Resources from the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
Text
"Localising Foreign Aid: Could localising aid help strengthen all sectors of society" is a powerpoint presentation by Alastair McKechnie of the Overseas Development Institute, made at the Centre on 18 February 2013.
Conflict and Development: Inclusive Government, Resilient Societies is a lecture delivered by Helen Clark, Administrator, UNDP, for the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict. This lecture was delivered on Monday 11 February 2013.
'Obama's second-term effectiveness questioned' outlines arguments put forward by Professor Kevin Clements and Associate Professor Richard Jackson from NCPACS and Professor Robert Patman and Professor Jim Flynn from the Department of Politics, in an open forum held on Thursday 8 November 2012,
'Change hard to effect in the US political system' is an opinion piece written by Associate Professor Richard Jackson and published in the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday 7 November.
'Does it actually matter who won the US Election?', an article in the New Zealand Herald on 5 November, presents two opposing views from Associate Professor Richard Jackson from the Centre, and Professor Robert Patman from the Department of Politics.
'Time for NZ to exit Afghanistan' by Associate Professor Richard Jackson is an argument for the immediate withdrawal of NZ troops from Afghanistan. It was published in the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday 29 August.
'Forecasting Genocide' is a recent article by Dr Charles Butcher published on the website e-r.info. Dr Butcher is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies. He has recently been working on forecasting genocide with a team of reseachers at the University of Sydney, in the hope of being able to identify 'at risk' states thereby enabling policy-makers to focus their preventative efforts, contingency planning and political advocacy on these most dangerous of cases.
'The Community Good' is a recent report by Dr James McIlraith from the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, which examines the influence of the PNG LNG Project in the Hela Region of Papua New Guinea.
What is success in International Mediation?
- a new report
The Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN) and The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (NCPACS) are pleased to announce the release of a new report titled "Pinning Down Peace: Towards a Multi-Dimensional, Clustered Measure of Mediation Success" written by Dr Evan Hoffman and Dr Isak Svensson.
Working from the basis that gauging mediation success is much more arduous and complicated than asking whether an agreement was reached or violent behavior ended, this report develops a new model for measuring success by examining both subjective and objective criteria that are clustered around four different dimensions of the conflict concept, and that allows for the positive as well as negative interactions ("loops") between different dimensions of success.
This model synthesizes insights in previous research and contributes to a more holistic perspective on what mediators can achieve. As such, the model can help mediation researchers to develop more refined ways of conceptually capturing success in international mediation, and therefore generate a better benchmark for eventually testing propositions on what determines positive mediation outcomes. A more sophisticated model for mediation success also has important policy implications for donors, governments, and international organizations.
Download a record of 2011 seminars and public lectures hosted by the Centre.
'Lifelong Battler for a More Just World Left Worthy Memorial', Dominion Post, 31 Dec 2011. An obituary for Dorothy Brown, teacher and peace activist.
'Research Supervisors Honoured', Otago Daily Times, 30 Aug 2011. Dr Karen Brounéus receives the 2011 OUSA New Supervisor of the Year Award.
'World 'not safer' after US killing of Osama bin Laden', Otago Daily Times, 24 May 2011. Professors Clements, Patman, Bradstock and Dr Maryam Purvis on whether the death of bin Laden was a "turning point in building a safer world".
'How Holy Wars End: Exploring the Termination Patterns of Conflicts With Religious Dimensions in Asia', A new publication from Dr Isak Svensson and Emily Harding in Terrorism and Political Violence, 23 (2) 2011; pages 133–14.
Kevin Clement's review of New Perspectives on Liberal Peacbuilding (eds. Roland Paris and Oliver P. Richmond; Japan: United Nations University Press, 2009) in the Australian Journal of Political Science (45.4 [2010]: 730-732).
Download the abstract for "Should I Stay or Should I go? Termination as a Tactic and Norwegian Mediation in Sri Lanka" by Dr Isak Svensson, with Kristine Höglund of Uppsala University, Sweden, a discussion of problems with Norwegian peace diplomacy in Sri Lanka.
Download details for "Fallacies of the Peace Ownership Approach: Exploring Norwegian Mediation in Sri Lanka, a book chapter by Dr Isak Svensson, with Kristine Höglund, in Kristian Stokke and Jayadeva (eds), Liberal Peace in Question: Politics of State and Market Reforms in Sri Lanka (London: Anthem Press, 2011for more details).
'Community and Consent: Unarmed insurrections in Non-Democracies', European Journal of International Relations. A study by Isak Svensson and Mathilda Lindgren (Uppsala) which explores popular challenges against the state through nonviolent means.
'New Book about Jan Eliasson Launched Internationally', Uppsala University Department of Peace and Conflict Research. An announcement for the three international launches of Postdoctoral Fellow Isak Svensson's book 'The Go-Between - Jan Eliasson and the Styles of Mediation': USIP, Washington D.C.; Göteborg book fair, Sweden; and Otago University, New Zealand.
'Call to Arms on Disarmament', The Otago Daily Times, 19 Nov 2010. An article about November 2010 visitor, Swedish politician and peace campaigner Maj Britt Theorin.
'Negotiation, Not Force', The Otago Daily Times, 1 July 2010. Recent visitor Professor Herbert Wulf on the prospect of a nuclear-free Korea.
''Truth for Peace' in the Solomon Islands', Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund. A description of Dr Karen Brounéus's 2011 Marsden Fast-Start-funded project evaluating the outcomes and impacts of the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission on attitudes towards peace.
'UN Commissioner Addresses Peace and Conflict Studies Centre', Otago Daily Times, 1 Apr 2010. United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees' regional representative for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, Richard Towle, on his visit to the Centre and refugee protection.
