Peaceful, Secure & Empowered Societies
About Us
The world is experiencing the highest levels of violence and insecurity since the end of World War II. Inter- and intra-state armed conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism, economic collapse and inequalities, climate change and natural disasters, mass displacement, organised crime, infectious diseases, unprecedented technological advancement, and so-called ‘hybrid threats’ such as disinformation and cyber attacks have brought the world to a perceived state of ‘permacrisis.’ This concept denotes a prolonged period of instability and insecurity, driven by multiple, interconnected, and intractable challenges, amidst a climate of distrust in the societal, political, and legal mechanisms devised to tackle them.
PSES is an interdisciplinary research theme designed to understand and respond to today’s multidimensional challenges to peace, security, wellbeing, and resilience. Embracing disciplinary, theoretical, and methodological pluralism, we adopt a constructive approach to break the narratives of crisis surrounding our societies. Our IRT’s guiding question is: How can our research contribute to building peaceful, secure, and empowered societies at grassroots, local, national, and international levels, while allowing change to be understood as a “force for good” (UKRI)?
Latest News
Browse our latest events, project highlights and blog posts below. If you would like to feature your work on our page, please email socsci-interdisciplinary@glasgow.ac.uk.
EVENT | Peaceful, Secure & Empowered Societies Townhall
Wednesday 18 September, in person
We warmly invite you to the Launch Event of our new Interdisciplinary Research Theme (IRT) “Peaceful, Secure & Empowered Societies” (PSES). Within this IRT, we will explore how our interdisciplinary research can contribute to building peaceful, secure and empowered societies at grassroots, local, national and international levels...(read more)
Theme Objectives
PSES will facilitate the development of interdisciplinary research ideas, skills and capacities, collaboration, and funding applications, supporting in particular PGRs and early career researchers. We will also promote external engagement, innovation, and entrepreneurship for generating broader societal benefits. Overall, our aim is to create a shared culture and a thriving College community, allowing us to support and learn from each other, and to inspire as well as empower researchers to push for positive change in society.
1. Develop a research community & culture
A key objective of our IRT is to develop a research community and culture through fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging creativity.
2. Support for research funding applications
Our IRT will provide a platform for identifying relevant funding opportunities and offering guidance on grant proposal writing.
3. Skills development & training
PSES will organise a series of activities aimed at equipping UofG colleagues at all career stages with the skills and tools needed to conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research.
4. External engagement & impact
A key objective of our IRT is to maximise engagement and impact, including through disseminating research findings, building relationships with stakeholders, engaging with government agencies and policymakers, and exploring collaboration opportunities with the industry.
Shape the IRT
Help us shape the direction and evolution of the IRT by offering suggestions about activities and events, updating us on your interdisciplinary research plans and needs, and proposing ways to strengthen our community.
Contact
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To get in touch with the Interdisciplinary Research Themes, please email socsci-interdisiciplinary@glasgow.ac.uk