Harry Anastasiou

Harry Anastasiou serves as Member of the Board between 1991 and 1999. In June of 2002, Dr. Harry Anastasiou with his wife Theodora and two sons, relocated from Larnaca, Cyprus to Portland, Oregon, USA. Harry Anastasiou is a Professor and leading core faculty member of [Portland State University's Conflict Resolution Graduate Program] [1]. Having obtained his doctoral degree in International Peace and Conflict Studies in 2001, Anastasiou was invited by Portland State University to join its graduate program after reviewing and evaluating his unique work as a pioneer in peace-building initiatives in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, and the European Union. Dr. Anastasiou arrived in America as a Greek Cypriot peace scholar and practitioner to become a leading core faculty of Portland State University’s Conflict Resolution Graduate Program. Portland State University invited Dr. Anastasiou to join its graduate program after reviewing and evaluating his unique work as a pioneer in peace-building initiatives in Cyprus, Greece, Turkey and the European Union—a task in which Anastasiou has been engaged since the early 1990s. At Portland State University Anastasiou has been teaching eight different graduate courses per year, including an annual study abroad course in Cyprus. His work focuses on courses ranging from Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, to the European Union as Peace Building System, to Cyprus and Greek-Turkish Relations, to International Peace and Conflict Studies, to the Ethics of Peace and International Conflict, to Conflict and Dialogue, to Conflict Peace and Globalization.

Since his appointment at Portland State University, Anastasiou has published two books, numerous book chapters, and several journal articles, alongside the top international scholars in his field. He has given over thirty presentations to professional bodies and international scholarly conventions in the USA, Canada and Europe, as well as an array of presentation to the broader community. At Portland State University Anastasiou has been teaching eight different graduate courses per year, including an annual study abroad course in Cyprus. His work focuses on courses ranging from Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, to the European Union as Peace Building System, to Cyprus and Greek-Turkish Relations, to International Peace and Conflict Studies, to the Ethics of Peace and International Conflict, to Conflict and Dialogue, to Conflict Peace and Globalization.

Education: Ph.D. in International Peace and Conflict Studies, 2001, Union Institute & University, Cincinnati, USA; Doctorandus degree, Social Science and Philosophy 1982, Free University of Amsterdam, Holland; M.A., Sociology of Technology, 1979 University of Toronto, Canada; M.Phil. Philosophy of Science and Technology, 1977 Institute for Christian Studies, Toronto, Canada; B.A., Political Science and Philosophy, 1975 Geneva College, Pennsylvania, USA. [2] [3]

World pioneer in peace projects

Anastasiou’s interest and commitment to peace have their roots in life-long experiences in Cyprus, his home country. Having experienced the ravages, suffering and dead ends of violent conflict, ranging from the civil and interethnic bloodshed of the 1960s to the coup d’état and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and to all the perils that followed, Anastasiou concluded that there must be more constructive ways of resolving differences than the ways of lethal conflict. This was the vision that motivated Anastasiou to becoming engaged over the years in practical peace-enhancing initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean and eventually obtaining his doctoral degree in International Peace and Conflict Studies

The work of Dr. Anastasiou has been recognized by his inclusion since 2007 in the Recommended Speakers book of the World Affairs Councils of America, and since 2006 in Who’s Who in America. In 2009 he was rated by students as best professor of Portland State University among 1,120 listed professors. In 2011 he was appointed as academic advisor to the Rotary Peace Centers Committee of Rotary International for advising on academic developments in the field of peace studies and conflict resolution and for screening and selecting applicants for the prestigious Rotary Peace Fellows fellowship. Moreover, Dr. Anastasiou’s work has been recognized through the awarding of several grants and fellowships for his research and conflict resolution projects, amounting to several thousands of dollars. He has been invited as guest lecturer to speak at several universities in the USA, Canada, Northern Ireland, and at several organizations and centers focusing on international peace and conflict issues. Over the last several years Anastasiou has also been an invited speaker for The International Visitor Leadership Program, a U.S. Department of State professional development program fostering mutual understanding, involving participants nominated by U.S. Embassies overseas as current or emerging leaders in their fields. In addition, Dr. Anastasiou has been invited to speak on several local, national and international media including, The Voice on America, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and ABC Radio National and Radio Australia.