Research this month
Supporting civil society to combat violent extremism in Pakistan
Significant resources need to be invested in developing a CSO’s technical capacity to understand and undercut the drivers of violent extremism and the narratives of violent groups as well as develop metrics to measure the effectiveness of programs.
Supporting civil society to combat violent extremism in Pakistan, from USIP, examines the local capacity in Pakistan to deliver programmes to counter violent extremism, and the role internationals can play to support them. The paper argues that there are significant challenges facing local civil society in CVE programmes and there is an important role for internationals to help develop local capacity.
Innovations in the Colombian peace process
Colombia is becoming a global reference for identifying political solutions to apparently intractable conflicts. In their third major attempt in five decades to reach a negotiated solution to the conflict, the parties to the conflict have taken stock of both their own past failures and lessons learned from other peace processes.
Innovations in the Colombian peace process, from Conciliation Resources and NOREF, looks at the peace process that has led to an historic ceasefire agreement in Colombia. The paper highlights some of the more innovative aspects of the process, and asks what lessons the Colombian example has for conflicts elsewhere.
Peacebuilding in Libya: cross-border transactions and the civil society landscape
Donor money has flooded the civic space both in Libya and, subsequently, Tunisia, but resource use has not fully accounted for regional activities or the needs on the ground in Libya.
Peacebuilding in Libya: cross-border transactions and the civil society landscape, from USIP, examines the effect of cross-border networks between Libya and Tunisia on peace and conflict. The paper finds that these networks have both positive and negative effects, for example strengthening civil society connections, yet enabling arms smuggling, and all efforts to reduce conflict needs to take these networks into account.
Diasporas as catalysts for dialogue: the cases of Laos and Papua
Diasporas and diasporic ethnic-politics are often highly volatile and fractious. However, diaspora communities, particularly in intractable conflicts, can be catalysts for dialogue to help facilitate sustainable peace and reconciliation and contribute to social advancement, particularly if supported by impartial third parties.
Diasporas as catalysts for dialogue, from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, explores how diasporas can contribute to peace processes. The research draws on case studies of Laos and Papua (Indonesia), and looks at the current debate around the role of diaspora in conflict resolution, and how lessons from these two conflicts can be applied elsewhere.
Women's voices in the Bangsamoro
Violent conflict affects everyone but women and girls tend to be the poorest and most vulnerable sectors of society, especially during times of displacements and rehabilitation. These insights into their struggles show how women’s responses to the conflict varied and how their respective contexts shaped their roles during and after the conflict
Women's voices in the Bangsamoro, from Conciliation Resources, documents the personal stories of women affected by the conflict in Mindanao, the Philippines. The stories show how conflict has affected their lives and demonstrate the many and varied roles women can play – from fighters to peacebuilders, community leaders to refugees.
From the Blog
Strengthening legal forms of trade in the Sahel
By Karlijn Muiderman: Without reliable alternatives to informal trade in the Sahel, efforts to reduce insecurity and migration will not be effective, argues Karlijn Muiderman. Read more »
Building resilience against violent extremism in Nigeria
By Obuseh Jude: As the Nigerian government continues its fight against Boko Haram, Obuseh Jude discusses four mutually reinforcing elements to strengthen its approach. Read more »
Ceasefire, de-escalation and prospects for peace in Colombia
By Fabio Andres Diaz: Fabio Andres Diaz discusses historic ceasefire agreements aimed at bringing an end to a 50-year conflict in Colombia. Read more »
Welcoming peace in Colombia
By Lina María Jaramillo: A definitive ceasefire agreement was signed in Havana last week. Colombian civil society celebrated by dancing in the streets. Read more »
Tana Delta: managing misinformation to prevent conflict in Kenya
By Christine Mutisya: A new monitoring system analyses rumours and misinformation. Christine Mutisya explains how it can help stop conflict in Kenya and elsewhere. Read more »
The right time for more time in Sierra Leone?
By Abdul Brima: Debate on whether President Ernest Bai Koroma should stand for a third term in Sierra Leone is intensifying. Abdul Brima spoke to civil society for its view. Read more »
Cross-border history: archaeologists for peace in Georgia
By Tornike Zurabashvili: Cultural peacebuilding: a research initiative is allowing archaeologists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia to access Georgian archives on their shared history. Read more »
Burundi on the brink: crisis in central Africa
By Burundi Local-Correspondent: The last 12 months have seen a political storm spiral out of control in Burundi. Our Burundi Peacebuilding Expert describes a year of mounting violence. Read more »
Extremism in Bangladesh: part two
By Bangladesh Peacebuilding Expert: In the second of a two-part series, Insight on Conflict’s Bangladesh Local Peacebuilding Expert discusses the causes and consequences of radicalisation.Read more »
The EU and Africa: a deal set to push more young people on to the boats
By Marije Balt: New EU migration partnerships with African governments risk exacerbating violence and corruption, argues Marije Balt. Read more »
Extremism in Bangladesh – part one
By Bangladesh Peacebuilding Expert: In the first of a two-part series on extremism in Bangladesh, our Local Peacebuilding Expert discusses developments with researchers. Read more »
Peace trends in Colombia: youth, sports and social entrepreneurship
By Lina María Jaramillo: This is the first part of a series of articles looking at peace trends in Colombian civil society. Read more »
A graphic threat: using comics to combat stereotyping in Kyrgyzstan
By Ainagul Amatbekova: Ainagul Amatbekova reports on a novel way that activists are fighting gender discrimination and violence in Kyrgyzstan. Read more »
