Please go to https://nassef.info/ for updated works of Dr Nassef.

For an updated profile of Dr Nassef, please click here.

WISC-IRIIS Exploratory Workshop: Alternative Cosmologies and Knowledge Systems in International Relations

PhISO will join the 2nd exploratory workshop on "Alternative Cosmologies and Knowledge Systems in International Relations" organized by the World International Studies Committee (WISC) and by the Institute for Research on India and International Studies (IRIIS). It will be held on 11-13 January 2016 in New Delhi, India. PhISO will be represented by Nassef whose research proposal was accepted by the review panel. In addition, he will lobby PhISO 's application for membership to WISC before formal discussion takes place in Atlanta, USA on March 2016.

 

 

This Global South workshop will discuss the following points:

 

- Critically interrogates both epistemological and ontological standpoints for knowledge creation in International Relations, with due recognition to the inherent multiplicity of ontologies.

 

- Draws upon the historical pasts of different civilizations including the Indian, the Chinese, the Egyptian, the Aztec, the Maya or the Inca located in the Global South or, those located in the recessive margins of the Global North such as the Aboriginal and Indigenous people of the North and South Americas and Australia, for devising new (alternate?) knowledge practices in International Relations.

 

- Explores ways to expose, unravel and, possibly transform the deeply embedded practices of ‘othering’ in International Relations that work through inscribing a whole range of binaries such as ‘men versus native’, ‘men versus women’, ‘white (wo)man versus black (wo)man’ to ‘reason versus belief’, ‘objective versus subjective’, ‘order versus chaos’, north vs south and ‘primitive’ vs ‘modern’—all of which are cast in an explicit or implicit hierarchy where the ‘self’ or the first category is privileged, most often also de-legitimizing the ‘other’.

See the results of the first exploratory workshop here.

PhISO Core Group: Archill Niña Faller-Capistrano

Archill Niña Faller-Capistrano is a faculty member of the Department of Political Science, School of Law and Governance of the University of San Carlos (USC), Cebu City. She has been instrumental in crafting the A.B. Political Science major in International Relations and Foreign Service (IRFS) course that is currently offered by USC. She is a grantee of the Australian Leadership Awards in 2010. In 2012, she earned her Master of International Relations degree in 2012 from Monash University, Victoria, Australia. Currently, she is the IRFS Head of Track and Adviser of its student organization, the Carolinian Circle of Young Diplomats, recently accredited as one of the UNESCO Clubs of the Philippines. She is also the PRO of the Philippine-Australian Alumni Association Inc., Cebu Chapter. Arch is also a member of the Philippine Bar with Roll of Attorneys no. 45687 and a lifetime member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Cebu City Chapter. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from USC in 2000. She is currently the Chairperson of the Children’s Legal Bureau, a pro-women and children non-governmental organization in Cebu, Philippines.

PhISO Core Group: Gabriel Luis C. Dormiendo

Gabriel Luis C. Dormiendo is a student of International Studies at the University of the East in Manila, Philippines. He has a diploma for high school education graduating from Marist School, Marikina City (batch 2014-2015). His research interests include World conflicts and wars ranging from the Napoleonic wars to the middle eastern crisis, international relations of Europe, Historical international relations, modern feminism, terrorism, geopolitical security conflicts, Religion and international relations, Modern/urban cultures of various Nations, he has field experience with teaching about world conflicts, World war 1, World war 2, Korean war etc; Historical and geographical battles, factors and elements of victories in world wars and he has field experience interacting with people of different nationalities. He also has an ear and sight for distinguishing different languages and nationalities. He has attended numerous seminars and conventions about international relations and business in and out of campus. Also participating in the UE Model United Nations being the best delegate in the General assembly on his first time. During his free time, he reads different books and documents about Philosophy, political and economical theories and focuses his time on watching documentaries about historical battles and enjoys listening to music.

PhISO Core Group: Melissa C. Lagat

Melissa C. Lagat is an alumna of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. Currently, she is a full-time faculty of the Department of Political Science of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City and a candidate for the degree of Master in Public Management and Development in the same university. Her research interests revolve around the fascinating complexity of culture effecting governance in the local and international relation.