Radio
'Spy Chief's Rise to Governor General Unusual', Morning Report, Radio New Zealand National, 9 Mar 2011. (Link to audio) Professor Kevin Clements comments on the appointment of New Zealand's new Governor General.
'Truth Telling', Sunday Morning with Chris Laidlaw, Radio New Zealand National, 24 Oct 2010. (Link to audio) Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Karen Brounéus interviewed by Chris Laidlaw about the truth and reconciliation process in Rwanda.
'Academic Says Giving Police Guns Could Spark Arms Race', Morning Report, Radio New Zealand National, 20 July 2010. (Link to audio) Professor Kevin Clements says any move to give police greater access to guns could spark a full scale arms race between the police and the criminal fraternity.
'Sanctions', Ideas, Radio New Zealand National, 6 June 2010. (Link to audio) Professor Kevin Clements contributes to a Radio New Zealand National discussion about the role of sanctions in international relations.
New Zealand Rated World's Most Peaceful Nation, Morning Report, Radio New Zealand National, 3 June 2009. (Link to audio) Professor Clements on how, when it comes to peace and harmony, it seems right here is the place to be.
'Place of Peacemaking', Sunday Morning with Chris Laidlaw, Radio New Zealand National, 31 May 2009. (Link to audio) An interview with Professor Kevin Clements, newly-appointed Director of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Otago University.
NZ Downsizes East Timor Troop Commitment, Checkpoint, Radio New Zealand National, 19 May 2010. (Link to audio) Professor Clements on the NZ presence in East Timor: seventy-five soldiers left Christchurch for East Timor today - just over half the size of previous rotations.
'The Far Side of Revenge', Encounter, ABC Radio National, 22 Jan 2006. Transcription of an interview with Professor Kevin Clements.
'40 Years On, Nuclear Proliferation Still a Threat', ABC News, 1 July 2008. Professor Kevin Clements on why the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the world's most far-ranging arms control agreement, is under pressure as it marks its 40th birthday.
Television
'Reliving Traumatic Experiences May Not Be Helpful', Channel 9 Dunedin Television, 15 Sep 2010. (Link to video) Dr Karen Brounéus on truth-telling processes and the Rwandan genocide.
Professor Kevin Clements appeared as the guest on Channel 9 Dunedin Television, 4 Sep 2012 (link to video) to discuss the work of the Centre.
Film
Counterterrrorism, a documentary which looks at how the world has changed since 9/11. The film challenges the notion that terrorism is a massive security threat. It also looks at how politicians have used the 'War on Terror' ideology to justify military intervention overseas. Associate Professor Richard Jackson features in the documentary.
Podcasts
Audio and video for NCPACS seminars and lectures can be found on the Humanities podcasts webpage.
Watch our ANZAC Day: Red Poppy or White Poppy panel discussion with Professor Kevin Clements, Associate Professor Richard Jackson and Colonel Roger McElwain. (Links to the Humanities podcast webpage)
Hiroshima survivors, Michimasa Hirata and Shigeko Niimoto Hirata, spoke as part of a national tour to mark Hiroshima Day on 6 August 2012. Watch their talks in the videos below.
Creative Responses to Extremism: Lessons from the Breivik trial, a panel discussion with Professor Kevin Clements, Professor Birgit Brock-Utne and Associate Professor Richard Jackson, chaired by Professor Andrew Bradstock, 10 May 2012. In association with CTPI as part of the Public Square discussion series.
A conversation with Chris Laidlaw, with Professor Kevin Clements. Chris Laidlaw is a broadcaster, columnist, author, sports commentator, and former Rhodes Scholar, Ambassador, All Black and MP, 5 April 2011.
Sir Paul Reeves lecture 'From Parihaka to Nationhood', delivered 17 March 2011
'Breaking Cycles of Violence:Trauma, Resilience and Peacebuilding', lecture given by Professor Vernon E. Jantzi, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, co-founder and former director of the Centre for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, 24 November 2010.
A Swedish Critque of the War in Afghanistan, open lecture by Maj Britt Theorin, a Swedish social democratic politican and life long advocate for the nonviolent resolution of conflict, 17 November 2010.
Barbara Einhorn, 'Engendering Peace and Conflict: The Role of Religion', a lecture given on 18 May 2010 while Professor Einhorn was William Evans Visiting Fellow (Links to the Humanities podcast webpage)
'Gandhi and the Power of Nonviolence: Transcending East and West', Dr David Cortright, Director of Policy Studies, Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame, 9 December 2009.
'Martyrs for Peace', Reverend Father John Dear S.J., 2008 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Jesuit Priest, Peace Activist and author/editor of 20 books on peace and nonviolence, 12 November 2009
2012 Annual Peace lecture delivered by Rabbi Adi Cohen entitled 'Words, Concepts, Deeds: Peace as a Way of Living', 3 September 2012.
2004 Peace Lecture delivered by The Rt. Hon. David Lange entitled 'Old Faiths, New World', 5 August 2004.
Links
The Peace and Conflict Studies Subject Guide at the University of Otago Central Library will help you find relevant articles, websites and more resources for research.
The Swiss Peace Foundation is a practice-oriented peace research institute which analyzes the causes of violent conflicts and develops strategies for their peaceful transformation.
Kevin Clements is an academic advisor to the International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict; see his profile here.
The University of Otago Legal Issues Centre, which carries out research on legal issues relating to how a more accessible, affordable and efficient legal system can be created for the benefit of all citizens and to carry out research on how courts can best ascertain the truth and arrive at a fair and just outcome.
See the NGOabroad website for international career and volunteering opportunities.
The War Prevention Initiative was established in 2011 with the vision of ending war within 20 years.