Indigenous Conflict Resolution and Durable Peace in Cyprus
Cyprus remains deeply divided, despite (or perhaps because of) years of legalistic and nationalistic attempts to resolve the conflict. In this essay, researcher Oluwaseun Bamidele argues that greater emphasis should be put on “indigenous” models of negotiation and reconciliation, common to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as to a “politics of feelings”, in order to breakdown divisive narratives of historic trauma and strengthen the emerging culture of empathy and peace on the island.
Humiliation and Crocodile Tears
Dr Victoria Fontan reflects on the role of honor and humiliation motivating insurgents in both Iraq and Afghanistan — as well as the Afghan soldier who recently killed four French soldiers participating in the NATO mission in the country.
Reflections and An Awakening
“Reflections away from the Fray” and “Awake from Thy Slumber” are testimonies of two friends and fellow Malaysians. The two essays depict each person’s involvement in the BERSIH 2.0 rally for clean and fair elections held in July 2011, one in New York as an overseas Malaysian fearing for her friends and fellow citizens at home, and one in Kuala Lumpur joining thousands of people in the rally to fight for change.
Quebec’s Season of Discontent
An increasingly powerful protest movement has taken root in the Canadian province of Quebec. This article discusses its origins, its strategic development, and its potential impact on progressive politics in Canada as a whole.
Poverty and Civil War in Sri Lanka
Aingkaran Kugathasan details the multi-faceted impact of Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil conflict on poverty, emphasizing the role of ethnic relations, migration and public policy in addressing socioeconomic challenges in the post-conflict period.
Political transition in Mexico and the growth of corruption and violence
Recently, Mexico inaugurated a new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, on the 1st December 2012, who promised to boost the economy, and reduce organised crime. The return of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) after a 12 years absence has not been a welcome change for the whole population. Mass protests against Mexico’s new president have been organized, and dozens of protesters have been imprisoned for voicing their opposition.
The presence of the PRI in the Mexican presidency in 2012 is a complex phenomenon, which shows that the consolidation of democracy was incomplete, and the National Action Party, PAN, failed in leading the democratic transition.
In July of 2000, Mexico got a new President, coming from a different Political Party for the first time in 71 years of the ruling PRI. The arrival of the candidate of the PAN, Vicente Fox (2000-2006) to the Presidency marked a new moment in the history of the country. Fox was the result of a long political process, which was known as a Democratic Transition. Many expectations were opened not only in terms of Democratic practices among the political parties, institutions, and entrepreneurs, but also in hope to improve the quality of life of the millions of Mexicans that live in extreme poverty.
However, after a few months of Fox’s government, corruption and violence appeared in different parts of the country. Even, Fox would be involved in many scandals of corruption. Later in 2006, another candidate of the same party arrived to the presidency, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa (2006-July 2012) who also promised to accomplish the project of the Democratic Transition, and a few months after, he launched “the war against drugs”, deploying more than 50,000 troops, and since then more than 47,500 people have been killed. Violence, impunity, abuse of power and corruption in all institutions has flourished around the country: police, army, politicians, teachers and doctors have been connected with corruption and narco-trafficking. In this context, the following questions are raised: Why the change of the political party in power since 2000 did not end corruption, despite the campaigned promises of the National Action Party, PAN? Was it the lack of political will or structural reasons? Why do corruption and violence flourish in a country with more democracy in place? What is wrong with the democratic process that causes the increase of social instability and violence? This article attempts to explore these questions. As well as presenting a general picture of the backlash of the democratic transition with the return of the PRI to the presidency in July 2012 and the challenges of the new Mexican president to achieve a solid democratic consolidation.
Paedophiles’ Paradise: Child Abuse and Child Prostitution in Sri Lanka
Analysis of global tourism’s role in supporting child sex tourism, with specific emphasis on the case of Sri Lanka, where there are an estimated 30,000 child sex workers.
Oil in Uganda: A Resource Curse?
The discovery of oil in Uganda places high hopes but also poses challenges for the country, thus it is both a blessing and a curse. Various literature and documents are reviewed in this paper to validate my personal experience and observation from the civil society perspective, that many conflicts including land conflicts, the displacement of wildlife, propaganda, a scramble by multinationals, tense political exchanges, anxiety, and high expectations enshrine the discovery of oil in Uganda. Action research and a continuous, conflict-sensitive approach can help achieve sustainable peace.
Obama, Israel, and Palestinian Statehood
An open letter to US President Barack Obama following his speech to the United Nations on the issue of Palestinian statehood.
The Bunga Bunga of the Security Council
Fausto Aarya De Santis gives an overview of the long-standing debate about security council reform, and asks the key question: can it really be changed at all? And if it can, what would an expanded, representative security council look like?