Varieties of State-Building in the Balkans: a Case for Shifting Focus Susan L
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Explaining Soviet Collapse
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Limerick Institutional Repository Explaining Soviet collapse Neil Robinson Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Limerick, Limerick 2017 This paper is a companion piece to a book titled Contemporary Russian Politics that will be published by Polity in 2018. Originally it was written to be a part of that book, but the first draft of the manuscript of the book was too long and somethings had to be cut. This paper was one of those things. It was supposed to be Chapter 4 of the book and came between a chapter on the Gorbachev perestroika reforms and a chapter on political developments under Yeltsin if anyone wants to slot it back in. Since the question of why the USSR collapsed is an important one and is often a topic for discussion and essay questions, and in order to salvage something from the time it took to write it, the paper is being made freely available on several online platforms. 1. Introduction Explaining the collapse of the Soviet system is different to explaining the causes of perestroika.1 The causes of perestroika are generally agreed upon: reform was initiated because of economic decline, Soviet loss of international power relative to Cold War rivals, the accumulation of social problems, and the need for political reform to deal with some, if not all, of these problems (see Robinson, 2018, chapter 3). Explanations of Soviet collapse all recognize the range of problems that the USSR faced in the mid-1980s and that led to perestroika. -
A Case Study on Peace-Building in Bosnia and Herzegovina
WWW.IPPR.ORG StatesofConflict Acasestudyonpeace-buildingin BosniaandHerzegovina BeritBliesemanndeGuevara November2009 ©ippr2009 InstituteforPublicPolicyResearch Challengingideas– Changingpolicy 2 ippr|StatesofConflict:Acasestudyonpeace-buildinginBosniaandHerzegovina Contents Aboutippr ............................................................................................................................. 3 Abouttheauthor.................................................................................................................. 3 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. 3 ‘StatesofConflict’................................................................................................................. 3 Abbreviations........................................................................................................................ 4 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 6 BosniaandHerzegovina–anoverview ............................................................................... 8 TheinternationalinterventioninBosniaandHerzegovina................................................. 12 Conclusions:somethoughtsonfutureforeignpolicyformulation..................................... 23 References .......................................................................................................................... 25 3 ippr|StatesofConflict:Acasestudyonpeace-buildinginBosniaandHerzegovina -
Impact of External Assistance on Local-Level Peace Settlements in the Middle East and North Africa
www.gsdrc.org [email protected] Helpdesk Research Report Impact of external assistance on local-level peace settlements in the Middle East and North Africa Emilie Combaz 27.02.2015 Question Identify evidence about the impact of external programmatic support on local-level peace settlements (e.g. the effects of programme support for local governance and basic service provision on conflict reduction, legitimacy or sub-national political settlements). Look at fragile and conflict-affected states – ideally with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). If possible, identify the specific approaches that the literature recommends or warns against. Contents 1. Overview 2. State of knowledge 3. Impact of external assistance on local peace settlements 4. Recommended approaches 5. Problems, challenges and risks 6. References 1. Overview Armed conflicts have inflicted massive suffering and material losses on the populations of several MENA countries since 2011 (or earlier). Other countries in the region have had a latent risk of political armed violence. At the same time, local peace settlements in delimited geographic areas have been reached in several of these contexts. Many of these local agreements are widely reported to be vulnerable to adverse political developments, due to action within the localities involved but also from the outside. External support thus carries high risks, as academic and grey literature on aid and conflict emphasises1. 1 For the purpose of this query, support was deemed external whether it came from foreign actors (e.g. aid donors) or actors based in the country but outside the geographic locality considered. What impact has external support for basic needs had on these local peace settlements? Based on a rapid review of the literature, this report presents evidence on positive and negative impact in MENA. -
Yemen on the Verge of Total State Collapse While the Global Community Remains Silent
