In the name of CENTREPEACE, we would like to invite you to the upcoming events (more details below): 

04.03.2026 (10:00 - 14:30) - Academic Writing (lecture) - registration here

05.03.2026 (09:30 - 11:00) - Patronage in Peril (public lecture) - registration here 

18.03.2026 (10:15 - 11:45) - Open Science in Practice (lecture) - registration here

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at centrepeace@fss.muni.cz

04.03.2026 (10:00 - 14:30) 

Room 343, Komenského nám. 2, Brno / online 

We would like to invite you to the lecture about Academic Writing, which is led by Dr Helge Blakkisrud from the University of Oslo. During this lecture, you will be able to find out more about the art of academic language and how to enhance your publications. 

Programme:

10:00 - 11:30: First lecture

11:30 - 13:00: Lunch break 

13:00 - 14:30: Second lecture

Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/30T1LsRxsM

Bio of the speaker: 

Helge Blakkisrud is an Associate Professor of Russian Area Studies at the University of Oslo, Norway, and a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. His research interests include nation-building, nationalism, and national identity in Russia and Eurasia, including the Eurasian de facto states. Blakkisrud has published several books and edited volumes, including most recently Political Legitimacy and Traditional Values in Putin’s Russia (Edinburgh University Press, 2025), co-edited with Pål Kolstø.

05.03.2026 (09:30 - 11:00)

P24b, Joštova 218/10 Faculty of Social Studies / online 

We would like to invite you to the public lecture, Patronage in Peril: The war in Ukraine as a gamechanger for the Eurasian de facto state, by Helge Blakkisrud. 

The break-up of the Soviet Union led to the emergence of several de facto states. Despite their lack of international recognition, these entities established something akin to semi-permanent statehood. However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 cut short this relative success of post-Soviet secessionist state building. At that time, Moscow served as the patron—or, in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, the patron of the patron—of the secessionists in all six Eurasian de facto states. 3.5 years into the war, three of these states have ceased to exist, while the remaining three struggle to navigate the new geopolitical landscape. In his presentation, Blakkisrud explores whether Moscow is still able to provide the necessary support to uphold their existence and whether the de facto states might seek alternative alliances in light of Russia's diminished role and credibility as a patron.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/iR099V3xYC

Bio of the speaker: 

Helge Blakkisrud is an Associate Professor of Russian Area Studies at the University of Oslo, Norway, and a Senior Researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. His research interests include nation-building, nationalism, and national identity in Russia and Eurasia, including the Eurasian de facto states. Blakkisrud has published several books and edited volumes, including most recently Political Legitimacy and Traditional Values in Putin’s Russia (Edinburgh University Press, 2025), co-edited with Pål Kolstø.

18.03.2026 (10:15 - 11:45)

U23, Joštova 218/10 Faculty of Social Studies / online 

We would like to invite you to the lecture about Open Science in Practice: Foundations, Principles, Licensing Models and APC Realities. The guests of this lecture will be Blanka Farkašová, from the Faculty of Social Studies, and Marika Hrubá, from the Institute of Computer Science.

During this lecture, you can find out more about the basic principles of Open Science and how to apply its principles in your research projects. The topic will also cover the services offered by the faculty library and by the university, and opportunities for publishing in open access for free. 

Register here: https://forms.office.com/e/3dtBcF2v50