PhISO Core Group: Erickson D. Calata

Erickson D. Calata received his Bachelor of Arts in Legal Management from Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao City, Philippines in 2004. He also holds his Master of Public Administration from the University of Makati, Philippines where he specialized in Policy studies. He is currently taking- up his PhD in Philippine Studies specializing in Political Science at Asian Center, University of the Philippines. He was once a legal editor, human rights worker, and had spent almost two decades of active involvement in voluntary sector management before joining the academe. He was former Assistant Professor at the College of Governance and Public Policy at University of Makati where he taught Political Theory and Methodology, Comparative Politics and Public Policy from 2012- 2014. He is a newly installed faculty member at the Political Science Department at Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Manila, Philippines. At PUP, he also serves as the founding adviser of the College of Political Science and Public Administration (CPSPA) Research Collective and Assistant Editor of the CPSPA Discourse. His research interests include International Relations, Globalization Studies, Social Policy Reforms, and International Political Economy. 

PhISO is now an accredited ISA Partner Organization

We are very happy to inform everyone that PhISO is now an accredited Partner Organization of the International Studies Association (ISA). They informed PhISO today (October 29, 2015) that:

"We are pleased to welcome the Philippine International Studies Organization (PhISO) as a Partner Organization of ISA. As an ISA Partner Organization, you are part of a network of international studies groups accredited by ISA to promote contacts among specialists and practitioners and facilitate scientific and cultural exchange. As a Partner Organization, PhISO will be included in the list of current Partner Organizations on our website: http://www.isanet.org/ISA/Partners. PhISO is also invited to participate in ISA’s activities, including the annual convention, various international conferences and joint workshops."

According to their website, "the International Studies Association (ISA) has been the premier organization for connecting scholars and practitioners in fields of international studies since 1959. ISA was founded in 1959 to promote research and education in international affairs. With well over six thousand members in North America and around the world, ISA is the most respected and widely known scholarly association in this field. ISA cooperates with 57 international studies organizations in over 30 countries, is a member of the International Social Science Council, and enjoys nongovernmental consultative status with the United Nations."

Congratulations to all members of PhISO.

PhISO Core Group: Mursidah Hadjinoor Panda

Mursidah Hadjinoor Panda is an MA student in Institute of Islamic Studies at the University of the Philippines – Diliman under the care of Integrative Center for Alternative Development (ICAD) Foundation. She finished her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at the Mindanao State University-Main Campus with academic recognition and awards. She had been entrusted to be a chief coordinator and organizer in various conferences and roundtable discussions participated by special sectors and students. Consequently, she was able to hold positions in different organizations including: Almorshid Research and Da’wah Center as the secretary; King Faisal Center Students’ Organization as a Minister on External Affairs; 2014 International Relations Practicum Trainees at the Department of Foreign Affairs as an officer of which she had received an award of being one of the Most Active Practicum Trainees; and Rabitaton Nisa Al-khairiya (NGO) as a technical assistant.

PhISO Core Group: Fatima Jenesis Rosario

Fatima Jenesis Rosario is  currently in her 2nd semester of study in the Masteral Program in Political Science at De La Salle University- Manila. Last April 2014, she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science, focusing on Public Policy and Volunteerism. Ever since, Ms. Fatima volunteered in youth involvement programs under different organizations (national and local), she has been organising events and programs to help and educate the youth and the masses. Ms. Fatima is a member of a number of sectoral and student organizations around the country including the Kabataan Party List, League of Filipino Students, Anakbayan, Southern Tagalog Serve the People Corps and Great Thinkers Society (DLSU-D). She finished her internship in the DENR-CENRO in Trece Martires, Cavite. She did her undergraduate thesis on her last year in DLSU-D focusing on local policy review and was admitted in an international conference last January 2014 in South Korea. For quite some time now, despite her being a Christian she has been in love with ‘Islamic preferences’. In the short term, she looks forward to published her working research for her dissertation in DLSU focusing on the ‘Halal’ industry in the Philippines and to be able to interact in a Muslim community outside the country.

PhISO Core Group: Karen Llema Rodrigo

Karen Llema Rodrigo is a faculty member of the International Studies Department of De La Salle University. She is a former lecturer at the University of Makati College of Public Policy and Governance and De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde Consular and Diplomatic Affairs Program. She obtained her Master of Arts in Human Rights from Malmö University in Sweden as a university scholar under the Global Political Studies Program. Her master thesis entitled “The Role of Judicial Review in the Anti-Corruption Agenda in the Philippines: The Case of the Pork Barrel System” was recently presented at the 2015 Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA) Congress in Cambodia. She holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and University of Santo Tomas, respectively. She is also a Gerry Roxas Leadership Awardee. Her research interests include human rights, civil resistance, and democracy among others.