Charlotte Hohmann / Said AlDailami Yemen on the Verge of Total State Collapse While the Global Community Remains Silent Six years after the successful protests of the so-called “Arab Spring” leading to the resignation of former President Ali Abdallah Saleh, Yemen is facing a war on multip- le fronts. The Arab world’s poorest country is suffering from a political situation that has already been fragile and is now on the verge of total state collapse. The violence has triggered a humanitarian disaster with at least three million Yemenis being in- ternally displaced and a famine threatening the country. An end of the conflict is not yet in sight. The international community seems to follow their own interests instead of trying to conclude a ceasefire and peace agreement. Schlagwörter: Arab Spring - Yemen - Civil War - Sunni-Shia - Conflict Saudi Arabia-Iran - Houthi - Saleh - International Intervention YEMEN ON THE VERGE OF TOTAL STATE COLLAPSE WHILE THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY REMAINS SILENT || Charlotte Hohmann / Sail AlDailami Introductory Remarks Generally speaking, Yemen is now divided between two warring parties. Six years after the start of the 2011 The country has been devastated by a uprising and the successful protests of struggle between forces loyal to the in- the so-called “Arab Spring”, leading to ternationally recognized government the resignation of former President Ali under president Hadi and those allied to Abdallah Saleh, Yemen is facing a war on the Houthi rebel movement. Since March multiple fronts. The combination of 2015 at least 10,000 civilians have been proxy wars, sectarian violence, state killed and 42,000 injured2 – the majority collapse and militia rule has sadly be- due to air strikes effected by a Saudi-led come part of the everyday routine. -
The Tragedy of American Supremacy
Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont CMC Senior Theses CMC Student Scholarship 2015 The rT agedy of American Supremacy Dante R. Toppo Claremont McKenna College Recommended Citation Toppo, Dante R., "The rT agedy of American Supremacy" (2015). CMC Senior Theses. Paper 1141. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1141 This Open Access Senior Thesis is brought to you by Scholarship@Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in this collection by an authorized administrator. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE THE TRAGEDY OF AMERICAN SUPREMACY: HOW WINNING THE COLD WAR LOST THE LIBERAL WORLD ORDER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR JENNIFER MORRISON TAW AND DEAN NICHOLAS WARNER BY DANTE TOPPO FOR SENIOR THESIS SPRING 2015 APRIL 27, 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I must thank Professor Jennifer Taw, without whom this thesis would literally not be possible. I thank her for wrestling through theory with me, eviscerating my first five outlines, demolishing my first two Chapter Ones, and gently suggesting I start over once or twice. I also thank her for her unflagging support for my scholarly and professional pursuits over the course of my four years at Claremont McKenna, for her inescapable eye for lazy analysis, and for mentally beating me into shape during her freshman honors IR seminar. Above all, I thank her for steadfastly refusing to accept anything but my best. I must also thank my friends, roommates, co-workers, classmates and unsuspecting underclassmen who asked me “How is thesis?” Your patience as I shouted expletives about American foreign policy was greatly appreciated and I thank you for it. -
The Statehood of 'Collapsed' States in Public International
Agenda Internacional Año XVIII, N° 29, 2011, pp. 121-174 ISSN 1027-6750 The statehood of ‘collapsed’ states in Public International Law Pablo Moscoso de la Cuba 1. Introduction Over the last few years the international community has been witnessing a phenomenon commonly referred to as ‘State failure’ or ‘State collapse’, which has featured the disintegration of governmental structures in association with grave and intense internal armed conflicts, to the point that the social organization of society what international law considers the government of the State, a legal condition for statehood – has almost, or in the case of Somalia totally, disappeared from the ground. Such a loss of effective control that the government exercises over the population and territory of the State – the other legal conditions for statehood – pose several complex international legal questions. First and foremost, from a formal perspective, the issue is raised of whether a State that looses one of its constitutive elements of statehood continues to be a State under International Law. Such a question may only be answered after considering the international legal conditions for statehood, as well as the way current international law has dealt with the creation, continuity and extinction of States. If entities suffering from State ‘failure’, ‘collapse’ or ‘disintegration’ and referred to as ‘failed’, ‘collapsed’ or ‘disintegrated’ States continue to be States in an international legal sense, then the juridical consequences that the lack of effective government create on their condition of States and their international legal personality have to be identified and analysed. Our point of departure will therefore be to analyze ‘State collapse’ and the ‘collapsed’ State from a formal, legal perspective, which will allow us to determine both whether 122 Pablo Moscoso de la Cuba the entities concerned continue to be States and the international legal consequences of such a phenomenon over the statehood of the concerned entities. -
