Talking about “Maps and mappings in knowledge production on conflict and intervention” at the 7th annual conference of the CRC 1199 “Processes of Spatialization under the Global Condition”
A panel with: Deniz Cil (University of Maryland, Baltimore), Steven Radil (US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs), Ulf Engel (CRC 1199 & Leipzig University) & S. Elisabeth Warnck (Leipzig University)
From 27th to 29th September 2022, the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1199 held its 7th annual conference on “Mediating Spatial Imaginations” at Leipzig University, Germany. One of the conference panels was chaired by the two ANCIP team members Ulf Engel (CRC 1199 & Leipzig University) and Skollan Elisabeth Warnck (Leipzig University). Their panel on “Maps and mappings in knowledge production on conflict and intervention” delved into the use of cartographic maps and ‘mappings’ in broader terms, with a focus on case studies of conflict and intervention mappings, both military and non-military. It featured three talks from Deniz Cil (University of Maryland), Steven Radil (US Air Force Academy), and Skollan Elisabeth Warnck (Leipzig University). The panelists discussed how maps can be used to represent and analyze conflicts, as well as the challenges and limitations of using mapping in this context.
Deniz Cil presented her perspective on using geospatial data derived from UN maps for peacekeeping and displacement research. She focused on two new geocoded conflict datasets (Geo-PKO and Geo-CPM) that resulted from the recent study shift of civil conflict evaluation from a national to a subnational level. Her talk highlighted the need for more data in conflict research and pointed to future directions for improvement in geospatial data collection.
In his talk on “Mapping Conflict Networks in North and West Africa” Steven Radil emphasized the importance of mapping in understanding conflict complexities in African regions using examples and lessons drawn from the Spatial Conflict Dynamics Initiative. This multi-year research project in the context of OECD SWAC has produced numerous papers and reports, that rely on maps and visuals to communicate research findings to policymakers.
S. Elisabeth Warnck reviewed the proliferation of intervention mappings used in research and policymaking to understand intervention practices of international and regional organizations. She examined these mappings in terms of the addressed intervention types and how spatial information is presented. Against this backdrop, she postulates that increased data-driven research on non-military conflict intervention practices of African regional organizations is warranted to gain a more nuanced understanding of intervention processes.
Overall, the conference provided a valuable platform for the attending members of the ANCIP project to explore the role of media in shaping our spatial imaginations and promoted interdisciplinary collaboration in this field. Over the course of three days, researchers and experts from various fields discussed topics such as the influence of analog and digital media on spatialization processes, the role of mediators in shaping social, cultural, political, and economic spaces, and the use of media in research and public communication. The conference shed light on the crucial role media plays in creating, mediating, and realizing spatial imaginaries on a global scale.
The discussion on maps and mapping in knowledge production on conflict and intervention was particularly insightful, highlighting the complexity of using maps and mappings as source material for research data and research output.
More information on all panels is available on the CRC website linked on the right side of this page.
