Peace and Conflict Studies

'Peace to Caucasus': A Failing Peace Project

by Huseyn Aliyev

The past years have seen increased conflict-related violence in the North Caucasus, which in conjunction with economic... more The past years have seen increased conflict-related violence in the North Caucasus, which in conjunction with economic instability and social insecurity has endangered the Russian administration of the region. Amid official claims that the insurgents are close to elimination, the Russian government for the first time since the start of the second Chechnya war in 1999 initiated a peace-building project in the region. The project is officially named Peace to Caucasus and aims to bring peace and stability to the volatile region. However, it has so far shown a weak performance and is unlikely to develop into a platform for peace-building.

Peace-Building from the Bottom: A Case Study of the North Caucasus

by Huseyn Aliyev

This article provides a brief overview of bottom-up peace-building and its practice in the North Caucasus. The... more This article provides a brief overview of bottom-up peace-building and its practice in the North Caucasus. The hypothesis developed in this study is an assumption that the conflict in North Caucasus starts at the community, or grass-roots, level. Therefore, peaceful resolutions to conflict should be sought by implementing a local, bottom-up type of peace-building. Such peace-building measures, in turn, require the active participation of civil society and, in particular, independent and functional local and international NGOs.

The End of Humanitarian Aid to the North Caucasus

by Huseyn Aliyev

Published in the Peace Magazine, Oct-Dec. 2011 Issue

A decision to stop humanitarian aid programs in the North Caucasus has been announced by the representative of the... more A decision to stop humanitarian aid programs in the North Caucasus has been announced by the representative of the European Union in the Russian Federation, Fernando Valenzuela (www.kavkaz-uzel.ru) during his visit to Ingushetia in the troubled North Caucasus region in the south of Russia on 8th of April 2011. According to the European Union’s representative, “Situation in the region is changing and accordingly the EU is shifting its priorities in the region.” The main reason behind the end of humanitarian aid to the North Caucasus is the ‘lack of necessity’ in humanitarian assistance in the region. Instead, it has been stressed by the EU officials, efforts will be focused on attracting European companies to invest in the North Caucasus.

Peace Begins at Home by Gina Messina-Dysert

by Feminism and Religion

Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project

I began my career in the field of social services as a woman’s advocate for rape and domestic violence... more I began my career in the field of social services as a woman’s advocate for rape and domestic violence survivors.  The motto for an organization I was employed with early on was “peace begins at home,” a significant point that must be acknowledged. While much attention around women’s involvement in peacebuilding efforts have been focused at the macro level, there has been little consideration of women’s efforts towards peace at the micro level.  Certainly, women’s involvement in formal peacebuilding processes at the larger public level is crucial.  This being said, we must not undermine the leadership roles that women play in their homes, their families, and their religious and immediate communities, and how those roles can have an incredible impact on greater society.

I would like to start off by defining “peace.”  It is a word that we all use quite frequently and often with different meanings......  Some would claim that peace equates the cessation of conflict.

1-2-3-4 Feminists Don't Want Another War by Carol P. Christ

by Feminism and Religion

Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project

War is a feminist issue for many reasons, most importantly because war is always war against women.
more War is a feminist issue for many reasons, most importantly because war is always war against women.

Patriarchy, war, rape as the “spoils” of war, and the taking of women and children as slaves in the wake of war arose together.  Recent blogs on Feminism and Religion have addressed the war on women—from the rape culture, to Humane Vitae, to the Catholic Church’s and other church’s  attempts to remove birth control from health care, to the tolerance of sexist hate speech in the culture at large. While the issue of Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a slut is being focused on in the press, the drums of war are being sounded again in the Middle East:  the US is considering bombing Iran or supporting Israel if it decides to do so.  Feminists must stand together against war and the harm it does to women, children, and all living things.

A CLASH OF CULTURES IN OUR GENES by Carol P. Christ

by Feminism and Religion

Originally published on the Feminism and Religion project

I carry the exact replica of MDNA handed down from mother to daughter since the depths of the last Ice Age 17,000... more I carry the exact replica of MDNA handed down from mother to daughter since the depths of the last Ice Age 17,000 years ago.  My father carries  the YDNA of the Indo-Europeans handed down from father to son since the time when his male ancestors invaded Europe about 5000 years ago. 

My female ancestors moved with the seasons as they gathered fruits and nuts, roots and greens to feed their families. Some of them may have blown red ochre around their hands to leave their marks in ritual cave-wombs.

Serbian/Albanian Bilingualism in Kosova: Reversal or Entrenchment of the Curse of Babel?

by Sarah Jansen

Undergraduate Research. Completed in partial fulfillment of SIT Study Abroad: Peace and Conflict Studies in the Balkans, Spring 2012. Advised by Yll Buleshkaj.

