with smaller group discussions on who ‘key players’ would be in upcoming discussions or ‘at the table’ in crucial dialogues. As a Canadian student who has studied on both sides of the Atlantic– at McGill University for my Bachelor’s, and the Geneva Graduate Institute for my Master’s– I noted a tension across various interdisciplinary frameworks at the conference. Some students advocated for decolonizing the global ‘security’ dialogue, while others suggested that global issues could be reframed by not imposing a power-focused structure to allow for innovative solutions to be developed for the future of multilateral cooperation. Our group met for dinner to end the day and an evening of socializing before getting some rest before day two!
Tuesday marked day two of the conference.
I enjoyed a Full English Brekkie with baked beans, roasted tomatoes, sausage, eggs, and fresh fruit, before hitting up Jericho Coffee Roasters with fellow participants before starting our programme. Today, conversations ranged from migration policies in the EU and US, digital regulation and competition policy, and cultural diplomacy. Importantly, we were lectured by Professor Jussi Hanhimäki from my home University, on ‘Transatlantic Relations in the Post-Cold War Era’, who recalled that the ‘rupture’ of the international system as we know it today has previously occurred, and will require innovative thinkers– such as ourselves– to brainstorm collaborative and sustainable solutions to enhance multilateral cooperation.
Today was an especially exciting day for me, as I presented my thesis in-progress findings, on ‘Conceptualizing Peace in International Geneva’!
My research focuses on developing a Geneva-based peace concept through six empirical studies of peacebuilding organizations in Geneva, uncovering how individual-level perceptions of peace do matter and impact policy, programmatic, and priority-setting in IOs. I received questions regarding my methodological considerations, scope of my research, and potential limitations, all of which offered insightful feedback as I continue to work on my thesis prior to its submission in June.
Wednesday marked the last day of the conference, and I reflected on my experience in Oxford on the flight home to Geneva. Determined as ever to positively contribute to Canadian perspectives on security, trade relations, and multilateralism, I left with a refreshed outlook on integrating different players into the system. I equally enjoyed the academic experience of attending this conference and getting to meet new colleagues located at some of Europe’s leading universities in policy and research. It was especially meaningful getting to take part in this collegial exchange, as it was my first formal academic conference and opportunity to present my original research to scholars outside of the peace-conflict-security discipline.
What I will take back from this journey is the quality of conversations hosted inside and outside of formal sessions, the deeply personal stories shared over coffee breaks, and a positive perspective on the future of transatlantic cooperation! Thank you to the Europaeum team, and the Graduate Institute for making this enriching experience possible.
