We are pleased to invite you to the 17th ERGOMAS conference!

The upcoming conference will take place on July 8 - 12, 2024 and will be hosted by the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.

 

 

Geographic challenges to military and society

Contemporary political and social changes, technological advances in wars, weapons and security, and the increasing number of diverse natural hazards underline the relevance of the military as an important element of social life. Armed forces are present in an increasing number of places, and civil-military relations are becoming a fundamental challenge for political actors, various social groups and their leaders.

Humans, landscapes and territory are increasingly subjected to militarisation, through which military patterns infiltrate all zones of social life regardless of location. Phenomena occurring in the natural environment - climate change, increasingly frequent hazards and disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and droughts - significantly affect the functioning and activities of law enforcement and military organisations and the people and entities associated with them. Access to natural resources is becoming one of the primary causes of conflicts, wars, terrorism and various acts of violence.

Processes and phenomena related to regional development, migration, urban and rural transformation, transport and tourism are equally influential in shaping contemporary relations between the armed forces and society. In view of the changes in the security architecture, which is based on the protection of and access to information, a special role is also played by Geographic Information Systems, which are increasingly used by all social and political actors.

The use of geographic research tools and methods allows for a better understanding of the geopolitical sphere and the changing human and biophysical environment. In addition to the traditional ERGOMAS topics, this year’s conference will focus on considerations of various geographical aspects, from geopolitics to the physical locations of influences on military operations and the cultural and economic effects of military presence.

More information soon!