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.
Towards a Legally Binding Arms Trade Treaty
Just ahead of the UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty scheduled for July 2012, UPEACE graduate student Gerardo Alberto Arce dissects the objectives, obstacles and limitations of the process currently underway towards the establishment of a legally binding international Arms Trade Treaty.
US influence in El Salvador’s civil war
US influence in El Salvador’s civil war Author: Oscar Alvarado Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on 03/06/2009 In El Salvador the rich and powerful have systematically defrauded the poor and denied eighty percent of the people any voice in the affairs of their country. A revolution is now underway and we are one […]
Violence Next Door: “Third Party” People-to-People Initiatives in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Violence Next Door: “Third Party” People-to-People Initiatives in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict Author: Daniel Noah Moses Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 03/16/2007 This past Thursday, in Hebron, I stood on a hill, at the edge of the Old City. Looking down, I could see the place where, according to tradition, Abraham and Sarah […]
China’s ADIZ: A New Phase of the Pacific Arms Race
This paper offers an in-depth analysis of the history, status, and implications of the recent air defense identification zone (ADIZ) disputes in Northeast Asia involving China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The interests and actions of all parties are considered in light of the larger political and economic trends in the region, as well as the legal basis for claiming an ADIZ. Strategies to re-frame and deescalate the conflict and avoid military confrontation are suggested.
Climate Change, Sea Level Rise and Conflict Resolution of South Talpatti/New Moore Island
What happens when rising sea levels submerge an island at the center of an international territorial dispute? Ishak Mia argues that it may lead to conflict resolution.
Collective peace-keeping in West Africa
Linus Malu provides the background to the prospects for collective peace-keeping in West Africa. His report appraises conflict prevention and resolution methods employed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). First, it examines the operations of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in the region and evaluates the impact of the body in conflict resolution. Second, it examines the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security established in 1999 by the ECOWAS Heads of States in Lome, Togo. In the last section Linus Malu evaluates the impact of the Mechanism on conflict prevention and resolution in West Africa.
For the latest news see: http://www.ecowasnews.com/
Mali Conflict: Causes and Effects
Journalist Lawal Tsalha traces the history and context of the Mali conflict, clarifying the motivations and relationships between various parties, and offering some insight into the present situation.
After all, do guns increase or decrease crime? Let’s see the data
Originally published by Carlos Goés at Instituto Mercado Popular. Translated by Pedro Henrique L. do Nascimento
Culture, Conflict, and Death
According to new theorizing in social psychology, the main function of culture is to alleviate anxiety caused by the awareness of our eventual death. In this framework, culture and religion offer answers to the meaning of life in the face of our mortality. Faith in ones own cultural world-view provides protection from the fear of death. If people feel that their religion or other cultural world-views are threatened by other religions or conceptions of culture they can be mobilized and seem to be ready to fight or even die for their beliefs.