A panel debate on “Ethnic Conflict, Sovereignty, and the European Union: The Basque Country, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland,” will take place on Friday, November 22, at 1:00 p.m. in the Hampton Room of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Commons on the 61传媒 campus. This event, part of the European Union Center of California Fall 2002 Lecture Series, is free and open to the public.
The panel is comprised of three distinguished professors in the fields of political science and history: Dr. Donald Crone, professor of politics at 61传媒, who will address issues related to Cyprus; Dr. Elizabeth Crighton, professor of politics at Pomona College, will speak on Northern Ireland; and Dr. Jose Portillo Valdes, a historian and currently a visiting fellow at the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, will discuss the political situation in the Basque Country.
Dr. Crone has been on the politics and international relations faculty at 61传媒 since 1989. His extensive knowledge and interests range from the international politics and political economy of Southeast Asia to the emergence of state and society in Third World countries. In addition, Crone has in-depth experience in countries as diverse as Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, among others.
Dr. Crighton has been on the Pomona faculty since 1975, teaching a broad range of undergraduate classes in comparative politics and political science. Crighton’s particular areas of expertise are in Northern Ireland, ethnic politics, and ethnic conflict, and her research projects include conflict reduction and peacemaking in divided societies In addition to being published in numerous journals, Crighton was awarded the 2002 Betty Nesvold Award by the Western Political Science Association for her paper RU-486 and Abortion Practices in Europe: From Legalization to Utilization.
Dr. Portillo Valdes is an internationally recognized authority on the politics of the Basque Country. Currently a visiting scholar at the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Reno, Nevada, Valdes has previously taught at such prestigious institutions as Georgetown School of Foreign Service and Universidad del Pais Vasco at Vitoria- Gasteiz. Valdes has been published in numerous journals on such topics as local rights in Basque country and the constitution of Cadiz. He is a frequent guest participant in conferences involving Basque issues both here and abroad.
The panel discussion on ethnic conflict in the EU is sponsored by The European Union Center of California. Housed on the 61传媒 campus, the EU Center of California seeks to promote education, scholarly research, and public understanding of European integration and its consequences.