Peace and Conflict Studies Commons^™

The Olympic Truce: Symbolic Gesture Or Effective Tool In Preventing And Ending International Conflicts?, Vincent Pandey

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

A modern model for peace is the “Olympic Truce,” a United Nations General Assembly resolution that calls for the pausing and prevention of new conflicts from one week before the Olympic Games through one week after the Paralympic Games. Olympic Truce scholars have focused on identifying cases that demonstrate effective implementation of the Olympic Truce and have come up with mixed results. Some argue that the symbolic nature of the Truce allows it to create moments of peace in conflicts, while others argue that it is nothing more than a gesture of goodwill that has not actually been used for …

Parameters Winter 2023-24 Full Issue, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

From The Editor In Chief, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Winter 2023–24 issue of Parameters. This issue opens with two In Focus commentaries offering observations from the Russia-Ukraine War, two forums addressing deterrence and strategic influence, and the inaugural Director’s Corner for the China Landpower Studies Center (CLSC).

Introduction To The China Landpower Studies Center, Richard D. Butler

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Director’s Corner for the China Landpower Studies Center (CLSC). This will be a regular feature in Parameters that will discuss critical military and security issues related to China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). It will also highlight the Center’s research agenda and key activities. My objective in this first installment is to outline the purpose, organization, capabilities, research agenda, and expected products of the Center.

Geopolitics In Recent U.S. Professional Military Reading Lists, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Professional military reading lists have existed for a long time in the U.S. military and in other national militaries. They are frequently updated and intended to enhance the professional knowledge of military professionals in areas ranging from cultural awareness, ethics, leadership, international relations, military history and military operations, and areas of expertise considered essential to successfully executing the operations of their military service branch. These lists are prepared by the leadership organizations of these armed services such as the Air Force Chief of Staff, U.S. Army’s Chief of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations, and Marine Corps Commandant. Such readings are …

“Imagine Being Homophobic In 2022 In This Economy?!”: Bosniak, Croat, And Serb Perceptions Of Social Justice, Mehmet Yavuz

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

After the three-year war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia finally signed the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) in 1995, thereby ending one of Europe’s most violent conflicts. Although the DPA provided a significant opportunity for communities to construct a new state based on the rule of law, freedom, democracy, and human rights, it failed to create a united civic identity and a well-functioning state with strong democratic policies and the ability to protect people’s human rights. The new generation of youth face unemployment, exclusion, lack of educational opportunities, and poor economic and political conditions while they are …

Reconciling Women, Peace, And Security And Conflict Transformation Through Conflict Transformation Education In Afghan Refugee Communities, Ava Strasser

Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference

This research seeks to understand how conflict transformation can be furthered by the inclusion of women in peace processes, as affirmed by the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, through engagement with Conflict Transformation Education (CTE). This intervention proposes a community-centered CTE workshop in Afghan refugee communities in Pakistan, following the efforts of displaced Afghan women in conducting community peace efforts, including running schools within and outside refugee camps and the provision of humanitarian aid (Rostami-Povey, 2007; “The Future,” 2021). As such, displaced Afghan women and girls have played a critical role in peace processes and are uniquely positioned at …

Executive Summary: The Uganda Nextgen Framework, Briana Mawby, Noah Mirembe Gabigogo, Cassandra Barrett

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

The Uganda NextGen Framework: Guidelines for Intergenerational Peacebuilding report provides a practical framework for creating intergenerational peacebuilding partnerships drawn from the lived experiences of women peacebuilders across Uganda and outlines key considerations when addressing generational divides and gaps in peacebuilding efforts. The report provides analysis drawn from the debates and discussions held between 2020 and 2023 as the cohort of peacebuilders engaged in the Uganda NextGen initiative worked across generations to create social change throughout the country. The framework provides a guide for others trying to create mutually beneficial and equitable peacebuilding partnerships among people of different generations.

