News Archive

With the appointment of the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018, the country opened up to increased space for civil society and peace. However, increasing ethnic conflicts and breakdowns in law and order have led to limitations of the credibility of the new government. This issue of à propos will focus on the current political situation and challenges to peace in Ethiopia.

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Opinions on neoliberalism are divided, also when it comes to peacebuilding. One side argues that a free economy leads to more prosperity and benefits everyone. The other says that radical capitalism results in many losers and only a few winners and thus inevitably leads to more conflicts. This issue of à propos will shed light on a number of matters surrounding this topic.

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Ethnic conflicts dating back to colonial times, a multi-ethnic state and a young democracy shaped by decades of military dictatorship – Myanmar is a complex and diverse country full of contradictions. This edition of à propos offers an insight into the country’s problems and challenges as well as solutions and prospects.

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Wars and peacebuilding are often associated with men, be they soldiers, well-known heads of state, or successful mediators. However, women have always played an important role in conflicts – albeit a much less visible one. The UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security of 2000 recognizes the role of women and girls in the areas of conflict and peacebuilding.

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The overriding general consensus says that the 2030 Agenda, with its 17 development goals, can be hailed an achievement. It is also pleasing that with SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 16, the topic of “peace, justice and strong institutions” has been explicitly raised.

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Young people in particular are often profoundly affected by conflicts and therefore have specific needs. They are usually the ones on the front line who experience physical and psychological violence. On December 9, 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2250, which specifically addresses the role of young people in peace and security issues. Ever since then, the crucial role that young people can play in conflict and post-conflict situations has been acknowledged across the board.

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While some argue that any religion has the potential to cause violence, others point out that religion is never the sole cause of conflict and that it can have a peacebuilding effect. Numerous contributions to this issue maintain that the attribution of a conflict to purely religious factors is often a gross over-simplification, if not an actual falsification of the true causes of a conflict. Such a simplified view can hinder peacebuilding.

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Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and is becoming increasingly associated with conflicts. However, it would be wrong to assume that there are wars or conflicts that are caused by climate change alone. Climate change acts more so as a threat multiplier or a conflict driver – in other words, it adds more fuel to the fire. This is happening in various ways. For example, climate change is making resources scarce and therefore increasing competitive pressure. It is also destroying livelihoods, forcing people to migrate in certain circumstances. Alternatively, it is weakening state institutions by causing extreme weather events such as drought or flooding.

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Volunteers often put their heart and soul into promoting peace. Their dedication isn’t just a job, it’s their life’s mission. This often involves a mix of professional and volunteer dedication. Sometimes even to the point where it is difficult for people to set their own boundaries. This intrinsic drive is, however, also coupled with expectations. Volunteers want to do meaningful work in which they can get involved.

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Cambodia held parliamentary elections on July 29, 2018. Any opposition was stifled beforehand. The victory of the Cambodian People’s Party was therefore hardly surprising. Is Cambodia now heading towards a one-party system? What impact does this election have on tensions within the country? To what extent are elections and violence connected in a general sense and how can riots be prevented? Are there technological solutions that can make elections fairer and thus more peaceful in future?

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