PhISO Core Group: Joy Ann Faith D. Francisco

Joy Ann Faith D. Francisco is a part time faculty member of the University of the East's History and International Studies department, as well as an alumna of its AB International Studies program. She is currently enrolled and majoring in Japanese Studies (MA program) at the Ateneo de Manila University. She is also a part time Japanese language instructor of the Ateneo's Japanese Studies department.

PhISO Core Group: Mereniza Dela Cruz Gomez

Mereniza Dela Cruz Gomez is the Program Officer for Research of the Security Reform Initiative (SRI). She has been part of the team in 2012 when it was still the Ateneo de Manila University Working Group on Security Sector Reform. Ms Gomez has worked as part of the faculty of the Makati Medical Center College and De La Salle University Manila. Currently, Miss Gomez is a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil-Military Operations School’s pool of instructors both for classroom and online courses. She also worked for the AFP as a Defense Analyst for International Affairs from 2008-2011 under the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5. She is a graduate of BA Organizational Communication from UP Manila in 2006 and earned her graduate degree, Master in International Studies, at UP Diliman in 2011. Academic courses she has handled include: Philippine History, Government and Constitution; Introduction to Globalization; Global Communication; Public Diplomacy; Social Psychology and Human Behavior; Research Methodology; and, Cultural Study.

PhISO's Honorary Consultants (1st Batch)

Prof. Dr. Clarita R. Carlos is the Elpidio Quirino Professor of International Relations (1995-96) and the Maximo Kalaw Professor of Peace and Environment (1994-95) of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She received her PhD in Political Science from the same university. She was the recipient of two Fulbright fellowships: post-doctoral in political psychology at Cornell University (1982-83) and post-doctoral in comparative foreign policy analysis at the University of California at Los Angeles (1992). She was the former president of the National Defense College of the Philippines (1998-2001) and the current executive director of the Center for Political and Democratic Reform, Inc. Her notable publications include Democratic Deficits in the Philippines: What is to be done? (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, 2010), Bureaucratic Reforms in the Philippines: Issues and Challenges (2004), and The Philippines in ASEAN: An assessment of 27 years of cooperation in selected functional areas (CIRSS, Foreign Service Institute, 1996).

Prof. Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggol is the Chancellor of the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). He earned his PhD in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines, Diliman and became professor at the Mindanao State University. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao’s Social Fund for Peace and Development (2002-04), and the Philippine Ambassador to the State of Kuwait (1998-2002). He was the recipient of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award in Peace & Social Cohesion (2013) and Distinguished Service Award of the Department of Foreign Affairs (2012). Some of Chancellor Tanggol’s notable publications are Regional Autonomy and Federalism: Concepts and Issues in the Bangsamoro Government (MSU-IIT, 2012) and Muslim Autonomy in the Philippines: Rhetoric and Reality (MSU, 1993).

Julio Amador III is the Deputy Director-General of the Philippines' Foreign Service Institute. He was previously a Foreign Affairs Research Specialist in the Institute's Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS). He is a Yuchengco Fellow for the Young Leaders Program of the Pacific Forum CSIS, Fellow of the Ronald Coase Institute and the Salzburg Global Seminar, a visiting scholar at the University of California San Diego in 2007 and Australian Leadership Award Fellow at the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect in 2012. He is a Fulbright Fellow for graduate studies in the US in 2012 at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He was recently Asia Studies Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, D.C. Amador’s publications include “ASEAN in the Asia Pacific: Central or Peripheral?” in Asian Politics & Policy, “Community building at the time of Nargis: The ASEAN response” in the Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, and “Issues and Challenges in ASEAN–India Relations” in India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs.

PhISO Core Group: Catherine Lourdes Dy

Catherine Lourdes Dy  is a doctoral research fellow under the umbrella of the Erasmus Mundus GEM Joint Doctorate Program. She is currently completing her PhD in cooperation with the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels and the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (LUISS) in Rome. She was an Australian Leadership Award Scholar at The Australian National University from which she graduated with a MA International Relations and Master of Diplomacy in 2012. Prior to her graduate studies, she was a faculty member at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Her research interests lie within the realm of postcolonial studies, namely in examining issues in the periphery of political science and international relations. Her areas of specialization include human rights and democracy: in particular, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the theoretical dimensions of the quality of democracy, particularly in unrecognized and marginalized States. She is also affiliated with the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center and the Norges forskningsråd’s Research School of Peace and Conflict. 