Navigating Complexity Of Serving Displaced Communities: A Study Of Yemeni Community-Based Organizations In Egypt, Alya Mohammed Al-Mahdi

Theses and Dissertations

Forced displacement is a global crisis that poses challenges for nations like Egypt. Despite international NGO support, escalating displaced individuals have overwhelmed existing capacities. Refugee Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) have emerged as a natural response from the communities themselves to bridge the gap between the state and NGOs and the refugee community. However, CBOs in Egypt face challenges that impact their operation and continuity. Through qualitative research, this study aims to explore the experience of the Yemeni CBOs. Through interviews with seven people from six CBOs conducted through field visits and online calls, this research uncovers the dynamics of Yemeni CBOs …

Ammunition Identification Guide For Ukraine: A Collaborative Project Amidst War (Ukrainian Edition), Lieutenant Perederii, Tony Salvo, Drew Prater

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Під час операцій зі знешкодження вибухонебезпечних предметів вміння ідентифікувати боєприпаси є надзвичайно важливим. Після ідентифікації боєприпасу стає відомим його заряд вибухової речовини/наповнювач та потенційні небезпеки, що у свою чергу уможливлює безпечне та контрольоване поводження із даним боєприпасом. Під час очищення Фаллуджі, Мосула і прилеглих територій в Іраку ми зіштовхнулися із залишеними вибухонебезпечними предметами (ЗВП) та вибухонебезпечними залишками війни (ВЗВ) з двадцяти трьох різних країн, що кинуло виклик навіть найзавзятішим вибухотехнікам. З огляду на це, було створено документ з ідентифікації боєприпасів на основі знайдених боєприпасів, найновіше видання якого містить понад 340 різних боєприпасів. Ті, хто старанно працює над знешкодженням вибухонебезпечних предметів …

An Accessible Seeded Field For Humanitarian Mine Action Research, Jasper Baur, Gabriel Steinberg, John Frucci, Anthony Brinkley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The detection of buried and surface explosive remnants of war (ERW) is a critical task in the land release process.[1] The goal of this project is to create a long-term study site and benchmark to accelerate humanitarian mine action (HMA) research for the detection of buried ERW, including unexploded ordnance (UXO), landmines, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). A crucial step in transitioning experimental detection techniques from the lab to the field is conducting rigorous field testing in a realistic and safe environment.[2]^,[3],[4] With most academic institutions lacking access to stockpiles of inert ERW to …

Integrated Cooperation In Implementing Firearm Deactivation Capabilities: Bosnia And Herzegovina, Colonel Geir P. Novik

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Many of the illegal firearms used for terrorist and criminal activities throughout Europe originate from the Balkan region and have previously been legally exported and sold as deactivated firearms. However, due to variations in the quality of deactivation standards and verification processes, many deactivated firearms can easily be reactivated into fully functional military weapons. To prevent the illegal reactivation of additional weapons, new guidelines regarding deactivation standards and techniques have been introduced, thus ensuring that deactivated firearms are rendered irreversibly inoperable. Within the framework of the European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), a training program regarding the deactivation of …

Department Of State's Quick Reaction Force: Twenty-Three Years Of Service, Charlie Holloway

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For the past twenty-three years, the United States has provided rapid responses to landmine and munitions/explosives related emergencies in some of the most vulnerable populations around the world. Initiated with a group from Mozambique, the Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF) was designed by the U.S. Department of State to rapidly respond to landmine emergencies. Presently, its response capacity has expanded to include experts in battle area clearance (BAC) and physical security and stockpile management (PSSM). These professionals volunteer for deployments on short notice to address emergencies globally. The Department of State Quick Reaction Force (QRF), managed by the Political/Military Bureau …

Mag Emergency Response: Digital Explosive Ordnance Risk Education In Somalia, Robin Toal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 9 June 2023, a tragic accident involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Qoryoley town in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia claimed the lives of twenty-seven civilians, including twenty-two children, and left fifty-three others injured. The tragedy was caused when several young children discovered a mortar round on the ground in an open playing field that they started to play with and consequently exploded. In response to the accident, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) mobilized both headquarters and Somalia based staff to develop a rapid response digital explosive ordnance risk education campaign (DEORE) using paid adverts targeting Meta (Facebook & Instagram) …

Empowering Host Nation Counter-Ied And Counter-Insurgency Efforts: Innovative Application Of Ordnance Recycling, Lynna Banach, Commodore Roy Vincent T. Trinidad, Captain Julien B. Dolor

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As the United States works to grow its defense partnership with the Philippines, the country continues to fight instability and insecurity amidst a lengthy battle against insurgent and terrorist groups.[i]^,[ii],[iii] As the overlap between urban areas and conflict zones increases, and with violent groups’ use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against government forces, the danger to civilians escalates.[iv] This paper provides a deeper understanding of how the prevalence of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and the use of IEDs in the Philippines fuel the realities of insurgency and humanitarian danger in the country. Furthermore, using Golden …

The Journal Of Conventional Weapons Destruction Issue 27.3 (2023), Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

No abstract provided.

