Spring 2012 ISA-Global South Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 2

Of Special About us… Interest in this I issue: SA -Global South Caucus About Us • “The Arab Spring and the Long Female Winter” by Ali Mazrui

Contents:

About U s 1 San Diego Conference 2-3 GSCIS Eurasia

Initiative 4 ISA/BISA 4 . People News 5 Note: map copyrighted. Special Feature: The Global South Caucus (GSCIS) is open to members of all sections of ISA who Arab Spring 6-9 study the Global South regions; the south as a whole; relevant South societies in the North, or relations between the North and South. The GSCIS is a “trans-sectional” Of Interest 9 network that aims to: 1) provide a channel for the sharing of research, information and ideas among scholars and practitioners of/in the various regions of the south; 2) promote the ISA as the premier forum for the dissemination of cross-regional global south research; 3) encourage south scholars to participate in the association’s conferences (via GS panels as well as proposals to the relevant sections) and other initiatives; 4) encourage south scholars to publish in ISA journals; 5) work with the ISA committees and sections to encourage graduate students to work on south issues and regions, and engage in professional development activities intended to improve the employment opportunities and advancement in the profession of south- oriented scholars.

This new Caucus provides a wonderful opportunity for scholars of the South to work together. If you are working in any way on issues pertaining to the south, please join us.-

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San Diego Conference 2012:

ISA-Global South Newsletter Page 2 of 11 San Diego Conference 2012 Members of the caucus are reminded to show their support for the caucus by attending our panels and events at ISA-San Diego, April 1-4, 2012. And thank you for joining the caucus. —San Diego 2012

Activities: Everyone is invited to the luncheon honoring Professor Ali Mazrui, to be held on Tuesday, April 3 12.30-13.30 in Room Indigo D. Lunch boxes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis so come early. Professor Jim Mittelman, Distinguished Professor, American University, will be a featured speaker along with the recipient himself. The caucus takes this opportunity to express appreciation to the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, New York, and the International Institute of Islamic Thought, Herndon, Virginia, for the co-sponsorship of the luncheon.

After the luncheon, we will hold our Global South Caucus Annual Business Meeting from 13.45- 14.30 in the Aqua Boardroom. Please try to attend.

Panels:

SD63: Sunday MA18: Monday MC62: Monday MD62: TA62: Tuesday WC62: Monday Wednesday

Room: Pacific Room: 304 Room: Marina B Room: Room: Marina Room: Marina B Marina B B

Reconceptualizing Civil Society Cross- A Global Doing Foreign Policies Security: Gender, and (ISA)Sectional Dialogue on Research, of Rising Powers Race and Information Approaches to the Foreign Teaching, and Access: Global Policy Publishing on Sexuality After 9/11 Navigating South: A Dialogue Analysis the Political Global South Spaces in the Global South**

Time: 4:00 PM - Time: 8:15 AM - Time: 1:45 PM - Time: 4:00 Time: 8:15 AM Time: 1:45 PM - 5:45 PM 10:00 AM 3:30 PM PM - 5:45 - 10:00 AM 3:30 PM PM

** Innovative Panel bringing together scholars of civil society from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America in a partially virtual setting to discuss what can be learned and what commonalities there are, in the way in which individuals as well as groups have been using today’s greater access to information in order to assert their global as well as international governance preferences. The panel hopes to foster a better understanding of both practical and theoretical ideas about the role of civil society in the global south today.

While the main participants will be piped in virtually from Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, counterparts in San Diego will guide the analysis and discussion. Please plan on attending this panel.

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Make sure to upload your paper From ISA Convention Organizers:

This year, ISA is only accepting .PDF files for upload. This is done largely for your safety. Many other file types are much more susceptible to viruses. Fortunately, it's easy to convert your Word, OpenOffice, or other documents to PDF. To get help on converting your document to PDF, click here to read how to convert your document .

HOW DO I UPLOAD MY PAPER?

This year, to upload your paper, go to your "My Program" tab in MyISA. 1. Click "Upload Your Paper!" (Note, this only shows if you own a paper or poster on the program. 2. Click the "Upload a File" link next to your paper. 3. Click "Browse" to find the .PDF file on your computer. 4. Click "Upload File"

5. (You will now see your paper listed)

6. You can upload new versions if you make changes closer to the convention. ISA will keep your past versions, but only make the most recent one available.

