A Visiting Fulbright visiting scholar will speak about Bosnia-Herzegovina on Nov. 27
Dr. Vladimir Turjacanin will be hosted by the Russian and Eastern European Studies Department.
Turjacanin is from the Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif. He also is an associate professor of social psychology at the University of Banja Luka in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
“Apart from presenting political context in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its daily interpretations, we will discuss how the concepts of ethnicity and identity are somewhat fuzzy, as in everyday life, so in academia and politics,” Turjacanin said. in an email interview.
He hopes to break knowledge barriers, and define some conflicts in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
“There are omnipresent social and psychological issues based on ethno-political divisions around the world, which we, as present and future scientists and social actors, must share and learn to deal with,” he said.
The department chairwoman of psychology Dr. Susan Nolan said that this event will help students link real-world matters together.
“I hope that it will allow students to see a bridge between psychology and other subjects like history and diplomacy,” she said. “I think the issues that he is talking about are really relevant across disciplines.”
Freshman international student Alex Temple said he looks forward to the event.
“I am really excited for this event,” he said. “It seems like a great way to learn about Bosnia-Herzegovina, and also the different sides that can approach such conflicts.”
“It is important for every student of social and behavioral sciences that she or he takes the opportunity of enlarging the knowledge on social phenomena from perspective of other cultures,” Turjacanin said.
Belal Bahader can be reached at belal.bahader@student.shu.edu