General information

ILO

The ILO – International Labour Organization – is an almost centenary multilateral body that has survived the multiple vicissitudes of the twentieth century after its creation as part of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations, following World War I. Its premise that universal, lasting peace can be established only if based on social justice, and its tripartite structure – giving an equal voice to workers, employers and governments – are major features leading to its special authority and recognized prestige. The first specialized agency of the United Nations since 1946, the ILO has made an invaluable contribution to international justice and the dignity of human labour. When it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1969, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its influence on international regulations and pacification of conflicts in our societies. The ILO continues to stand out for its commitment towards reducing poverty, fair globalization and improved opportunities, so that men and women can have access to decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, safety, and human dignity.

By determining to award the first OBSERVARE Prize, the group of researchers of Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa unanimously decided to give it to the ILO at the Second International Conference. The purpose of the prize is to pay tribute to individuals or organizations that have stood out due to intellectual creativity or relevant practice in their contribution to the understanding of international realities, solidarity among peoples and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. As observers and scholars of International Relations, we are sensitive to the importance of the ILO in this field, in that it represents the best of multilateralism and operates in the transnational flow of decent and productive work. By honouring the ILO also confirm that we do not confine ourselves to a vision of international life perceived as a clash of interests between powers, and that we see it as cooperative processes that extend beyond borders.

The growing importance of the Portuguese language at the ILO, largely as a result of the close collaboration between the ILO offices in Lisbon and Brasília, as well as the strengthening of the cooperation with the Portuguese speaking world and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) must also be emphasized. This is attested by the preparation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ILO and the CPLP, and the protocol between the two organizations, which is expected to be signed this year in Geneva, intended to strengthen cooperation in areas of common interest.

As Portuguese, we are aware that as recently as November 2013, the ILO made public an important study entitled “Tackling the Jobs Crisis in Portugal: which path towards the future”? Such attention to the harsh situation in our country and the positive constructive proposals it advances are additional reasons to pay tribute to the ILO as Portuguese citizens and as social scientists.

In the context of the 2^nd OBSERVARE International Conference, where we examine the topic “World War II and International Relations (100 years after 1914)”, it is extremely opportune to award this prize to the ILO, symbol of a more humane world and the promise of fairer international relations.

Lisbon, 2 July 2014

RESEARCH BETWEEN 2013 AND 2107

Strand A) War, Peace and Security Studies

Researchers: Luís Tomé (Coord.), Augusto Rogério Leitão, Bruno Gabriel, Carlos Branco, Cláudia Ramos, Edoardo Boria, Evanthia Balla, Fatich Tayfur, Felipe Pathé Duarte, Fernando Montenegro, Francisco Xavier de Sousa, Gabriele Natalizia, Hermínio Matos, Huseyin Bagci, Isabel Nunes, José Ferreira, Leonel Miranda, Ludovico Jara Franco, Luís Valença Pinto, Paulo Duarte, Ricardo Sousa, Rita Duarte. 

The SECURITY, PEACE AND WAR STUDIES Research Group follows previous Groups and Lines of Investigation, and gathers their competences regarding, namely, DYNAMICS AND INTERACTIONS IN THE GREAT EURASIA and PEACE AND WAR STUDIES. It intends to deepen knowlegment inan interdisciplinary optic about contemporary realities of international security, the new strategic data and the imperative peace promotion, taking into account the latest approaches and developments both globally and locally or regionally – with emphasis on European spaces, Atlantic, Mediterranean and African – as well as to contribute to the spread of a culture of conflict resolution by peaceful means. The vast majority of the projects and activities are developed with partner, Portuguese and foreign institutions.