Reviving Old Mosul: 3d Modeling Aids Safe Clearance In Iraq, Erin Atkinson, Marc Dennehy, Craig Locke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Under the 2014–2017 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) occupation, the Old City of Mosul, Iraq, served as a headquarters for the self-proclaimed caliphate. ISIS produced, stored, and transited money, modern munitions, weapons, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) through the city's ancient stone streets. To approach the immense and technically challenging task of clearing the Old City efficiently, effectively, and safely—without compromising the city's rich cultural history—Tetra Tech created a 3D model using aerial photogrammetry to quantify and visualize the scope and scale of the project.

Mine Action In Lebanon: Innovation, Learning, And Finishing The Job, Mark Wilkinson Phd

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Lebanon is a country that has been severely affected by landmines, cluster bombs, and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) through decades of war and civil war. In many cases these legacies of war remain today, intertwined with the complex geopolitics of the region. Yet Lebanon is also a country that exemplifies excellence in mine action—from the strategic to the operational level.

Review Of Making Livable Worlds: Afro-Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice, Ava L. Corey-Gruenes

Feminist Pedagogy

Making Livable Worlds: Afro-Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice, by Hilda Lloréns, highlights Black Puerto Rican women’s efforts to create equitable futures for their communities in the face of capitalism, racism, colonization, and ecological collapse. This review covers key concepts in Making Livable Worlds, including matriarchal dispossession, decolonizing ethnography, the myth of a homogenous Puerto Rico, and myths of inherent economic self-interest. Analyses of these concepts through an absence lens are suggested to enrich formal and informal feminist learning spaces.

Knocking On Europe's Door: A Comprehensive Analysis Of The European Response To The 2015 Refugee Crisis And The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis, Jacob J. Mckim

Global Studies Senior Capstone

Europe is, and has long been at the center of refugee reception for many areas of the world due to its geographical position and general security. However, the European response to refugees has varied drastically in different situations. This paper examines the European response to both the 2015 Refugee Crisis and the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis. The focus being on what factors, whether political, racial, or religious, has led for some individuals to be received more favorably in Europe than others. Through examining this, the conditions for successful and long-lasting refugee reception hopefully be more clearly seen.

A Reflection Of Change: Evolutions In International Water Law Principles Through The Lens Of Euphrates-Tigris Dispute, Maeve Sullivan

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As climate change intensifies, water scarcity will increase. Coupled with a growing global population, water security is a major modern challenge. To bring stability to international watercourses, states must establish effective sharing agreements. On this matter, international water law can help. International water law captures some of the major principles and considerations that states must account for while considering issues related to water security. This paper uses primary interviews and secondary sources to identify some of the major characteristics, features, and developments in international law to develop a conceptual framework for the topic. It then moves into a case study …

The Legacy Of War: A Holistic Analysis Of Socio-Economic And Healthcare Resources For People Affected By Agent Orange In Việt Nam, Ashley Malone

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The war between the United States of America and Northern Việt Nam lasting from 1955 to 1975 did not end with the removal of American troops from Vietnamese soil, but it rears its ugly head daily in the lives of those affected by Agent Orange and other various Rainbow Dioxins utilized as herbicides. This paper delves into the enduring legacy of the Resistance War Against America, specifically focusing on the socio-economic and medical ramifications for families and individuals affected by Agent Orange that persist half a century after its prohibition. The study scrutinizes the disparities in aid between American veterans …

The Uganda Nextgen Framework: Guidelines For Intergenerational Peacebuilding, Briana Mawby, Noah Mirembe Gabigogo, Cassandra Barrett

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

This report provides a practical framework for creating intergenerational peacebuilding partnerships drawn from the lived experiences of women peacebuilders across Uganda and outlines key considerations when addressing generational divides and gaps in peacebuilding efforts.

