Month: June 2015

With Elections Looming, will Haiti’s Urban Gangs Re-emerge as Political Actors?

With Elections Looming, will Haiti’s Urban Gangs Re-emerge as Political Actors?

Jun 26, 2015 |

As Haiti enters a turbulent period of electoral politics, the country’s long-standing drivers of conflict take on a particular significance. Gangs have figured prominently in Haiti’s recent political transitions, as national-level political actors have deployed urban gangs to generate violence and unrest as a strategic instrument of political influence. In return, politicians have offered gangs funding and impunity from arrest. The nexus of politics and organized crime is explored in this article.

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DDR, De-radicalization and Countering Violent Extremism

DDR, De-radicalization and Countering Violent Extremism

Jun 25, 2015 |

Today DDR is undergoing a significant shift. The advent of interim stabilization measures (ISMs), the inclusion of mercenary groups, and those associated with terrorism and the introduction of countering violent extremism (CVE) permeate this new DDR landscape.

This reading list provides a sound foundation cross-referencing the fundamentals of DDR and the emerging CVE environment. This list provides an instructive policy orientation for these interested in the dynamics of contemporary DDR.

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Violent Non-State Actors and Complementary Governance: What ISIS, Hizballah and FARC Have in Common

Violent Non-State Actors and Complementary Governance: What ISIS, Hizballah and FARC Have in Common

Jun 24, 2015 |

In the absence of a strong state, insurgents, traffickers or tribal warlords may provide political and socioeconomic goods through arrangements we characterize as ‘complementary governance.’ When formulating an effective response to this security challenge, policymakers and researchers must account for the complex connections and interactions between multiple non-state governing entities.

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Did PRTs in Afghanistan Decrease Security for Aid Workers?

Did PRTs in Afghanistan Decrease Security for Aid Workers?

Jun 18, 2015 |

In an effort to curtail the insurgency in Afghanistan, the US military and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) blended military and humanitarian operations, much to the dismay of many within the nongovernmental organization (NGO) community. One of the major debates surrounding this effort concerns the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) initiative, which several NGOs have faulted for causing “blurred lines” between military and aid activity.

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Security and insecurity in a police state: Security Sector Reform in the occupied Palestinian territories and the law of unintended consequences

Security and insecurity in a police state: Security Sector Reform in the occupied Palestinian territories and the law of unintended consequences

Jun 17, 2015 |

As a wave of protests swept through the Arab world in 2010–11, the relative stability of the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) largely escaped international attention. In a marked break with the unrest and massive sustained popular mobilizations of the past, no significant opposition emerged to challenge the status quo in the oPt, even though dissatisfaction with the status quo runs high in the territories.

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Programming Tools: Another Way of Keeping External Control of the SSR Process?

Programming Tools: Another Way of Keeping External Control of the SSR Process?

Jun 11, 2015 |

In May 2015 the Geneva-based International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT), published a document entitled “Top 10 Programming Tools for Security Sector Reform”. The work explains the methodology and benefits of their favorite ten tools: PESTLES Analysis, RBM, Stakeholder Analysis, Power/Interest Matrix, Conflict Mapping, the CIS Framework, Effects Estimate, SWOT Analysis, Organization Mapping and Gap Analysis.

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The Security Sector Dimension of Colombia’s Peace Talks

The Security Sector Dimension of Colombia’s Peace Talks

Jun 5, 2015 |

This backgrounder will explore the larger military dimension of the peace process and how it remains a major sticking point towards reaching a final and sustainable peace agreement. The first section will examine the challenges of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of such decentralized guerilla organization. The second section will explore the military fundamental distrust of the peace process and possible explanations for their ongoing resistance to a final agreement.

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Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean: Challenges for Pakistan

Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean: Challenges for Pakistan

Jun 3, 2015 |

Maritime security has become a key issue for policy experts, academics, researchers and various stakeholders. The concept of maritime security can best be defined as the security of sea lines of communication (SLOC), good governance at sea and serene activities for seaborne trade. This article aims at examining crucial aspects of maritime security for Pakistan in the Indian Ocean region by understanding the possible nature of challenges it faces – both internal and external.

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Progress in Small Steps: Security against the Odds in Liberia

Progress in Small Steps: Security against the Odds in Liberia

Jun 2, 2015 |

This case study report analyzes Liberia’s progress in security since 2003, after 14 years of conflict. It discusses progress achieved in personal security since 2003, analyzes the factors that contributed to this progress, examines remaining challenges, and identifies policy lessons. When compared to other factors that are driving the change in security, security sector reform has been a small but significant factor to improving Liberia’s security environment.

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