Structuring programs:

• Euro-Atlantic Security
• African Peace and Security Architecture: consolidation or stagnation?
• Challenges and involvement of Portugal in international security

Projects:

• The expression of multipolarity in international security
• Europe-Asia relations in the security area
• Geopolitics ofAsia-Pacific
• NATO transformation
• International Criminal Justice
• Perspectives onSecurityin the MediterraneanEuropean security and defense policy - where it comes fromand where it goes?
• Metamorphoses of violence

Strand B) Economic Spaces and Resources Management

Researchers: Brígida Brito (Coord.), Amadeu Paiva, Amparo Sereno, Ana Furtado, Ana Quaresma, Filipa Gomes, Giuseppe Ammendola, Henrique Morais, João Paulo Feijoo, José Beato Aleixo, José Brás dos Santos, Korinna Horta, Manuel Farto, Maomede Naguib Omar, Pedro Pinto, Redendo Carlos Maia, Renato Pereira, René Tapia, Rui Paiva, Sandra Ribeiro.

The Research Group Economic Spaces and Resources Management is based on the close connection between economic issues and analysis of international realities. Based on a highly interdisciplinary work, has as its central objective the study of the process of economies’ internationalization, their interdependencies and its various impacts and challenges, with emphasis, of course, for these dimensions of Portuguese and European economies, as well as the study of the political importance of some strategic resources in the international arena. The vast majority of the projects and activities are developed with partner, Portuguese and foreign institutions.

Structuring programs:

• Internationalization of the Portuguese Economy
• The European Economy in the framework of the World Economy
• Power and Energy Resources
  

Projects:

• China-Latin America: economic and trade relations
  
• Emerging Economies and Energy Resources
  
• Drug economy and transnational financial crime
  
• European Economy and Transatlantic Relations: innovation, trade and entrepreneurial
  
• Production and distribution companies as instruments of state power: the cases of GALP in Portugal, Petrobras in Brazil, YPF in Argentina and Sonangol in Angola

Strand C) People and States – constructions and interactions

Researchers: Luís Moita (Coord.), Andrea Carteny, Anilza Tricamegy, António José Seguro, Artur Victória, Célia Quintas, Constança Urbano de Sousa, Daniel Rodrigues, Fernando Amorim, Filipe Vasconcelos Romão, Giuseppe Motta, Hudson Assis, José Milhazes, José Subtil, Luisa Godinho, Lucas Freire, Maria Helena Curto, Mateus Kowalski, Miguel Santos Neves, Nancy Gomes, Patrícia Galvão Teles, Paulo Vicente, Reginaldo Rodrigues de Almeida, Ricardo Alexandre, Sofia José Santos, Sofia Santos.

The Research Group designated PEOPLES AND STATES: BUILDING AND INTERACTIONS 's intends to contribute for the understanding of the international actors’ role, seen in its dynamic and evolutionary dimension, in its genesis and its multifaceted relationship. By including the term PEOPLE we intend to focus on cultural identities underlying the political processes involved; by including the word STATES, we refer to the understanding the genesis of the states up to their contemporary settings, while this analysis is relevant to their role as actors in the international system, but without forgetting the existence and role of non-State actors, as are the cities, regions, dispersed communities, etc.. Hence also the expression BUILDINGS, trying to recover the history of the ways in which the political organization that we call state was formed, within a wider framework of relational INTERACTIONS, particularly in the traditional form of diplomacy, notwithstanding to pursue some research projects on issues of sovereignty and legitimacy, as well as on federalism in the European framework. The vast majority of projects and activities are developed with partners, Portuguese and foreign institutions.

Structuring programs:

• Diplomacy Alliances
  
• Portuguese and Lusophone Diaspora
  
• Cities and Regions as international actors

Projects:

• The Ibero-American Community 
• Diplomacy in the Ancient Near East 
• The Portuguese Diaspora as a strategic factor for the Portuguese foreign policy 
• Cities and Regions: Portuguese paradiplomacy 
• Federalism, ethno-nationalism and secessionism in Europe.

RESEARCH PRIOR TO 2013

OBSERVARE Prizes

OBSERVARE decided to establish an award to pay tribute to individuals or organizations that have stood out due to intellectual creativity or relevant practice in their contribution to the understanding of international realities, solidarity among peoples and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. This initiative aims to extend university practice to the positive movements that permeate our world and complement scientific studies through the exercise of cosmopolitan citizenship.

