Research Theme:
Peace has been approached in research mainly in abstract, theoretical and philosophical terms. In Philosophy, International Relations and Peace and Conflict Research peace has been seldom contextualized, namely socially and politically situated. Rather, it has been abstracted from its everydayness, and therefore from its visibility too. The defining mark of the research is an ambition to re-theorize peace in ways which defy the non-situatedness and abstractness of peace by locating it within social and political context and by examining the eventness of peace through case studies. The research turns its focus to the dynamics of community relations and community ethos. The research aims to develop a theoretical understanding of peace with emphasis on everydayness, corporeality, relationality and vulnerability. It develops an understanding of peace that becomes visible through human connectedness and corporeal vulnerability. Among the results expected from the project are:
- A deepened understanding of peace in which different theoretical contributions are contrasted, translated and partly integrated.
- A distinct contribution to peace theory will be made by drawing from recent theoretical contributions on corporeality, vulnerability and relationality of human existence.
- An analytical model is constructed (centered on corporeal encounters) in order to facilitate assessment of the preconditions of peace.
- Carefully researched, interlinked and nuanced empirical case studies are offered to theorize the eventness of peace.
- A toolbox of possible methods for studying peace is developed.
- An ethico-political stance to peace is developed.
Research Group:
- Professor Tarja Väyrynen (Peace and Conflict Research)
- Dr. Eeva Puumala (International Relations)
- Dr. Samu Pehkonen (Human Geography)
- Dr. Anitta Kynsilehto (Politics)
- Dr. Tiina Vaittinen (International Relations)
- PhD student Elina Niinivaara (Anthropology)
Funding:
Funded by the Academy of Finland as a research project 1.9.2016-31.8.2020 and personal funding (Puumala and Kysilehto)
Recent Publications (selected):
- Väyrynen, Tarja (2016) “Re-thinking national temporal orders: the subaltern presence and enactment of the political”, Review of International Studies doi:10.1017/S0260210515000595
- Väyrynen, Tarja & Eeva Puumala (2015) “Bodies of War, the Past Continuous, and (Ar)rhytmic Experiences”, Alternatives: Local, Global, Political 40(4): 237-250.
- Väyrynen, Tarja (2015) “The Finnish national identity and the sacrificial male body: war, postmemory and resistance”, National Identities. DOI 10.1080/14608944.2015.1061489
- Väyrynen, Tarja (2013) “Keeping the Trauma of War Open in the Male Body – Resisting the Hegemonic Forms of Masculinity and Finnish National Identity”, Journal for Gender Studies 22(2): 137-151.
- Väyrynen, Tarja (2013) “Muted National Memory: When the “Hitler’s Brides” Speak the Truth”, International Feminist Journal of Politics 14, DOI 10.1080/14616742.2013.773155.
- Väyrynen, Tarja (2013) “From Scientific Gaze to Vulnerable Observer: The Role of Facilitator in Conflict Resolution”, in Kevin Avruch and Christopher Mitchell (eds.), Conflict Resolution and Human Need, pp. 95-107. London and New York: Routledge.
Contact:
Tarja Väyrynentarja.vayrynen[at]uta.fi
tel. +358 (0)40 190 4097
Tampere Peace Research Institute,
Kalevantie 5, Tampere
FI-33014 University of Tampere (Finland)
Visiting address: Linna building, 6th floor, room 6067