For up-to-date information on hotels and travel arrangements for the convention, please go directlyGSCIS to the Eurasia main website Initiative at www.isanet.org. News

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GSCIS Eurasia Initiative News

ment functions as a primary explanatory variable in the development of sub-state international relations. For example: In response to legislation introduced by the government of Georgia during July 2011, which granted public legal recognition to religious minorities for the first time since independence, the National Yezidi-Kurd Congress/Community Resource Center facilitated a high- level state visit between a delegation led by Mir Tahsin ISA/BISA news Beg, the Yezidi religious authority of , and Patriarch During the past six Ilyas II of Georgia, as well as advisors to President Mikhail months, GSCIS Eurasia representative Jason E. Saakashvili. Such activities demonstrate the link between Strakes has been implementing a research agenda the local and international levels of analysis, which that examines associations between the Kurdish- challenges the preoccupation of many Eurasian scholars speaking Yezidi population of the former Soviet with the influences of great powers upon small states. For South Caucasus and the Kurdistan Regional more information regarding this project, please contact the Government (KRG) of Iraq. The study examines the principal investigator at pursuit of public diplomacy between sub-state actors, [email protected] in this case non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that serve as representatives of national minority Informational Portal of Yezidi of Georgia:: groups, and foreign provincial or national governments, which is a highly understudied aspect http://sarhad.ge/main.php?mode=1&cat=about&sub=6&la of international politics in the Middle East and ng=en Caucasus regions. It extends the hypothesis that the level of civil (i.e, political, legal or economic) integration between a minority group which lacks a kin state and the central govern- BISA/ISA Conference

The joint conference of ISA with the British International Studies Association will be held in Edinburgh, UK, June 20-22, under the theme Diversity in the Discipline: Tension or Opportunity in Responding to Global Challenges. The Global Caucus expects to field one panel, entitled Exploring Difference in International Relations: Theory and Practice in the Global South. The description of the panel is as follows: The primary focus of the discipline of International Relations on the theories emanating from, and the practices of, so‐called northern nations has recently spawned a gentle wave of alternative theorizing in the which has, in this respect, lagged behind the disciplinary questioning in the UK and Europe. Attempts at "worlding IR" and producing relevant works have just begun. The Global South Caucus of the ISA is devoted to analyzing new forms of IR theory and diplomacy. In this panel, scholars take up the challenge by critically examining hitherto marginalized traditions, histories, concepts and practices from the Global South with a view to developing a more inclusive approach to IR.

Participants in the panel are: Lisa M Samuel (Paper: A Different Justice: Small Developing States and the Multilateral Trading Regime”; Paul G Adogamhe, University of Wisconsin‐Whitewater (Paper: Adaptation in African Diplomacy); Jacqueline A Braveboy‐Wagner, The City University of New York (Paper: Adaptation in the Nonaligned Movement); and Narendran Kumarakulasingam, School of International Service at American University, (Paper: Constructing the Global South in International Relations). Diana Cassells of The City University of New York, is listed as the discussant.

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People in the News*

Lee Jones, lecturer in International Politics at the School of Politics and International relations, Queen Mary, University of London, has published ASEAN, Sovereignty and Intervention in Southeast Asia (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012l see: www.leejones.tk/asean_sovereignty_intervention.html)

Description from the publisher: The member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are famed for clinging to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and resisting the shift to 'post-Westphalian' sovereignty, much to the derision of many critics. Yet the historical record shows that Southeast Asian states have also been involved in subversion, invasion, annexation, proxy warfare, peacekeeping, state-building and humanitarian interventions. How do we make sense of this apparent contradiction, and what is the real state of sovereignty in Southeast Asia today? Critiquing mainstream constructivist and realist accounts, this book offers a fresh, revisionist history of ASEAN. Drawing on political economy, political geography and state theory, it offers a new approach to theorizing sovereignty and intervention as technologies of power. Focusing on ASEAN states' interventions in Burma, Cambodia and East Timor, it argues that the selective application of sovereignty norms reflects power struggles within Southeast Asian societies.

Nancy E. Wright, Adjunct Associate Professor, Long Island University-Brooklyn is in India on a Fulbright Teaching Grant for six months. She is a Visiting Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Calcutta in Kolkata.

Routledge’s Handbook on Diplomacy and Statecraft edited by Brian McKercher is now out. Of interest will be contributions on the diplomacy of emerging (middle) powers and developing countries and developing countries. Among contributors are Carlos Alzugaray on Cuba, Cyril Obi on Nigeria, Pavin Chachavalpongpun on Thailand, and Jacqueline Anne Braveboy-Wagner on non -alignment.