Dynamics of power between multiple languages in one space are indicative of and inform the relationship between the... more Dynamics of power between multiple languages in one space are indicative of and inform the relationship between the speakers of those languages. In post-conflict Kosova, two ethno-linguistic groups, Kosovar Serbians and Kosovar Albanians, live in a context where language has become politicized and long-standing linguistic, political, and social hierarchies of power have been radically disturbed. This paper describes the myriad of images of the Serbian language in the country, focusing particularly on those that come from the Serbian/Albanian bilingual Kosovar Albanian community. It then discusses how these inform language as a political tool and what the consequences of this are for peaceful intercommunity relations. A total of eight bilingual respondents from Prishtina and Prizren were interviewed about their perceptions, feelings, and use of the Serbian language, including how these may have changed over time. Three sets of images or narratives are identified, then this paper explores how each set relates to theories of bilingualism and potential for progressive social change.

Communities and Media in the Aftermath of Conflict - Participatory productions for reconciliation and peace

by Valentina Baú

Paper presented at the Conference ‘Cultivating Peace: Contexts, Practices and Multi-dimensional Models’, 17-19 May 2012, Centre for Peace Studies, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

A reality characterised by a lack of dialogue among groups can be regarded as a fertile ground for the setup of... more A reality characterised by a lack of dialogue among groups can be regarded as a fertile ground for the setup of community media, where people are given the means for self-expression and succeed in identifying problems and solutions through debate. After a civil conflict, tangible schemes for rebuilding infrastructures should be accompanied by a social renewal aimed primarily at re-establishing a structure among civil society. Within this context, interventions striving to achieve reconciliation at the inter-group level gain particular relevance.

The introduction of participatory approaches to communication emerging from the evolution of Communication for Development as a discipline, have led to the rise of new form of community media productions that have come to be known as participatory media. After providing an illustration and definition of participatory media, this paper seeks to demonstrate the crucial role that this type of productions can play in communities in the aftermath of a civil war or inter-communal violence.

The article begins with an overview to the notion of participation in development and its link to a new model of development communication, based on the pursuit of social change. This will open the path to a discussion on the rise of the media produced by local communities and their use in developing contexts. A review of some of the literature in this field will assist in distinguishing and defining a specific set of community media that sees the direct participation of local community members as the primary element of their production. Subsequently, an analysis of the role of the media in the light of conflict transformation theory will show how media outputs created through participatory methodologies of video, photography and theatre can be regarded as effective tools for dealing with the hostility and grief that linger after a civil conflict, as they provide those channels of communication and storytelling that are needed for effective development interventions aimed at community reconciliation. Examples drawn from projects implemented in developing countries will be brought forward to demonstrate the impact these productions can have in re-connecting groups affected by violence.

Misyurov D.A. Dialectical formulas based on the binary notation as the development formulas // Credo New. 2012. №2

by Dmitry Misyurov

The article suggests dialectical formulas based on the binary notation as the development formulas: formula with... more The article suggests dialectical formulas based on the binary notation as the development formulas: formula with dominant and the non-dominant elements; universal formula; formula with symbolic weight of elements; tautological formula. For example, it suggests an opportunity to use the dialectical formulas for modeling and artificial intelligence creation, etc.

'War-war when jaw-jaw fails?', On Line Opinion, 18 May 2012.

by Benjamin Herscovitch

'Defence-lite is sound policy', Ideas@The Centre, vol. 5, no. 19, May 2012.

by Benjamin Herscovitch

PROMOTION OF PEACE AS THE RESULT OF CULTURAL AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION IN THE AGE OF SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS.

by Oskar Vallazza

Final paper for the Graduate Certificate in the MA in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation at the Universität Innsbruck

Survival on Earth has become a general concern for today's generation, and many people are struggling to reach a new... more Survival on Earth has become a general concern for today's generation, and many people are struggling to reach a new understanding of the world. It seems to me that the world has reached a critical point, which does not allow for easy solutions. If we are to survive in peace we have to change those habits and conceptions, which brought us to the present critical stage, and proceed on a path of paradigmatic transformation.

Accordingly, peace is not a static phenomenon but rather a continuous process of developing structures and relationships to meet our needs and strengthen our perception of well-being. To discover peace, we need to move away from a conflict-encouraging system and pursue a culture of both cultural and conflict transformation. 

The emergence and spread of an increasing number of violent, very often intractable conflicts clearly signalize that we have reached an evolutionary turning point that requires our full attention. In an unprecedented show of interdisciplinary solidarity, many scientists, scholars, social activists, aboriginal leaders and others have embarked on a search for a different level of global participation that would bring about a higher degree of consciousness.

In this paper peace will be presented as the result of a process of cultural transformation that would promote a qualitatively more balanced way of life. 