The prize is a small sculpture inspired by the logo of OBSERVARE: a pyramid-shaped piece that evokes the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia, which were places of worship and for observing large areas. The author of this sculpture is Architect João Pancada Correia, Director of UAL, who has a long tradition of artistic interventions.

At its plenary session on 5 June 2014, researchers of International Relations decided to award the OBSERVARE Prize for the first time to the International Labour Organization and to Professor Mariano Aguirre at the 2^nd Conference. The award ceremony takes place at the end of the dinner offered by UAL to all conference participants on 2 July 2014.

In 2017, on the occasion of the 3^rd Conference, OBSERVARE Prize were awarded to the Portuguese Council for Refugees, which for 25 years has supported asylum seekers in Portugal, and to Dr. Catarina Albuquerque, who has been internationally recognized for the recognition of access to water and basic sanitation as fundamental human rights.

RESEARCH STRANDS

A) War, Peace and Security Studies

• “European Defense and Security” in a formal partnership with the National Defense Institute (IDN).
• “Challenges of Security Regime Complexes in Africa” in partnership with IDN and the University of Wits from South Africa.
• “Euro-Mediterranean area and Security” in partnership with La Sapienza-Universitá di Roma, Universidade Complutense de Madrid and Middle East Techical University of Turkey, a project focused on the “Southern border” of European Security.
• “Geopolitical Dynamics in the Asia-Pacific”, in partnership with IDN and involving researchers from Europe and Asia.
• “The External Dimension of Internal Security”, in partnership with the Research Center of the Institute of Higher Studies of the Police and Internal Security.
• “Conflict Management and Resolution” this second phase of the project intends to apply the theoretical models already identified to specific case studies.

B) Economic Spaces and Resources Management

• A multidisciplinary project on “Climate Change, International Law and Environmental Justice”, with a strong juridical focus but integrating other scientific dimensions privileging social issues.
• “The New Chinese Silk Road: Challenges and Opportunities to the EU”, in partnership with the International Institute of Macau and with researchers from Europe and China.
• “Economic Transnational Relations within the context of the diminishing centrality of the Atlantic”, with European and North-American researchers.
• “Ecological European Networks and Portuguese Protected Areas - impact evaluation”.
• The “Southern border” in the diversification of Europe’s energy sources.
• “Role of organizations of the Solidary Social Economy in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Objectives” , in partnership with CIRIEC International.

C) People and States – constructions and interactions

• "Media Societies of Portuguese Language"in partnership with institutions from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and Portugal.
• “The Portuguese Diplomatic Structure”, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the project focus on analyzing the structure and procedures of the Portuguese diplomacy.
• “Cities and Regions: paradiplomacy in Portugal”, which in its first stage resulted in the publication of the book “The internationalization of Lisbon: paradiplomacy of a city”, and which in its second phase will analyze the internationalization of the city of Oporto and the northern Portuguese region and its connections to Galicia, as well as some “euro-cities” along the border between Portugal and Spain.  
• “The influence to regional integration (MERCOSUL) of political change in Argentina and Brazil”
• “The influence of the “Latin-American boom” in the Portuguese political thinking (1960-1970)”, in partnership with the University Fernando Pessoa, Latin-American Research Center and Library Carlos Fuentes.
• “The Lusophone countries in the context of the reemergence of the South Atlantic”.
• “Europe in the context of global migrations”, with the support of European institutions and with a team of European researchers.
• “Laboratory of the External Image of Portugal”, using specific software to systematically analyze meta-data, aiming to identify the perception of the country abroad, using both qualitative and quantitative data.
• “Ideological dimensions of political parties”.
• "From the voters' satisfaction to the election of the recandidates - municipalities cases in Portugal and Brazil".

RESEARCH PRIOR TO 2017