March 2015 Review

TransConflict is pleased to present a selection of articles published during March, plus updates from the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation and articles from the TransConflict archive.

1) The eleventh GCCT newsletter

TransConflict is pleased to present the eleventh Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation (GCCT) newsletter, showcasing the work of the GCCT and its members. Read on…

2) Collaborative Conflict Transformation in South Sudan

TransConflict is pleased to announce the launch of our Collaborative Conflict Transformation initiative in South Sudan, which aims to provide a thorough overview of all aspects of conflict in the world’s youngest country. Read on…

3) Putin – next steps in conquest and subversion

David B. Kanin – The West needs a lot more than tepid sanctions and tired rhetoric to counter Russia’s patient, skillful effort to rebuild its empire. Read on…

4) Iran, Israel and the bomb

Gerard M. Gallucci – The real issue raised by the dispute between President Obama and Netanyahu – one that should transcend politics – is whether it is possible to stop Iran from getting the bomb and at what price. The danger in all this is that any agreement reached between the P5+1 (the US, Russia, Britain, France, China plus Germany) and Tehran would be pre-empted by either the US Congress or provocative Israeli actions against Iran. Read on…

5) The five phases of post-war Kosovo – a retrospective view

Chris Deliso – It is possible to distinguish five overlapping phases in Kosovo’s post-war history that help explain the cumulative failures which have dramatically diminished hopes of ordinary Kosovars for a brighter future, seven years after their initial euphoria over self-declared independence. Read on…

6) Likud’s victory is Israel’s defeat

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir – Israel, which has been led astray by Netanyahu for so long, is fast approaching a new precipice unlike any other it has faced in years past. If Netanyahu really cares about Israel’s future security, peace should be the legacy he would want to leave behind. Read on…

7) Combatting environmental crime

Sean Mowbray – Environmental crime – worth between $70b and $213b annually according to UNEP estimates – is one of the great challenges of our age. To tackle the issues which are driving these illegal trades we must look towards developmental solutions rather than criminal enforcement. In addition, there is also the need for a national revaluation of environmental practices. Read on…

8) Xenophobic attacks in South Africa – redefining apartheid

Phillip Nyasha Fungurai – Conflict mapping manifests that there is a disturbing nexus between the phenomena of xenophobia and apartheid in South Africa; both deeply-grounded in exclusionary practices and evoking cultural and structural violence coinciding with identity, space and territory. This is a sad case in light of post-apartheid South Africa’s supposed culture of inclusiveness. To combat this scourge, there is a need for intensive civic education on xenophobia and its implications for South Africa. Read on…

9) Economic wealth as a driver of xenophobia in South Africa

Tendaishe Tlou – Deep-seated income inequalities and poverty are driving xenophobic violence in South Africa, which is targeting in particular shops owned by foreign nationals. Read on…

10) Basque Country – Lokarri calls it a day

Lokarri – a citizens’ network for consensus and consultation – would like to announce an important decision about its future. From March 2015 it will put an end to its work as a citizens’ movement for peace and harmonious coexistence. Read on…

11) Boko Haram and voter apathy in Nigeria

Tendaishe Tlou – Terrorism by Boko Haram is contributing to voter apathy in Nigeria as citizens fear for their very safety in public spaces. Furthermore, many voters are being drawn towards leaders whom they feel will better protect them from the imminent threats posed by militant groups. Read on…

The Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation

1) Participatory governance as a strategy for transforming conflict in Rwanda

Never Again Rwanda, a member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation, is embarking on a renewed mission – a four-year program run jointly with Interpeace – to enhance participatory governance across Rwanda. Read on…

2) The effects of wedding costs on the peace process in Afghanistan

The costs of marriage is one of the root causes for social conflict and family disputes in Afghanistan. Accordingly, the Sanayee Development Organization (SDO), a member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation, is working to decrease excessive dowries through its peacebuilding and conflict transformation program. Read on…

3) The NGO Support Centre from Cyprus

TransConflict is pleased to showcase the work of the NGO Support Centre from Cyprus, a member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation. Read on…

4) International Peace and Development Training Center (IPDTC) training courses

TransConflict is pleased to present information about new training courses offered by the International Peace and Development Training Center (IPDTC), which was established by the Peace Action Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR), a member of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation (GCCT). Read on…

5) New members of the GCCT

TransConflict is pleased to announce five new members of the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation, from Uganda, Pakistan, Nigeria, Liberia and Somalia, respectively. Read on…

From the TransConflict archive

1) “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”

Dr. Orna Young – There needs to be a re-assessment of who is brought to the table in efforts to build and develop relationships. To move beyond the constant re-visiting of the same issues, perhaps we need to move the conversation beyond those “usual suspects”. The demographics of those engaging in these specific talks suggest that while many have shifted in their thinking to find areas of mutual concern and agreement, “new” voices will soon need to be heard. Read on…

2) Egypt’s democratic phantasm

Matthew Parish – If Egypt now falls into a period of extended civil conflict, this will not be a new phenomenon driven by recently discovered popular democratic impulses. Instead it will be another episode in the country’s periodic struggles between the secular and the religious. Read on…

3) Across the Line of Control – the real stakeholders of peace

Ashima Kaul – The 740km line of control dividing Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir, which has been labelled ‘Asia’s Berlin wall’, has a profound impact on on communities. Read on…

4) Women in Afghanistan – struggling for representation in the peace process

Mariam Safi – The absence of a women’s grassroots support network or social movement is one of the key reasons women have been unable to exert more influence on the peace process in Afghanistan, meaning that any future peace settlement may lack sufficient safeguards to promote and entrench women’s voices. Read on…

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