Syrian Scholars in Sweden Building Scenarios of a future Syria
How will Syria look in 2040? Using long-range explorative scenario method, 40 students and academics have developed divergent narratives of a future Syria 2040. The study means to show possible and plausible counter narratives to the dominant and polarizing narratives of fear and hopelessness, while at the same time engage in questions of how to mobilize energies and resources to re-build societies in more sustainable and resilient ways.
Although we do not know how the overall political contexts will evolve, we do know that future structures will need to be both socially and environmentally sustainable. We invite you to this event to get a first look into the scenarios, the learning from the project and a discussion of how the narratives can used as anchors for development plans, strategies and initiatives including the integration of the sustainable development goals into the recovery and re-building processes.
Background
Post Conflict Futures is an initiative started from a public workshop organized in February 2016, by researchers at the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE) and the Center for Middle East Studies (CMES) at Lund University on the challenges of migration, recovery and societal rebuilding in conflict regions.
The central focus of the initiative is to convene and facilitate creative spaces where newly arrived professionals and peers from Sweden participate in collaborative exchanges to co-create and reflect on socially and environmentally sustainable future pathways. Participating professionals and academics will get opportunities to engage in post-conflict rebuilding scenarios, as well as a chance to connect with Swedish initiatives and research. At the same time, participants will be able to link into knowledge areas and learning experiences that encourage them to see new possibilities for the deployment of their skills and talents in the new environment.
The work on these scenarios was made possible through funding from Lund University, STIFTELSEN FÖR MILJÖSTRATEGISK FORSKNING (MISTRA) and Länsstyrelsen Skåne.
