The second GCCT newsletter

TransConflict is pleased to present the second Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation newsletter, showcasing the work of the GCCT and its members.

To download the second GCCT newsletter in pdf format, please click here!

Introduction

TransConflict is pleased to present the second bi-monthly newsletter (to read the inaugural GCCT newsletter, please click here), which provides a host of insights into the work of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation (GCCT) and its members. The main purpose of this newsletter is to a) share information about the work of the GCCT and its members to a wider audience, and b) to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between GCCT members themselves and with other interested parties.

Index

  • 1) New members of the GCCT – learn more about recent additions to the GCCT.
  • 2) GCCT Members in Focus – Never Again Rwanda (NAR) – each edition we will showcase a different member of the GCCT.
  • 3) GCCT Insight and Analysis – this section provides an overview of the insight and analysis produced by members of the GCCT on a variety of conflict and conflict transformation related topics.
  • 4) GCCT Research and Activities – in future, this section will allow members to share insights into their conflict transformation research, activities and initiatives from the prior two months.
  • 5) Follow the GCCT and the TransConflict

1) New members of the GCCT

The GCCT was pleased to welcome a host of new members in the past several months, including:

  • 1) Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR) – PATRIR is committed to a world in which conflicts are transformed constructively, through peaceful means – in which individuals, communities, countries and local, national, regional and international organisations and actors are empowered to address conflicts effectively, and work together to do so. PATRIR’s mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflicts, working at the local to the global levels, in partnership with communities, countries, national and international organisations – to make peacebuilding and the constructive transformation of conflicts the basis for sustainable peace.
  • 2) Modus Operandi for Conflict Transformation – Modus Operandi is an independent Institute that works towards conflict transformation through research, training and debate. It works with a broad definition of conflict, from social to armed conflict, with a special focus on political crises. Modus Operandi approaches conflict as an opening for social transformation. In order to untangle conflictual relationships and to establish lasting peace, a period of political transition needs to be accompanied by the political transformation of conflicts. Modus Operandi works with local stakeholders as well as international networks, with modes of action such as face-to-face teaching, online training, meetings and rounds of dialogue as well as publications.
  • 3) Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation (ACGRC) from Armeniaworks as both a think-tank and an advocacy group, aiming to promote democratic values, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, and promote regional integration and the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts. ACGRC supports public sector reforms and the development of good practices in local governance, disseminates knowledge on legal issues, produces expert assessments and analysis of conflict transformation and regional cooperation issues, and supports initiatives that foster an atmosphere of trust and peace in the South Caucasus. ACGRC’s research interests include globalisation issues, global processes and their influence on regional cooperation, and the protection of human rights within the globalisation processes. ACGRC has been one of the active supporters of the process of normalisation of relations with Turkey.
  • 4) CommonWell Institute International, Inc. (USA) – a global institute of research, training, advocacy, and conflict transformation for women and children in conflict and post-conflict areas, including Afghanistan and Rwanda. We inspire sustainable lives through education and economic empowerment for women and their children. We vision a new era that promotes peace and is dedicated in spirit and action to the wellbeing of ALL citizens of the global village. We provide economic grants and micro-investment for women in Afghanistan as well as programs of social justice and peacebuilding based on the CONTACT model of School for International Training and Karuna Center for Peacebuilding.

2) GCCT Members in Focus – African Youth Peace Initiatives – Uganda 

Each edition we will showcase a different member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation. This edition’s featured organization is African Youth Peace Initiatives – Uganda.

Please click here to read more about African Youth Peace Initiatives – Uganda’s conflict transformation efforts!

3) GCCT Insight and Analysis

This section provides an overview of the insight and analysis produced by members of the GCCT on a variety of conflict and conflict transformation related topics:

  • 1) Promoting responsible history education – the case of EUROCLIO – by Joke van der Leeuw-Roord – EUROCLIO, the European Association for History Educators, propagates an approach to history education that smoothes out the ragged edges of nationalism and other ideologies, deconstructing historical myths and negative stereotypes and putting traditional enemy-images into perspective.
  • 2) Can reconciliation be pursued through history teaching? – by Joke van der Leeuw-Roord – EUROCLIO offers a successful model for many history educators in Europe to address innovative, and often controversial, content as well as collaborative, active, meaningful and effective ways of learning and teaching.
  • 3) Turkey and the Kurdish conflict – domestic agenda meets regional concernsby Dr. Ulas Doga Eralp – Though a possible peace deal with the PKK has a lot to offer to Turkey, the process is still susceptible to spoilers. Should the rumoured PKK ceasefire on 21st March hold, then spring may well be the beginning of a long anticipated peace in Turkey.
  • 4) Serb municipalities in Kosovo and Kurdish reform in Turkey – by Dr. Ulas Doga Eralp – The ethnic-oriented Dayton constitution and Sejdic-Finci imbroglio is a great example of how the ethnicization of constitutions further divides a post-conflict multi-ethnic society. Turkey and Kosovo should indeed be very focused on providing civic solutions to ethnic problems, not vice-versa.
  • 5) Turkish-Serbian relations – a rising strategic axis in the Western Balkansby Dr. Doga Ulas Eralp – The strategic relations between Turkey and Serbia is an important case of how a century of negative peace could transform via economic cooperation and development.
  • 6) Serbia and Syria – by Julian Harston – There has been a failure of public diplomacy by the US, the UK, France and Germany to serve the interests of stability in either Serbia or Syria, and thus a failure to strengthen or secure both ‘western’ interests, and the interests of the poor people of these two countries.
  • 7) Arab Spring – what does the West expect after two years? – by Nicolamaria Coppola – The Arab Spring could not be avoided; the old geopolitics of the region is permanently changed. Hence we must begin re-imagining the moral map of the Middle East, considering that we are at the beginning of a new era; one in which the problems that the new political institutions have to deal with are enormous.

To contribute analysis and insight to TransConflict.com, please contact us at office@transconflict.com

4) GCCT Research and Activities

In future, this section will allow members to share insights into their conflict transformation research, activities and initiatives from the prior two months.

To submit information about your own organization’s activities, please contact the GCCT at gcct@transconflict.com.

5) Follow the GCCT and the TransConflict

Click here to add your name to TransConflict’s e-Declaration in support of the principles of conflict transformation

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