* Don’t forget to send us your news!

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Special feature: Continuing our focus on the Arab Spring for 2011-12, the following is a speech given by our honoree, Professor Ali Mazrui (Binghamton University)**

The Arab Spring and the Long Female Winter Ali Mazrui

Why did the 2011 Arab But we can begin to raise questions about 20, 1956, women’s credentials as awakening begin in Tunisia? In the participation of women in the current Tunisian patriots were so strong that population Tunisia is basically the Arab awakening. We can also explore the first postcolonial Tunisian smallest -speaking country progress in female liberation before the Arab President, Habib Bourguiba, leader of on the continent of Africa. In Spring. What impact did that prior progress the Neo-Destour Party, declared within national resources it is much on gender relations have on the events of months of independence [August 13, poorer than either or the year 2011? 1956] that Tunisia owed its women a Algeria. The latter are the leading Tunisia’s Gender Experience debt of gratitude not only for their roles oil -producing Arab countries in What has now been called “the Arab as mothers, wives, daughters, and Africa. In cultural and political awakening” or “the Arab Spring” was indeed sisters, but also for their roles as influence across the Arab world, triggered by the uprising in Tunisia in nationalists and patriots. Tunisia is behind the cultural and January 2011 against the regime of Zeinal Tunisia led the Arab world by diplomatic leverage of and Abideen Ben Ali. Was it merely a promulgating a Code of Personal Morocco – in spite of the fact that coincidence that Tunisia as a country led in Status “removing all injustices against th Tunisia was the first country in the 20 century the whole of the Arab world women” and “conferring upon women Africa to be called “Africa” in in women’s liberation? The seed of Tunisia’s their full rights”. Such ideas were history. liberation of women goes back to the early echoed by both the African National th However, if Tunisia is small in years of the 20 century. Congress and the Pan-African population, relatively poor in By the 1920s Tunisia had produced an Congress in South Africa. natural resources, modest in outstanding Islamic reformer who belonged Tunisia was the first Arab country to international influence, why on to the Great Mosque of the Zaitouna. The outlaw polygamy – but not the first earth did the Arab awakening of man’s name was Tahar Haddad who Muslim country. Turkey under Mustafa 2011 begin in Tunisia? championed the liberation of women from Kemal Ataturk had led the way in Another paramount question the shackles of what he regarded as un- improving the status of women in hanging over the current Islamic customs and taboos. In 1930 he marriage, inheritance, and dress tumultuous changes in the Middle published his influential book Our Women in culture. Much later Turkey became the East is whether the Arab Spring the and Society – arguing that first Muslim country in the Middle East will end the female winter of Islamic teachings had been distorted to the to elect a female Prime Minister – discontent. Will the push towards disadvantage of women. Tansu Çiller. the democratization of the Arab Tunisian women were inspired by Haddad In Tunisia women in the year 2011 world include not only greater but initially decided to join the national were significant participants in the pro- liberation of women but also struggle against French colonialism rather democracy uprising. They were greater female empowerment? than fight feminist battles. Women patriots protestors rather than rebels. It It is too early to be sure how started being arrested by French colonialists remains to be seen if Tunisia will durable are the current liberal as early as 1938. By 1950 the leading Neo- become the first Arab country to elect a trends in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya Destour party opened its first women’s woman Prime Minister or a woman and elsewhere. It is certainly section. Many women agitators against President. much too early to draw were from time to time arrested and Although there have already been at conclusions about prospects for imprisoned. least four Muslim countries [Pakistan, the greater empowerment of Arab On attainment of independence on March Bangladesh, Indonesia as well Turkey] women. . .

