TRACING THE IRON CURTAIN
We are Canadian and French students pursuing our Masters degrees at St Cross College, focusing on the areas of transitional justice and international climate action, respectively. We are applying for funding through the 2023 Dick Repp prize to support the completion of an upcoming month-long photojournalism expedition, in which we plan to hike along a portion of the former Iron Curtain, in Central and Eastern Europe. The expedition will take place between Hilary and Trinity terms, 2023.
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The former Iron Curtain, which divided Europe into two opposing blocs during the Cold War, is a site of immense cultural and political importance. Since the 1990s, there has been a growing movement to connect the continent-spanning landmark into a corridor for conservation and sustainable development through a series of interconnected national parks - referred to as the European Green Belt.
In hiking and documenting a large portion of this corridor (we plan to venture from Zagreb to Belgrade), our project will explore the topic of borders and difference. Borders between West and East; between old and new; between society and nature; and between war and justice. The expedition will result in the creation of a multi-media project (digital/film photography, literary storytelling, and film) on these rival imaginaries, shining a new light on this place of colossal importance for European history and society.
Fergus Linley-Mota
Prior to arriving at Oxford, Fergus co-founded the Cities + Climate Initiative, which holds dialogues between leaders across levels of government and civil society to advance the integration of cities into Canada's climate plans. Pursuing an MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy, his research focuses on the role of cities in shaping global climate governance. He has been recognized by the St. Gallen Symposium as a Leader of Tomorrow, and has led numerous projects on climate action, democratic renewal and international relations.
Diane Robert
Diane is young writer and human rights advocate from France, currently pursuing a Masters in International Relations. Her main interests lie in equitable governance and future education, and she has led grassroots projects from Ecuador to The Philippines dedicated to promoting change in these areas. At Oxford, her research centres around transitional justice in post-conflict Latin American communities, and she is determined to lead community-involved change in this area for years to come.
