Kæru félagar / Dear members,
Kl. 15:00 þann 31. maí verður haldin minningarathöfn fyrir Alyson Bailes, heiðursfélaga Nexus, í Háskóla Íslands. Athöfnin verður haldin í Litla Torgi í Háskólatorgi, og munu systkini hennar, Jane og Martin, vera viðstödd.
At 3PM on 31 May, a memorial service will be held for Alyson Bailes, Honorary Member of Nexus, at Háskóli Íslands. Alyson’s sister, Jane, and her brother, Martin, will attend the service. It will take place in Háskólatorg, Litla torg.
— English below —
Meðlimir Nexus gáfu álit sitt á mótun þjóðaröryggisstefnu á ráðstefnu félagsins árið 2012. Í tilefni þess að utanríkismálanefnd hefur fjallað um þjóðaröryggisstefnu sem var lögð fyrir Alþingi 1.4.2015 er áhugavert að endurskoða þessa ráðstefnu í boði Nexus.
Umfjöllun Vísis um ráðstefnuna er að finna hér. Einnig er hægt að skoða umsögn félaga Nexus um þingsályktunartillöguna þann 12.5.2015.
Developments in Icelandic Security Policy
Authors: Alyson JK Bailes, Kristmundur Þór Ólafsson
Abstract:
Iceland has been slow in developing a national security concept, for reasons that include a long period of reliance on US protection post-World War Two, and divided internal views over this defence solution. Since the withdrawal of all US stationed forces in 2006, Iceland’s security partnerships have diversified and attempts have been made to frame security in more multi-functional terms. The Risk Assessment Report of 2009 made important progress in itemizing non-military threats and risks. On this basis, a cross-party parliamentary committee was invited to start work in 2012 on guidelines for a security strategy. Its report, published in March 2014, establishes a large area of consensus on ‘softer’ security issues and on remaining in NATO, with a few dissenting voices on the latter. Its main omission is a proper treatment of economic and financial security, still tied to the divisive issue of EU membership. Meanwhile, Iceland’s recent security experience in 2014 has helped to highlight the reality of both harder and softer security challenges. The government can now proceed to draft a full official security strategy, to be laid before parliament possibly in 2015.
The paper was published in the Icelandic Review of Politics and Administration, and is hosted on their website.
This is a recording of a public lecture hosted by Nexus on 13.5.2015. The speaker is Alyson Bailes, Honorary Member of Nexus.
Í hádeginu munum við gera heiðarlega tilraun til þess að streyma hádegisfund Nexus með Alyson Bailes á Youtube. Þar sem þetta er okkar fyrsta tilraun á svona vettvangi er þetta gert með fyrirvara um að mistök geta gerst…! En ef allt gengur eftir áætlun verður upptakan svo vistuð á YouTube síðu Nexus og áhugasamir geta skoðað fyrirlesturinn seinna.
Streymið verður aðgengilegt hér kl. 12:00: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3N5QE6pCpQ
—
Today we will attempt to live stream our public lecture with Alyson Bailes on Youtube. Since this is our first attempt at a stream like this, we hope that you will take that into consideration in case of mistakes…! But if everything goes according to the plan, the recording will be saved on our YouTube page and you can watch the lecture at your convenience.
The stream will be available here at 12:00 Icelandic time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3N5QE6pCpQ
Miðvikudaginn 13. maí mun Alyson Bailes halda erindi á ensku um hvaða áhrif átök Rússlands og Úkraínu hafa á Norðurslóðasamstarf Norrænu landanna. Líttu við á Facebook atburðinn, skráðu mætingu og bjóddu vini með!
Við sjáumst í Odda 101, kl. 12:00 þann 13. maí!
On Wednesday the 13th of May, Alyson Bailes will give a talk (in English) on the topic of Nordic responses to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict in terms of Arctic cooperation. Have a look at the Facebook event, RSVP and invite a friend!
We will see you in Oddi room 101 at 12:00, on the 13th of May!
— Nánari upplýsingar að neðan // Further information below —
Nordic and Arctic Affairs: Icleand’s National Security Policy – Latest Progress
Authors: Alyson JK Bailes and Kristmundur Þór Ólafsson
Efforts to produce Iceland’s first-ever comprehensive national security policy began in 2008, but have been slowed by the economic crash and changes of government. A report from a parliament (Alþingi) working group in February 2014 reflects – for the first time – a broad political consensus on a national security strategy embracing new, non-military security challenges. It supports, with one party dissenting, continued membership in NATO. The way is open for the government to draft an official strategy on this basis.
This brief was produced for the Centre for Small State Studies at the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland. It is available on their website.
The UK and the Arctic – Where is Scotland?
A commentary on the new British Arctic policy paper
Alyson JK Bailes
2nd February 2014
Nexus 