The Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) at the University of Oxford is proud to be part of a new research initiative that will further understanding of a region spanning Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central, East & Pacific Asia.
The Polarities & Regions Network+ brings together leading experts and centres of excellence from across the UK and overseas to address gaps and needs in research during a period of major societal, geopolitical, and environmental transformation impacting the Eurasian continent.
The funding was awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of their Building a Secure and Resilient World strategic theme.
The initiative aims to advance innovative new partnerships within academic and policy circles linked to a range of important challenges including social upheaval, geopolitics and security, environmental crisis, human rights erosion, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Through the network, open calls for new research, training, and arts-based initiatives will be funded each year between 2024 and 2028.
Professor Jon Oldfield, of the University of Birmingham, is leading the programme. He said: “There is an urgent need to generate greater insight into the issues, the challenges and the politics that intersect across these important geographical areas. The network’s activities will help us to better understand and identify global risks and help inform better decision-making.”
Professor Paul Chaisty, Head of OSGA said ‘“This UKRI initiative will enable the development of research agendas on regions and issues that will shape the twenty-first century. It is an important investment in Area Studies, and we are excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with many colleagues, including those at the Universities of Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.”
By building a network of expertise, the partnership aims to create new knowledge as well as build new capacities and train and mentor future researchers. An annual conference and training sessions for researchers and various stakeholders will serve to enhance the network and provide opportunities for dissemination of new ideas.
Partners in the UK include the Universities of Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow; the Institute of Development Studies, and the Royal United Services Institute. Overseas partners include Colgate University in the USA; the Ukrainian Catholic University; the OSCE Academy Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan; the National Taiwan University; Helsinki University in Finland, and Hokkaido University in Japan.
