International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP)
Seminar on the Demography of Conflict and Violence
Oslo, Norway, 8-11 November, 2003

Organized by the IUSSP Working Group on the Demography of Conflict and
Violence:
- Helge Brunborg (chair), Statistics Norway, <[log in to unmask]>, tel:
+47 21 09 48 65
- Gustav Feichtinger, ORG Vienna University of
Technology,<[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask], tel: +43 1
58801 11927
- Holly Reed, National Academy of Sciences, <[log in to unmask]>, tel: + 1 202
334 3599

(Please reply to [log in to unmask])

CALL FOR PAPERS

War and conflict, whether internal or international, remains a pervasive
phenomenon affecting mostly low-income countries. Demographic factors, such
as differential population dynamics by ethnic or religious group, or the
number of young persons in a population, often play a role in the causes of
conflict. The demographic consequences of war and violence include forced
migrationrefugees and internally displaced populations' (IDPs) increased
mortality, and changes in fertility and family structure. There is a need to
evaluate and develop methods and data sources for use in the study of the
demography of war and conflict.
The IUSSP Working Group on the Demography of Conflict and Violence invites
the submission of abstracts for papers to be discussed during a three-day
seminar that is to be held in Oslo, Norway, from 8 to 11 November 2003.  We
welcome submissions examining the population dynamics related to conflict
from demographers or conflict researchers.  Both theoretical and empirical
papers are sought, including historical and contemporary case studies from a
variety of settings, as well as review papers.  We especially seek
contributions from researchers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern
Europe.

The seminar will focus on the following themes:
1)      The intersection between demography and conflict research
- What can demographers and conflict researchers learn from one another?
- What is known about the population dynamics of conflict? Is there a
theoretical framework to guide our understanding of the demography of
conflict and violence?
- How do researchers use estimates of war-related deaths to define a
conflict's magnitude?  How are those estimates derived and how might they be
improved?

2)      The role of demographic factors in conflict
- How might the age structure of a population (e.g., youth bulges),
population pressure, migration or rapid urbanization increase the risk of
societal conflict?
- How do demographic factors interact with poverty and political forces to
generate internal or international conflict?
- What is the role of ethnicity, religion and other group characteristics in
the generation of conflict and when do they become a cause of conflict?  How
do political leaders make use of societal cleavages to spur conflict or war?
Under what circumstances can population policy become an instrument
exacerbating or leading to conflict?

3)      The demographic consequences of conflict
- What are the consequences of conflict for morbidity, mortality and
disability?
- How does conflict affect fertility, reproductive health, nuptiality or
household composition?
- How do the psychosocial effects of conflict affect the demographic
behaviour of combatants and civilians?
- What are the consequences of conflict in terms of forced migration and
other types of internal or international mobility?  What are the demographic
repercussions of forced migration?

4)      Data and methods to measure the population impact of conflict and
violence
- What are the challenges faced in trying to collect data allowing the
assessment of the demographic consequences of conflict and war? What types
of data should be collected to estimate demographic impact of conflict and
war?
- To what extent can indirect methods of demographic estimation, that is,
methods based on incomplete or deficient data, be used to measure the
demographic impact of conflict and war? Are there any novel methodologies
allowing the estimation of the demographic effects of conflict under
difficult conditions as, for instance, while the conflict is ongoing or
during the immediate aftermath of conflict?
- How can human rights researchers make use of existing data to estimate the
extent of acts punishable under legal proceedings and truth commissions?
What is the role of forensic demography in these efforts?

5)      Special cases of violence and conflict and their demographic
determinants and effects
- What are the demographic effects of terrorism? How is population
composition (e.g., age and ethnicity) related to terrorism? Do terrorism and
perceived instability affect populations directly (for instance, through
mortality) or indirectly (as, for instance, through reduced or increase
fertility, migration)?
- What are the demographic causes and effects of personal violence (e.g.,
domestic abuse, homicide) and low-level chronic violence (e.g., gang
violence, civil strife)?
- How is genocide defined? How is mortality due to genocide measured?  What
are the long-term consequences for a population that has experienced
genocide?

Complete papers or detailed abstracts and a brief curriculum vitae (1-2
pages) should be submitted to Helge Brunborg ([log in to unmask]) no
later than 15 May 2003.  Final decisions regarding acceptance will be made
by 15 June 2003.  Please note that acceptance of a paper will not
automatically entail IUSSP funding to cover the travel costs of attending
the Seminar.

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