The paper will be structured around the following themes:

• A brief historical overview of the idea of peace according to the energetic/organic tradition;
• An introduction to the mechanistic world view and its effects on Western attitudes and mind;
• Applicable concepts: Noosphere, Omega Point, Bioregionalism, Spaceship Earth, the Gaia Hypothesis, Dialogue, Macroshift.
• A brief overview of General System Theory, Integral Philosophy, Self-organizing Systems.
• David Bohm’s Dialogue and Ervin Laszlo’s Macroshift
I will review issues of cultural and environmental sustainability; cultural and biological diversity; and political responsibility presented within a peaceful, dialogue-based integrated model.

Employing the Youth to Build Peace: The Limitations of United Nations Statebuilding in Sierra Leone

by Luisa Enria

published in Human Welfare 2012

The establishment of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA) institutionalised recent developments in... more The establishment of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA) institutionalised recent developments in international thinking and practice regarding war torn-states in the developing world. The transformation of conflict-affected societies and the rebuilding of effective states that can deliver socio-economic progress to their citizens have therefore become crucial to international efforts to ensure sustainable peace. In recognition of the interrelatedness and complexity of threats to peace, the PBA brings together development and security actors for the achievement of holistic statebuilding strategies. Sierra Leone was one of the first countries to be placed on its agenda. An innovative focus on youth employment reflects the attempt to conjoin security and socio-economic development in the
reconstruction of a peaceful Sierra Leone.

This paper analyses the PBA’s distinctive approach, focusing on its youth employment component. It views the statebuilding process as made up of three dimensions, which are often driven by different internal logics: policy- making, operationalisation, and state-society relations. Applying this framework, it outlines the PBA’s development of a statebuilding policy narrative and its integration of the employment question in it and then discusses the translation of this policy approach into a youth employment project on the ground. Finally, it presents the outlook of a community of unemployed youth in Freetown on their relationship to the post-war state. Contrasting these dimensions sheds light on the stark discrepancies between the exigencies and constraints faced by international organisations and the lives and perspectives of young people on the streets of Freetown. These discrepancies expose the limitations of the peacebuilding approach to international engagement in war-torn states.

Title The Causes, Character and Conduct of Armed Conflict, and the Effects on Civilian Populations, 1990-2010

by Olivier Schmitt

"Co-autored with Theo Farrell". UNHCR Legal and Protection Policy Research Series, n°26, April 2012

What challenges does Japan face in its human security and peace-building role?

by Sophie Marta

Accompanying hand-out to my presentation on the topic

Submitted as part of the assessment for "Japan Today: Politics and Governance"

Department of... more Submitted as part of the assessment for "Japan Today: Politics and Governance"

Department of Asian Studies
The University of Adelaide
2012

This presentation focused on two main points: how Japan came to be involved in international peace-building efforts, and the domestic social and legal challenges that Japan faces today because of this involvement.

Women, War and Peace; Engendering Conflict in Poststructuralist Perspective

by G. Honor Fagan

FINDING NEW WORDS, CREATING NEW METHODS. THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PEACE PROCESSES

by Maria Villellas

Between Russian Assertiveness and Insecurity: Georgia’s Political Challenges and Prospect After the Conflict

by Uluslararası İlişkiler

Kornely K. Kakachia, "Between Russian Assertiveness and Insecurity: Georgia’s Political Challenges and Prospect After the Conflict", Uluslararası İlişkiler, Cilt 7, Sayı 26 (Yaz), 2010

Bağımsızlığından bugüne Gürcistan Sovyet sonrası ülkeler arasında en bağımsızlık düşünceli ülkelerden biridir.... more Bağımsızlığından bugüne Gürcistan Sovyet sonrası ülkeler arasında en bağımsızlık düşünceli ülkelerden biridir. Gürcistan’ın Avrupa ve transatlantik topluma yakın olma isteği arttıkça Rusya ile ilişkileri kötüleşmiştir. Rus saldırısı sonrasından ve global ekonomik kriz döneminde, Gürcistan Avro-Atlantik bölgesi ile entegrasyonunu belirsiz geleceğini şiddetlendiren güvenlik ikilemi ile karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Bu makale Gürcistan’daki siyasal tehditleri ve Gürcistan’da ideolojik mücadeleyi kazanmayı amaçlayan Rusya diplomasisinin “yeni tonunu” incelemektedir. Aynı zamanda Gürcü-Rus savaşından sonra Gürcistan ulusal strateji meseleleri ve Gürcü-Rus ilişkilerinin geleceğini tartışmaktadır.

Escalation of Social Conflict during Popular Upheavals: Evidence from Bahrain

by Magdalena Karolak

Central European Journal of Political Science

Elites' Survival and Natural Resource Exploitation in Nigeria and Niger

by Yvan Guichaoua

Published in: Rosemary Thorp, Stefania Battistelli, Yvan Guichaoua, Jose Carlos Orihuela and Maritza Paredes (ed). 2012. The Developmental Challenges of Mining and Oil Lessons from Africa and Latin America. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan