In this keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of University for Peace Model United Nations Conference, Ambassador Tadeu Valadares discusses the pressing issues of UN reform, globalization, poverty, and human rights, emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration and multilateralism in the international system in order to promote peace and sustainable

Beyond sandbox environmentalism Author: Wiktor Zaremba Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 03/01/2011   The recent toxic stain on the Gulf of Mexico and BP’s reputation and President Obama’s repeated calls for a renewable energy push stand as perfect examples of the tremendous disparity between our technological and

Somalia's Special Envoy to the United States, Abukar Arman, provides first-hand commentary on Somalia's hard-hit reality. Rejecting conventional confines proposed by the interest groups within international community and the "political vultures of the 21st Century", he calls on Somalia's Traditional Federal Parliament to assert itself against the limiting aspects of

Dipo Djungdjungan Summa argues that human rights be treated as a universal value, despite their link to "western" culture, because of their emphasis on non-discrimination and multiculturalism, as well as their ability to curb the power of states and other organizations over individuals.

David Krieger responds to the question of many skeptics of nuclear abolition (as well as the peace movement more generally): is it all a "silly dream"?

University for Peace graduate student Andres Jimenez comments on the true costs of war through the lens of Paul Collier's concept of "development in reverse". Looking at conflict from a socioeconomic standpoint and recognizing the realities of armed conflict, Jimenez analyzes both the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and peacekeeping operations

Oduesp Eman comments on a controversial deal between the Somali Transitional Government and Saracen International, a private security contractors with a dubious record.

Monica Paniagua comments on the current debate in Costa Rica about increasing the scope and weapons of the national police force as a response to the ongoing border dispute with Nicaragua. Paniagua argues that Costa Rica should stay true to its tradition of diplomacy and avoid the slippery slope to

Mukenge assesses the corporative governance relationship between UN peacekeeping forces and the DRC's national armed forces, providing an analysis of challenges, successes and failures, pointing to the corruption and inherent inefficiences of UN peacekeeping operations.

Contrary to criticism by neoliberal economists, NGOs and academics, Mayuri Misra comments on the utility of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), offering a perspective on how to strengthen CSR for authenticity and effectiveness toward change.