Professor Reiling Serves As Visiting Scholar at Swedish Defence University in Stockholm
From September through December, Reiling was part of the university鈥檚 Gender, Peace, and Security research group, where she had the opportunity to further her research on feminism as it relates to international policy.
Reiling鈥檚 work primarily examined how conflict and peacebuilding affect various populations. For instance, she explored how gender may influence one鈥檚 perception of peace, as well as how security policies may be implemented in a manner that benefits real, diverse communities. Reiling believes that different voices must be involved in policy implementation. Women, for example, may offer personal insights into the threat of sexual violence or even the fear or experience of losing a child during conflict.
With her research group at the Swedish Defence University, Reiling participated in various workshops and events. In particular, she enjoyed a week-long workshop with renowned feminist international relations scholar Cynthia Enloe. Described by Reiling as a 鈥渨onderful storyteller,鈥� Enloe encouraged attendees to reflect upon the needs and experiences of individuals when studying global politics. Reiling also attended the Swedish Peace Studies Association conference that was hosted by the university. The theme of this year鈥檚 conference was 鈥淧eace and Conflict in a Changing Security Environment,鈥� which Reiling found interesting given that one of her subfields is in peace and conflict studies.
While abroad, Reiling also worked on her book about the United Nations Security Council鈥檚 Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in West Africa. The book will concentrate on how UN policy is implemented by women鈥檚 groups and activists in the region, and how these groups must manage agenda priorities and donations.
Reiling had the opportunity to connect with colleagues at other Swedish universities, including the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala. Her networking also brought her to Finland and Denmark, and she appreciated the opportunity to consult with her colleagues about her book. They helped her consider different ideas for her book and test arguments to see if they were persuasive. Reiling also received feedback about the writing and publishing process.
鈥淪everal of my colleagues have already published books,鈥� Reiling pointed out, 鈥渟o it was a form of informal mentorship.鈥�
Nordic fall and winter is described by Reiling as 鈥渄ark and cold and beautiful!鈥� She noted that daytime hours were limited in Stockholm 鈥� sunrise was often around 8am and sunset around 3pm 鈥� but said she nevertheless enjoyed 鈥渟itting in the culture.鈥� She visited Ume盲, a city in northern Sweden that boasts a thriving cultural scene, a focus on environmental sustainability, and a large research university. Reiling notes that Ume盲 is the biggest city near the S谩pmi region, which is inhabited by the S谩mi indigenous population and spans across northern Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Reiling remarks, 鈥淚f I had more time [in Ume盲], I would have taken cross country ski lessons!鈥�
Reiling said that she returned to the classroom this semester with renewed energy, and she even has been able to incorporate takeaways from her time abroad into her lessons. In her International Organizations and Law class, she has discussed Finland鈥檚 recent accession to NATO and Sweden鈥檚 bid to join, as well as how Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine has influenced the national identity of the two countries.
Reiling also learned more about how societal militarism differs between the United States and Sweden. She notes that despite its more openly gender-equal society, Swedish militarism interconnects with masculinity in a fascinating manner.
While her time in Sweden was incredibly rewarding, Reiling has enjoyed reconnecting with students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to think beyond my narrow projects to what students are interested in and to try and figure out problems alongside them,鈥� she says.