Democracy Plutocracy Kleptocracy: Are we going backwards? Author: Simon Stander Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 05/26/2003 Category: Editorial Historically, the installation of democratic institutions and the development of genuine democratic societies have not come easily. Indeed, democracy is new and fragile everywhere in the world where it

"There is something different about the way Peruvians do politics," writes Rafael Velasquez. "Something scary, it should be said." Politicians use everything from the powerful coca leaf influence to old resentment towards neighboring Chile to squeeze out a political advantage over their opponents. It is, says Velasquez, a dangerous recipe.

General Rios Montt whose human rights record after he seized power in Guatemala in 1982 was truly appalling. It had been hoped that since 1999 the chances of a growing and genuine democracy in that country was going to be good. Since Rios Montt announced his desire to return to

The author reflects on the recent peace process in Burundi and its shortcomings and calls for an international criminal tribunal.

Alphonse Nshimiyimana describes his work in his home country of Rwanda at the Center for Conflict Management funded largely by UNDP and where, understandably, there is much to be done.

Funny how things change Author: Peter Krupa Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 03/14/2005 Category: Interview Like all of us, Ruxandra Tanase has a few vivid memories from her childhood snapshots she calls them, and for her they are images of life in Romania before the fall of

From peacekeeping to peacebuilding Author: Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 03/18/2004 Category: Editorial The current general predicament facing UN peacekeepers has been highlighted by the recent front-page news of the fatal bitterness that still exists between Serbs and  Albanians in Mitrovica, Kosovo (or Kosova as the Albanian

In September the world watched a dramatic spectacle unfolding as thousands of would-be immigrants from all over Africa charged barbed wire fences surrounding the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in a desperate attempt to enter Europe. In several incidents some immigrants were shot dead. In another, they were rounded

Randeep Ramesh (edit), The War We Could Not Stop, Faber and Faber 2003, pp303 ISBN 0-571-22110-6

Even as New Orleans was still reeling, an unusual thing was happening over at the State Department.