Eva Fetscher will be defending her PhD dissertation in History titled The Peace Prophet and the Iconoclast. The Chair in Conflict and Peace Research at the University of Oslo, 1963–1985 on Friday 18 October. The dissertation discusses the lobbying that led to the establishment of the chair in conflict and peace research that was held by Johan Galtung 1969–77, the struggle over the succession, and Øyvind Østerud’s tenure from 1980 and his decision to change the designation of the chair to ‘international conflict studies’. Although the main focus is on events at the University of Oslo, the dissertation contains a great deal of discussion of the history of PRIO and of peace research in general.

Today (Monday 24 October 2005), the United Nations celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding. On the same day, pioneering peace researcher Johan Galtung celebrates his 75th birthday.