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. which have produced women Because Pharaohs were supposed to celibate, totally denying themselves sex. Prime Ministers and one be male, Hatshepsut was represented Gaddafi had wanted his female guards as President, none of them was an in statues with a false beard! But she virgins from the start – and committed to Arab country. was a strong ruler – and is widely celibacy until military retirement. If Tunisia in 2011 led the Arab regarded as a forerunner of such But when the 2011 uprising erupted in the pro-democratic awakening, was tough future female rulers as second half of February 2011, there was it partly because it had led the Catherine the Great, Elizabeth I and no evidence of female soldiers protecting half a century earlier in Indira Gandhi. Gaddafi. Actually, there were more women’s liberation? Other great women rulers of Egypt female warriors in the opposition in The immediate trigger of the itself included Pharaoh Akhenaton’s Benghazi than among Gaddafi’s forces in Tunisian uprising was the self- co-Regent, Queen Nefertiti and Tripoli. immolation of a young trader Cleopatra VII, arguably the last Much more interesting was Gaddafi’s who was victimized by Pharaoh of ancient Egypt, though less decision from the 1990s that he was an bureaucrats at the expense of indigenous than either Hatshepsut or African first and an Arab second. He got his livelihood. Muhammad Nefertiti. Cleopatra was ’s disenchanted with fellow Arabs – having Bouazizi set himself aflame in great woman ruler. Her life was from first begun as a Pan-Arabist. But in his protest. Although politically 69 BCE to 30 BCE. Her reign was last twenty years in office he had put his inspired self-immolation is much from 51 BCE to 30 BCE. money more in Pan-African ventures than Egypt has always been the northern in Pan-Arabist projects. He saw himself more rare in Muslim countries than among Hindus and extension of sub-Sahara Africa, the less and less as heir to Gamal Abdel Buddhists elsewhere, the Southern extension of Mediterranean Nasser of Egypt and more and more as Tunisian suicide of a food cart Europe, and later became the Eastern heir to of Ghana. vendor in January 2011 was extension of Arabia. These influences On the whole Gaddafi in the last two or widely regarded by Tunisians as probably eventually have helped the three decades in office had been a good relative liberation of Egyptian women. African but a bad Libyan. He had been a a case of heroic martyrdom. The physical flames which They have been much freer than the bad Libyan by being intolerant of dissent, consumed the young man women of the Arabian Peninsula. Did and being too long in power. Although he became a political flame which this empower them in Tahrir Square as rejected titles like President or His helped to light a revolution. protestors in February 2011? Excellency, and preferred to live in a tent, Tunisian mothers were The Libyan Legacy he did suppress critics uncompromisingly. ruled Libya from reportedly particularly moved by But if he was a bad Libyan, in what sense the young man’s rage. the military coup of 1969. He had been was he a good African? He had invested The Egyptian Precedents less important as a social or religious in African countries often at great loss and The Egyptian uprising of 2011 reformer domestically than in his on limited returns for himself. He had against finally efforts to be a political player globally. financed expensive African conferences succeeded in ousting Mubarak On the gender question Gaddafi used from his own resources. He supported the symbolism. Far from regarding women on February 11, 2011. very expensive Arabic translation of the Women were very visible as unsuited for military roles, or eight volume UNESCO General History of participants in the protests of incapable of using firearms efficiently, Africa. Tahrir Square. Egyptian women Gaddafi theoretically entrusted his life Black Africans had jobs in Libya when – though among the best to female bodyguards. These were they were rejected elsewhere.Young educated in Africa and the often referred to as “the Amazons”. Malians who recently enlisted to go and The Pope in history has had the Muslim world – were not as fight for Gaddafi did so out of sentimental liberated as the women of physical protection of the Swiss attachment to the Libyan leader. Tunisia and Turkey. But guards and the spiritual protection of Black faces fighting for Gaddafi were not historically Egypt has led the the Virgin Mary. Gaddafi had women mercenaries necessarily. Gaddafi’s way in female empowerment in body guards who were spiritually money could have bought better skilled other ways. Did Egypt invent required to be virgins. mercenaries than the peasants of Mali, On the link between virginity and the phenomenon of a female Niger and Burkina Faso. East European Head of State? The first great military effectiveness, Gaddafi in North mercenaries would have been better st female ruler in recorded history Africa in the 21 century had shared a trained. was probably the Egyptian characteristic with Shaka Zulu of Over dinner in Gaddafi’s tent as his guest Hatshepsut who reigned from South Africa in the eighteenth century. some years ago I found myself defending 1479 to 1458 before Christ. Shaka wanted his male soldiers to be the Arabs against Gaddafi’s hostility. [BCE]

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I was also astonished when Gaddafi versions of the Queen of Sheba place the way with female protesters in both asked me to send him a copy of my her in a kingdom called Sarba in Sharpeville and Soweto. father’s book, The Mazrui Dynasty Yemen instead of in Ethiopia So Women in were outraged by of Mombasa. It was part of his Yemen competes with Ethiopia in Nimeiry’s decision to execute Mahmoud fascination with Afrabia. The book claiming Sheba. Muhammad Taha, an old man who was was published by Oxford University But Ethiopia is taking the legacy of radically re-interpreting Islam in a more Press in the 1990s. Sheba much more energetically than liberal direction. Taha’s book in the In the present situation Gaddafi paid do the Yemenis. Emperor Menelik I is English language was published under a price for preferring his African supposed to have been the offspring the title of The Second Message of identity. He … alienated fellow of Solomon and Sheba. Indeed, Islam(Evanston:Northwestern University Arabs to a disastrous extent. The Ethiopians believe that King Press).

