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Categories: Articles

Nuclear Impasse in Brazil

This issue’s editorial is provided by Animesh Roul who asks could Brazil and with it Argentina go nuclear? The author thinks it is possible if the military in Brazil so decided.

Non-State Conflict Management: Opportunities and Limitations of NGOs Engaging Non-State Armed Groups

Muhammed Nawaz Khan provides a comprehensive analysis of opportunities and challenges for interaction between non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Afghanistan. If such interactions are approached strategically and in a principled way, Khan argues, NSAGs may be brought into development and peacebuilding efforts, and provide the necessary space for negotiation and conflict resolution.

New People’s Army and the Philippines: No end in sight?

Noriko Hashimoto discusses the prolonged conflict between the government of the Philippines and the communist rebel group, New People’s Army. After giving an overview of the long and tragic history, focusing primarily on the presidencies of Ramos and Arroyo, Hashimoto looks to the underlying factors of poverty and land distribution, and the potential for a negotiated peace.

Men are an influential factor in households and community food security in the Center Region of Cameroon

For centuries the problem of food insecurity in Cameroon has been considered the woman’s problem to resolve. Men have failed to understand that they too play a crucial role in improving household and community food security because they are in control of all assets. It is therefore important to sensitize men on their key role in improving household food security and in turn they will on their own a long side women change destructive traditions and social norms.

Keywords: Gender, food security, sustainable livelihood

Managing Wetland Ecosystems to Guarantee Water Security in Cameroon

Wetlands are an often misunderstood and underappreciated part of the ecological life support system upon which our economies and societies depend. In this article, Tazoacha Francis discusses the importance of managing Camaroon’s wetland resources wisely through raising public awareness and addressing issues of conflict and poverty.

MAINTAINING PEACE IN ASIA: INDIA-JAPAN RELATIONS

Rupak Borah traces the modern history of Indian relations with Japan, which have sometimes diverged over issues of nuclear testing and relations with China, but maintain a strong foundation of shared security and economic issues. Borah argues that Japan and India are “natural allies” in Asia, and that continued improvements in their international relationship have the potential to enhance the peace and prosperity of the entire region.

Pragmatism and Integration for Central America’s Economic Future: Exercising Freedom of Choice

Urging pragmatism toward advantageous relations and sustainable fair trade practices with new economic allies while targeting equitable domestic development strategies, this piece identifies key policy areas where Central America is set to benefit most from its strategic positioning in the Americas and within the wider global economy. In light of the economic shortcomings and detrimental social implications associated with free trade agreements and historical dependency on the United States, this set of policy recommendations seeks a new approach. In short, Central American leaders, while eager at the opportunities, must practice caution in opening to new markets in China and Europe, while at the same time strengthening regional integration within Central America and with the rest of Latin America through bilateral and multilateral approaches geared toward diversification, wealth redistribution and economic growth with sustainable social equity.

Politics of Transitional Justice Mechanisms from Below: The Case of Somaliland

This paper will discuss how the design and discourse of transitional justice mechanisms- which include and take into account the views and needs of civil society and affected communities- boost the legitimacy of the transitional process and the prospects for reconciliation. This process could be described as the politics of transitional justice mechanisms from below. The paper will focus on the Somaliland situation as a case study.
The paper will explain both the Somaliland alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism and transitional justice as well as analyze in detail how the indigenous ADR mechanism has been used as tool for political transitional justice during the reconciliation period.
Lessons learned from the Somaliland reconciliation process will be briefly explained and some critiques and pitfalls of transitional justice in Somaliland will be raised.
Finally, the paper will conclude with some recommendations and observations about the usefulness of the traditional and indigenous ADR systems as reference examples for political transitional justice in similar situations around the world.

Peace needs Messengers

In the weeks leading up to the 2010 Costa Rican election, outgoing President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oscar Arias Sanchez visited the students, staff, and faculty of the University for Peace, marking the official inauguration of UPEACE’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

In his address, President Arias emphasizes the social and political progress of the past thirty years, and argues that a continued commitment to education for peace, through the development of the imagination, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to engage in politics, will bring us further towards the goal of a peaceful world.