Mother of a Soldier
This is the first publication of a series. The Monitor, in the coming issues, will be publishing personal accounts from areas of conflicts.
The letter below is from a mother of a soldier to the Office of Public Affairs, a department in the Israeli government responsible for facets of military proceedings. Her discontent is articulated in response to a perceived neglect of Israeli soldiers.
Nationalism in Question
This articles questions the definition of nationalism and the social constructs that redefine it today. The author argues that nationalism is commonly understood in a dualistic dichotomy – either positive or negative. This is partly a problem of the different contextual circumstances within which nationalism occurs, and partly a response to the challenges of understanding such a complex and dynamic phenomenon. Three dualisms are discussed: West vs the rest; civic vs ethnic; and liberal vs illiberal nationalism. This paper argues that these popular analytical simplifications map hide the wider positive/negative poles and also mask the exclusionary dimension.
No Nukes, No Proliferation
Nuclear weapons could not proliferate if they did not exist. Because they
do, they will. The policy implication of this logic is that the best guarantee
of nuclear nonproliferation is nuclear disarmament through a nuclear weapons
convention that bans the possession, acquisition, testing and use of nuclear weapons,
by everyone. This would solve the problem of nonproliferation as well as
disarmament. The focus on nonproliferation to the neglect of disarmament
ensures that we get neither. If we want nonproliferation, therefore, we must
prepare for disarmament.
Not expecting Serious Trouble
The UN, through its mission in the DRC, has embarked in its most ambitious electoral-support endeavor yet. Rafael Velasquez our South Africa correspondent had the opportunity to meet up with General Mujahid Alam, Head of the Pretoria Liaison Office of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), to discuss the ongoing preparations for the upcoming elections in an exclusive interview.
Oh Canada, don’t forsake the peacemakers
Oh Canada, don’t forsake the peacemakers Author: MEDEA BENJAMIN Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 10/24/2007 Category: Peace and Conflict News As a U.S. peace activist trying to change the aggressive foreign policies of my government, I have often looked to Canada for inspiration. While Canada’s involvement in the fighting in Afghanistan marks […]
On Violence: A Reappraisal of Hannah Arendt’s General Theory of Violence
On Violence: A Reappraisal of Hannah Arendt’s General Theory of Violence Author: Sean English Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on 03/16/2007 In relation to the justifications and rationalizations that are generally and normatively used to legitimise some forms of violence and delegitimize other forms of violence, Arendt sets out to show in her […]
Our Nuclear Future?
Seeking a solution to climate change, some environmentalists are now controversially advocating
nuclear power.
Peace in Aceh
Three years after the historic Memorandum of Understanding was signed, Endro Kristanto discusses the long standing struggle between Aceh independence advocates and the Indonesian government, the current challenges to peace, and the necessities of building trust, protecting human rights, and moving towards political reconciliation.
Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Rebuilding Society
Samantha Garcia discusses social and institutional mechanisms for post-conflict reconstruction, with an emphasis on the need for cooperation and coordination between UN programmes, and between the UN and regional organizations. In this way, the specificities of each post-conflict situation, and the wide range of challenges faced by conflict-affected communities and individuals can be most appropriately addressed.
Key Words: El Salavador, Peacekeeping, Post-Conflict Reconstruction.
Storytelling and the Moral Imagination: Mothering Peace
Key words: moral imagination, storytelling, peace building, transforming conflict, creativity, peace leadership, peace practioners