Arab League virtually gave the Solomon’s Ark of the Covenant is But there was another reason why green light to the Security Council protected today in St. Mary’s Church Sudanese women were less evident in and the Western powers to bomb in Aksum. The divine right of the the uprising against General Ibrahim

Gaddafi’s Libya. His fellow Arabs Emperor is traced to the Covenant. Abboud in 1964 than in the uprising threw him under the bus! When he To top it all, modern Ethiopia against General in 1985. survived that betrayal, it was only to produced the first Empress of today’s Sudanese Universities had far fewer be lynched by his own Libyan history of Black Africa.This was women students in the 1960s than they people soon after. Queen Zewditu, daughter of Menelik II did in the 1980s. Female students Yearnings of Yemen (1844-1913). Zewditu reigned from enhanced the numbers of those who

An Arab country outside Africa 1916 to 1930. More than half a protested against Nimeiry more which had been drifting towards a century later Liberia produced Africa’s noticeably than they did in the outburst civil war was YEMEN under first elected female Head of State against Aboud twenty years earlier.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Yemen’s links to Africa included Four Muslim countries in the twentieth their own settlements in East Africa century had also elected women In the 2011 uprising in the Arab world and the Horn of Africa – especially Heads of Government (Prime women have had a pronounced from the Yemeni sub-region of Ministers) or women Head of State presence in situations in which the Hadhramount. Such Hadhrami (Presidents).The relevant countries of opposition has engaged in protest but settlers were highly visible in female political empowerment were not in situations when the opposition Mombasa as shopkeepers, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and has resorted to rebellion. Tunisia and merchants, intellectuals and Muslim Turkey. Not a single one of these Egypt were cases when the opposition missionaries. Many became countries was Arab. The Muslim world had consisted of protesters, but in Libya assimilated and Swahilized. had five major female political leaders the opposition rapidly turned into rebels. On the gender question this is partly (two of them in Bangladesh). Will the But what is the difference between neutralized by the Yemeni Arab Spring of 2011 fill in the gap in protest and rebellion? The difference is equivalent of “the right to bear the Arab world’s gender experience? when the opposition is armed. While arms”. Yemen is the most heavily From Khartoum to Tahrir Square Tahrir Square in had been non- armed of all Arab countries at the set the precedent of civilian violent, the Libyan opposition turned to level of individuals and families. It non-violent demonstrations against weapons and transformed the conflict has been estimated that most adult military rule. Non-violent popular into a civil war in less than a week. males not only own, but often wear eruptions occurred: But will the experience of a civil war arms in Yemen. Some families even -- against General in nevertheless liberate women faster than own a tank or two, often marked the Sudan in 1964 would have happened otherwise? Is the

“Private” – though this may be a -- against General Jaafar Nimeiry in female winter of discontent likely to end hyperbole. 1985 sooner in post-Gaddafi Libya than it This culture of militarized manhood The two Sudanese uprisings did not would have done with Gaddafy still in

(macho) has contributed to the extra trigger imitation either in sub-Saharan power? The new Libya does stand a marginalization of women. Yemen Africa or in the Arab world – in spite of chance of empowering its women in the is also the poorest Arab country. the fact that the old Sudan shared years ahead.

However, it is worth remembering borders with nine other countries. Muammar Gaddafi was also the first the more eminent of Yemeni’s But why were Sudanese women less African Head of State to be suspected of female leaders, such as the evident in the uprising against General being in love with an American

Executive Editor of The Yemeni Ibrahim Abboud in 1964 than in the Secretary of State. Gaddafi is reported Times. uprising against General Jaafar to have kept a collection of photographs The most famous woman in the Nimeiry in 1985? The trend was of Condeleeza Rice? There is evidence history of Yemen is the Queen of towards greater political awareness of “Condi Obsession”! But was it love? Sheba. Jewish, Biblical and Qur’anic among women. South Africa had led We must await further evidence, if any! .

