Europe's role in safeguarding the future

How effective are transnational networks in forging paths towards peace and international cooperation? Join us for a thought-provoking keynote speech by Alicia Sanders-Zakre of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), recipient of the Nobel Peace Price in 2017.

The keynote speech will be followed by an insightful panel discussion focusing on Europe’s role in preventing the use of nuclear weapons worldwide.

In an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape, we are witnessing the erosion of the nuclear taboo, with certain nations challenging established nuclear non-proliferation norms. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and shifting U.S. policies under former President Donald Trump have prompted discussions on expanding nuclear stockpiles and the potential development of a more independent European nuclear deterrent.

This raises pressing questions: Will transnational networks like ICAN continue to champion peace in the face of such formidable challenges?

ICAN is a global transnational network of activists that played a pivotal role in spearheading the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, culminating in a significant breakthrough in international cooperation against nuclear armaments. ICAN’s efforts in catalyzing the prohibition of the development, testing, production, and acquisition of nuclear weapons were awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

Event program:

• Welcome: Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director, The Norwegian Nobel Institute
• Introduction of Keynote: Professor Mai'a K. Davis Cross, Northeastern University
• Keynote Speech: Alicia Sanders-Zakre, ICAN

Panel discussion featuring:

• Alicia Sanders-Zakre, ICAN
• Professor Daniel Sewer, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
• Professor Denise Garcia, Northeastern University
• Moderator: Research Professor Marianne Riddervold, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo