The International Studies Council of the University of Maine at Farmington in conjunction with the UMF Global Society and the World Affairs Council of Maine announce the first UMF Conference on Global Affairs to be held October 4-6, 2002 at the University of Maine at Farmington campus. This will be the first in an ongoing series of conferences on foreign affairs designed to deepen the understanding of global issues for Maine citizens, future teachers, UMF students, and those interested in our rapidly changing world. This year's theme is "A New Partnership? Russian, American, and Central Eurasian Responses to International Terrorism."

Why a conference series? The University of Maine at Farmington has a strong International Studies program with colleagues and friends well versed in both the academic and professional/diplomatic aspect of global affairs. In an era of globalization when no citizen is immune from world events, it is imperative that a university dedicated to both the liberal arts and the education of future teachers take an active role in bringing knowledge and understanding of the events that shape our world to UMF students, the local community, and people across Maine who have a desire to learn more about the events shaping our world.

Conference theme: A New Partnership? Russia, America and Central Eurasian Responses to International Terrorism. In the wake of last September's tragic terrorist attacks there have been dramatic shifts in relations between the US, Russia and the independent states of Central Eurasia. Almost immediately after the tragic attacks of September 11, however, it became evident that common concerns about international terrorism were leading Moscow, Washington, and Central Eurasian states toward a qualitatively new relationship. Underlying these new developments, however, many questions remain about the US relationship with Russia and with other states in the region.

This conference intends to explore such issues as:

• Elements of commonality and divergence in Russian and American perceptions of the struggle against international terrorism
• Long-term prospects for the new US-Russia relationship
• Central Asia in the security perceptions of Washington and Moscow
• Can Islam and the West learn to coexist peacefully?
• Democracy, human rights, and the struggle against international terrorism: striking the right balance in Central Eurasia
• Social and cultural implications of efforts to combat international terrorism

For additional information on the conference please see our webpage or contact us via e-mail.