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Arab Spring Continued

But it is more likely that the first female Head of State in ** This presentation was made at the Third Annual modern Arab history will be either an Egyptian or a Tunisian. Chinua Achebe Colloquium on Africa, held at Brown While Tunisia awaits a female Bourguiba Egypt may yet University, Providence, Rhode Island, December 3 to 4, produce a new and more indigenous Cleopatra, or a 2011. Mazrui participated on the panel on the theme The reincarnation of Hatshepsut Only then will we begin to Arab Spring: Challenges to Democratization and Nation celebrate the female spring and complete the Arab Spring in Building Middle Eastern history. Amen.

Of interest …

Caucus Chair J. Braveboy-Wagner gave a talk entitled “Reading/Writing/Theorizing the Global South in IR/FP” at the University of California’s Center for International Studies, January 24, 2012. A copy of the talk is available from the chair ([email protected]).

UNITED NATIONS N EWS

From UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs

The UN (and world) is counting down to the Rio+20 follow-up to UNCED 1992, to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June. The ultimate goal is to secure a sustainable future for our shared planet. According to Sha Zukang, the Secretary-General for the conference, the UN is “expecting some fifty to sixty thousand people to come to Rio de Janeiro for the conference. The main difference will be the sharp focus on renewing political commitments and on implementation. In addition, the Conference will be characterized by the size and the unprecedented and strong engagement of the Major Groups of society – the non-state actors whose role is fundamental in building the future we want.” Unlike 1992, “Major Groups are now a part of the official proceedings, intervening and taking part in round tables alongside MemStates and international organizations. At Rio 1992, Major Groups were largely confined to a global forum for civil society in Flamengo Park. The large gap between non-state actors and Member States has now been largely bridged.” For more information on the conference see ISA’s UN NGO representative and/or click the following links: For more information:

UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20

Rio+20 – the future we want campaign

Blog by Rio+20 Secretary-General, Mr. Sha Zukang

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Report of the Seminar on “Challenges and Opportunities of Participatory Governance in North African countries: Engaging Citizens and their Organizations in Public Development Affairs through Adequate Institutions” This seminar, highlighting the need for participatory governance, was held on 20-21 October in Rabat, Morocco. It was organized by UN DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco. For the report, go to: DPADM seminar report

Spotlighting challenges of today’s youth “Today we have the largest generation of young people the world has ever known. They are demanding their rights and a greater voice in economic and political life,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the “World Youth Report”, published by UN DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development, was launched on 6 February. Entitled “Youth Employment: Youth Perspectives on the Pursuit of Decent Work in Changing Times”, the report gathered responses from over one thousand young people around the world in an extensive online survey. It reveals that the greatest concerns among youth are the quality and relevance of their education, job vulnerability, labour migration, delayed marriage, and the rural divide, as well as age, gender and racial discrimination. The report also shows that youth are seeking to innovate in areas such as green technologies and communications. “Young people are, in general, more conscious of global issues like climate change and social equity. I think that promotion of green economies among youth is a winning solution,” says Michael, a 23-year- old and a member of the World Esperanto Youth Organization. The Secretary-General also urges, “We need to pull the UN system together like never before to support a new social contract of job-rich economic growth. Let us start with young people”. Webcast: "UN's global report on youth spotlights rising concerns over lack of job prospects" For more information: World Youth Report

Global Gender Statistics Programme The new website of the Global Gender Statistics Programme provides a platform for the dissemination of materials and information in the field of gender statistics. It also provides a forum for the Inter-agency and Expert Group on Gender Statistics to access and share information on their various areas of activity. To browse: Global Gender Statistics Programme

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Please get involved with the GSCIS:

Join the caucus; ISA-Global South Caucus Participate in our panels and workshops at ISA;

Keep up to date via our blogs; We’re on the Web! Send us information about you; The GSCIS website (http://www.isanet.org/glo Send us short newsletter analyses; bal_south_caucus/) and blog spot Serve in any capacity. (http://gscis.blogspot.com/ ) are hosted on the ISA website. Caucus news and announcements are posted on both pages. Please send your contributions to the Secretary-Treasurer at [email protected] or to the Chair at: mailto:jbraveboy- [email protected] or to any EXCOM member representing your region!!

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