PhISO Core Group: Alyana Camille L. Endaya

Alyana Camille L. Endaya is a student of International Studies in Far Eastern University. She is a member of International Studies Society as an Events Attaché for consecutive two years. Also a member of Amnesty International. She finished her high school at Jose Rizal Institute and awarded a leadership award being the President of the Supreme Student Council.  She attended seminar entitled, The Public Debate on “Researching Regionalism The Case of ASEAN: Harmonizing Migration Policy.” Dr. Stefan Rother participated in a public debate at the Office of the United Nations and International Organization at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. She finished her internship in the Department of Foreign Affairs at the Department of Personnel and Administration. She is one of the organizers on the internal and external activities of International Studies Society. She find great interest on Asian cultures and Islamic practices especially Islamic marital practices focuses on fixed marriage.  

PhISO Core Group: Cleve Kevin Robert V. Arguelles

Cleve Kevin Robert V. Arguelles teaches Political Science in the Department of Social Sciences, UP Manila. He is a candidate for MA Political Science (Comparative Politics) and holds a BA Political Science degree both from the University of the Philippines. In recognition of his academic potentials, he was also awarded an MA to PhD Scholarship by the China Fujian Institute of Asian Studies. Prior to joining the academe, he worked as researcher for several academic research centers and policy think-thanks.  At present, he is also the Chairperson of the Political Science Program in the UP Manila.

PhISO Core Group: Mark Salvador Ysla

Mark Salvador Ysla is a POSCO Asia Fellow who is currently a full time lecturer at Far Eastern University. He earned his Master’s degree in International Studies at the Graduate School of International Studies of Sogang University in Seoul, Korea. Prior to joining the academe, he served as Programme Officer of ASEAN-Korea Centre, an intergovernmental organization based in Seoul, Korea mandated to promote trade and investment activities, as well as socio-cultural understanding between the ASEAN member states and Republic of Korea. He spearheaded various youth related activities for ASEAN & Korean youth leaders and was also part of the organizing committee for several high level international conferences related to ASEAN and Korea relations. He also served as the official rapporteur of the 2014 Jeju Peace Forum round table discussion of Ambassadors on ASEAN Community and the East Asian Cooperation. He also served as a young researcher for Korea National Commission for UNESCO CultureLink. He is currently teaching courses such as Politics and Government of the Middle East, International and Regional Organizations, International Relations. His field of interest includes, East Asian Affairs, Middle Eastern Politics, Southeast Asian government and politics, international security peace, inter-Korea relations.

PhISO Core Group: Ko Rej Torrecampo

Ko Rej Torrecampo is a graduate student of MA Foreign Service at the Philippine Women’s University-Taft. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies, specialization in International Politics with minor in Peace studies. His research interests are: Maritime Security in Southeast Asia, security associations in the 21st century, ASEAN maritime governance, ASEAN Political-Security Community and ASEAN regional security outlook.

PhISO Core Group: Norjanah Miro Ombra

Norjanah Miro Ombra is a student of International Studies in Far Eastern University. She is a member of the FEU College Youth Club and an Events Attache in Far Eastern University International Studies Society. She finished her high school at Boracay Island Global Academy as one of the Most Active students. She participated in various activities in PRISSAAP in Iloilo and Bacolod. She attended various seminars like "The Rise of Islamic states" lectured by Dr. Henelito Sevilla Jr.,  and Islamic State: perception and reality in the context of global power" talked with Dr. Hans Kochler at University of the Philippines. She finished her internship in Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service Department and She is one of the organizers on community extensions activities of Far Eastern University. A muslim at birth but exposed to liberal world of her hometown (Boracay Island). She finds great interest in studying Islamic scriptures as well as being familiar with Christian faith. 

PhISO Core Group: Moses Isaiah B. Palces

Moses Isaiah B. Palces is currently at his final year in a 4-year AB Foreign Service program of the College of International Relations of the Lyceum of the Philippines University. He has founded the LPU Project for Asian and International Relations (LPUPAIR), one of the only three Partner Organizations of the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) in the Philippines and currently serving as its Executive Director, and has participated in the annual HPAIR Asia Conferences under the Security and Diplomacy panel. He has also received the Award of Excellence of the Office of the Taguig City Mayor, Hon. Laarni “Lani” Cayetano upon graduation from secondary education. He has interned at the Department of Foreign Affairs under the Foreign Service Post Coordinating Center (FSPCC), which served as the main communication office of foreign posts to the home office, and has organized reports from 81 Foreign Service posts worldwide. He has participated in various IR events such as the annual DLSU-CSB Model United Nations, the LPU ASEAN Economic Community 2015 Conference, and a delegate of the Philippine Model Congress 2013.