Syria & the CNN Effect: What Role Does the Media Play in Policy
Syria & the CNN Effect: What Role Does the Media Play in Policy-Making? Lyse Doucet Abstract: Syria’s devastating war unfolds during unprecedented flows of imagery on social media, test- ing in new ways the media’s influence on decision-makers. Three decades ago, the concept of a “CNN Effect” was coined to explain what was seen as the power of real-time television reporting to drive responses to humanitarian crises. This essay explores the role traditional and new media played in U.S. policy-making during Syria’s crisis, including two major poison gas attacks. President Obama stepped back from the targeted air strikes later launched by President Trump after grisly images emerged on social media. But Trump’s limited action did not shift policy. Interviews with Obama’s senior advisors underline that the me- dia do not drive strategy, but they play a significant role. During the Syrian crisis, the media formed part of what officials describe as constant pressure from many actors to respond, which they say led to policy failures. Syria’s conflict is a cautionary tale. The devastating conflict in Syria has again brought LYSE DOUCET is Chief Interna- into sharp focus the complex relationship between tional Correspondent for the bbc the media and interventions in civil wars in response and a Senior Fellow of Massey Col- to grave humanitarian crises. Syria’s destructive lege at the University of Toronto. war, often called the greatest human disaster of the She has been reporting on ma- twenty-first century, unfolds at a time of unparal- jor conflicts around the world for leled flows of imagery and information. -
Strategic Priorities 2021-23
About the Berghof Foundation The Berghof Foundation is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit organisation supporting people in conflict in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace. For 50 years, we have worked to bring people in conflict together and enable them to find ways to live peacefully. We engage with all relevant state and non-state actors to support dialogue, mediation and negotiation processes. Grounded in a nexus of practice, learning and research, our work spans many regions and societies, encompassing conflicts between and within states, whether new or entrenched. We also work to address underlying social grievances which, if ignored, deepen divisions and inflame tensions. Our work is underpinned by the principles of partnership, inclusivity, sustainability and local ownership. The Berghof Foundation is known internationally for its longstanding and innovative work in conflict regions, its cutting-edge research, and its peace education work. We have worked in over 50 countries to promote peace, research trends and solutions, and enable conflict parties to move toward sustainable peace. Our Vision A world changing for the better through constructive conflict transformation. Even in the midst of destruction, social and political conflict can develop forces of positive change, when people engage with each other constructively and together seek inclusive and peaceful ways to address the grievances and issues that divide them. Our Mission To create space for conflict transformation. We bring people in conflict together. We enable and support learning processes that inspire the development of new perspectives, relationships and behaviour, thus opening possibilities for addressing conflict and finding ways of living together peacefully. -
Iraq Between Maliki and the Islamic State July 9, 2014
Iraq Between Maliki and the Islamic State July 9, 2014 POMEPS Briefings 24 Contents Seeking to explain the rise of sectarianism in the Middle East . 4 By Toby Dodge The Middle East quasi-state system . 10 By Ariel I. Ahram How can the U .S . help Maliki when Maliki’s the problem? . 12 By Marc Lynch Why the Iraqi army collapsed (and what can be done about it) . 13 By Keren Fraiman, Austin Long, Columbia University, and Caitlin Talmadge Getting rid of Maliki won’t solve Iraq’s crisis . 15 By Fanar Haddad How Arab backers of the Syrian rebels see Iraq . 17 By Marc Lynch Want to defeat ISIS in Iraq? More electricity would help . 19 By Andrew Shaver and Gabriel Tenorio Will ISIS Cohere or Collapse? . 22 By Paul Staniland Maliki has only himself to blame for Iraq’s crisis . 23 By Zaid Al-Ali Was Obama wrong to withdraw troops from Iraq? . 26 By Jason Brownlee Can ISIS overcome the insurgency resource curse? . 29 By Ariel I. Ahram The Calculated Caliphate . 31 By Thomas Hegghammer The logic of violence in the Islamic State’s war . 34 By Stathis N. Kalyva The Project on Middle East Political Science The Project on Middle East Political Science (POMEPS) is a collaborative network that aims to increase the impact of political scientists specializing in the study of the Middle East in the public sphere and in the academic community . POMEPS, directed by Marc Lynch, is based at the Institute for Middle East Studies at the George Washington University and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation and the Henry Luce Foundation . -
