Security and Economic Development: Masculinized Goals for Post-Conflict Reconstruction
The end of an armed conflict is the starting moment of a new period that creates space for transforming institutions, structures and relationships within society. In such historical moments the actors of peace negotiations and peace building processes have the window of chance and responsibility to create a new society based on gender equality. However, in what Cynthia Enloe calls“the morning after”, when the guns are silent, the persistent militarization and promotion of masculinity continue in postwar societies, in both the public and private sphere. This paper will attempt to track such political processes and identify the tools and factors contributing to militarization and masculinization in post conflict societies. Moreover, this paper will highlight reasons for failing to consolidate women’s gains deriving from their war-time experience and to promote gender equality in peace building processes.
Pride, Protests, and the Beijing Olympics
Pride, Protests, and the Beijing Olympics Author: Ross Ryan Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on 05/08/2008 It is terribly unfortunate, but pride and peace are not always easy to reconcile with one another. And short of international war, or the World Cup, it is hard to imagine a more ostentatious display of […]
The Bright Side of Africa: Its Women
On a continent renowned for its AIDS pandemic and blood-thirsty warlords, this decade is seeing some bright spots emerge. And they’re all women.
Ignoring Genocide, One More Time
The world watched with a mixture of horror and lethargy during the various genocides of the 20th century, later wondering why no one tried to stop it. But as the grimness in Darfur, Sudan, continues to unfold, the cycle is repeating itself.
How likely is conflict over the Nile waters?
Ferdinand Katendeko finds that pre-independence agreements by the then dominant Colonial power over the control of the vital Nile waters may lead to further conflict in conflict-torn Africa.
Crying out loud for the children
Catherine Onekalit asks the question can von-violent methods help to end the war that has lasted seventeen years in northern Uganda destroying the lives of thousands of children and young people. She notes that progress has been slow but that is no excuse for stopping. Quite the opposite, and one way of moving forward is to shout as loudly as possible. The Peace and Conflict Monitor is helping. Join in the cacophony.
Unconventional Women and Politics
Molly Mayfield Barbee marks the 88th anniversary of the nineteenth amendment to the US constitution with an appreciation of the central role that women are playing in this year’s presidential race in the US (Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and now Sarah Palin), as well as the much longer list of women whose unconventional demand for greater political participation brought us to where we are today.
Some recent and positive developments for women’s representation in Europe and Africa are also discussed, and women everywhere are encouraged to build on these successes, continue to collaborate, and practice their political rights.
Unknown Eternity
Catherine Onekalit offers another prose poem to bring home the horror of war and the hope for peace.
Save me! Save the Coltan you mean!
In the last issue we carried an interview with the General Mujahid Alam who was responsible for overseeing fair elections in the Congo. He predicted a quiet time at the polling stations and he was right. Unfortunately when the first results were announced fighting broke out in the capital, Kinshasa. Seventeen thousand UN troops were on top alert and more were called for. Will the elections lead to a long lasting peace in a country that saw three millions die in a five year civil war?
Somalia’s message to the world: Get Ethiopia off our back
Ethiopia’s occupation of Somalia has recieved significantly less attention from world media than other ongoing conflicts. Afyare Abdi Elmi discusses some of the reasons behind this silence and warns against the consequences of its continuation.