The Reasons for the Collapse of Yugoslavia
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UGD Academic Repository International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR) ISSN 2307-4531 http://gssrr.org/index.php?journal=JournalOfBasicAndApplied The Reasons for the Collapse of Yugoslavia Dejan Marolov Goce Delchev University, Pance Karagozov 31 , 2000 Shtip, Republic of Macednia [email protected] Abstract The former Yugoslav federation dissolved in early 90's creating five independent successor states. There are many theories that are trying to explain why this happened. However it is extremely hard task to declare which of those theories is the most relevant. This paper is making attempt to combine the most popular and famous theories concerning the issue and to separate the most relevant aspects of each of them. Key words: Yugoslavia; collapse; theories; international system. 1. Introduction The former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was important subject of the international community. Internally this federation was composed by six republics, and two autonomous provinces. It was country located on the historically very important geopolitical region in the Balkans. Yugoslavia dissolved in a bloody civil war in the first half of the 90's. The literature review offers a wide range of explanations for the causes that led to the breakup of the Yugoslav federation. Especially controversial are some conspiracy theories. In this respect the paper is treating the issue concerning the reasons for the collapse of Yugoslavia by reviewing the existing theory, reconsidering them and finally offering its own conclusion that the collapse should be searched equally in both inside and outside the federation. -
Linking State Collapse and Small Arms Proliferation
The Global Spread of the Real Weapons of Mass Destruction: Linking State Collapse and Small Arms Proliferation Josef Danczuk May 13, 2015 University of Maryland Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Government and Politics Honors Program Acknowledgements My two semesters writing this Government and Politics Honors thesis has been filled with difficulties and great successes, and I am happy to quickly thank a number of people who have been instrumental in assisting me. First, I wanted to thank the staff and advisors of the GVPT Honors Program for administering this opportunity to interested undergraduates like myself. Second, the staff of the University of Maryland’s libraries helped me immensely in locating, reserving, and requesting sources both within the library system and through other schools. I would also like to thank Professors Scott Kastner and Kathleen Cunningham for serving on my thesis defense board. I consider it a great honor that they are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to help me learn in this process. Finally, I would never have been able to achieve what I have in this document and in my learning if not for my thesis advisor, Professor John McCauley. Despite being away on sabbatical when I initially emailed him asking to be my thesis advisor, Professor McCauley instantly offered to take me under his wing upon his return to College Park the following semester. The only thing more exceptional and robust than his guidance and feedback was his motivation and inspiration for me to continue on when things became tough, and for that I am exceptionally grateful. -
Refugees As Agents for Peace Reflecting on the Implementation of Peace Education Formats in Jordanian Refugee Camps
Refugees as agents for peace Reflecting on the implementation of peace education formats in Jordanian refugee camps Dagmar Nolden, Dr. Hannah Reich, Dr. Vladimir Kostić Refugees as agents for peace Published by Berghof Foundation Operations gGmbH © Berghof Foundation Operations gGmbH Lindenstraße 34 10969 Berlin Germany www.berghof-foundation.org 2019 All rights reserved. Impress Dagmar Nolden, Dr. Hannah Reich, Dr. Vladimir Kostić: Refugees as agents for peace. Reflecting on the implementation of peace education formats in Jordanian refugee camps. Berlin / Tuebingen 2019. Layout: Fridolin Schuster. Photos: Dagmar Nolden. Many thanks are due to all members of the project team in Germany, Serbia and Jordan and to Relief International Jordan, the Berghof Foundation’s local partner, for their contributions and support in devel- oping, implementing and evaluating the various peace education formats in the Jordanian refugee camp setting between 2016 and 2019. Berghof Foundation and its cooperation partners implemented the project “Nonviolent Education in Jordan” with the support of Refugees as agents for peace Content 1 Introduction: Refugees as agents for peace 4 2 The context: Syrian refugees in Jordan 6 3 Our approach: Peace education in refugee camp settings 8 4 Reflection on guiding principles for peace education formats in refugee camp settings 10 5 Closing remarks 16 6 Sources and Literature 17 2 Refugees as agents for peace At first, I was shy, confused, and I thought that violence has no solution and peace “doesn’t exist. […] The content of the training was strange at first […] After some time, I began to accept the ideas and techniques we learned and started to use them on my own at home.