The report provides analysis drawn from the debates and discussions held between 2020 and 2023 as the cohort of peacebuilders engaged in the Uganda NextGen initiative worked across generations to create social change throughout the country. The framework provides a guide for others trying to create mutually beneficial and equitable peacebuilding partnerships among people of different generations.

Irex And The Community Solutions Program, John Porten

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

The community of practice (CoP) made up of the alumni Community Solutions Program (CSP) caters to a diverse and globally distributed group of professionals in the peacebuilding, humanitarian and development fields. Facilitating such a community without substantial reliance on communications technology and distanced relationship-building would be impossible. Yet this kind of distanced practice community faces a trust hurdle: members will only contribute quality content if they believe others will do the same. This creates a classic “free-rider” problem that leads to the death of many distanced practice communities. Despite this challenge, the CSP alumni that make up the program’s community …

Entre La Exclusión Y La Empatía: Conocimientos Y Sentimientos De La Juventud Judía De Buenos Aires Sobre La Memoria Colectiva De “La Comunidad Judía” En La Última Dictadura Argentina (1976-1983) / Between Exclusion And Empathy: Knowledge And Sentiments Of Jewish Youth In Buenos Aires About The Collective Memory Of The “The Jewish Community” During The Argentine Dictatorship (1976-1983), Rachel Colson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

La última dictadura cívico-militar en Argentina es tanto parte del pasado como del futuro. El “Proceso de Reorganización Nacional” instalado por las Fuerzas Armadas trajo opresión política y violencia extrema hacia la gente en contra del régimen. Desde su fin, la sociedad ha enfrentado el problema de cómo recordar esta época. La memoria forma parte importante de la identidad social argentina, pero es complicada debido a la experiencia de determinados grupos durante la dictadura. En estos años, los judíos sufrieron una victimización especial dentro de los campos clandestinos de detención—los sitios de tortura y desaparición—de las Fuerzas Armadas. Mientras algunos …

Historical Interpretations And Their Legacies: Dialectical Materialism And The Umayyad Conquest Of Morocco, Grayson Shaw

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The death of the Prophet in the 7th century paved the way for the Umayyad Caliphate, one of the largest empires by land to exist in human history. Most notably, the Umayyads controlled a territory that spanned from India across North Africa into Spain. Along this expansionary route, the Arab Umayyads interacted with, integrated, and fought local indigenous Amazigh people all along Northern Africa into Morocco. Historical records about the Umayyad influence in Morocco are widely varied, ranging from later Abbasaid records to 20th century European interpretations. At its core, the Umayyad conquest of Morocco has fallen victim to interpretations …

Settler Colonialism And Resistancein Palestine From 2009 To 2019, Belal S.M. Alakhras

Student Works (2020-2029)

In 1948, Israeli forces took over most of the Palestinian territory and forced the majority of Palestinians to leave their homes. Since then, Israel’s colonial endeavour against Palestinians has continued, and Palestinians have faced numerous attempts to erase their presence. Despite its efforts, Palestinian resistance has not achieved the end of Israeli control. This study examines the continuation of Israeli settler colonialism in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 2009 and 2019. The research aims to provide insights into these key questions: what are the influencing factors on the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians in the West Bank …

Building Holistic Security (Case Study: Syria), Slava Shikh Hasan

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

Highlighting how unequal partnerships exacerbate risks for women peacebuilders in Syria.

Women peacebuilders inevitably face risks and insecurity in their daily work. International partners have an important role to play in supporting their safety and protection. Understanding women peacebuilders’ roles and the types of risks they face is the first step in ensuring an adequate response. This case study forms part of the Building Holistic Security: Addressing Security Risks of Women Peacebuilders Through Partnerships report, focused on how international partners can better partner with women peacebuilders to address the risks and insecurity they face in the different facets of their …

Building Holistic Security (Case Study: Iraq), Nesreen Barwari

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

Highlighting patriarchal norms and lack of protection for women peacebuilders in Iraq.

Women peacebuilders inevitably face risks and insecurity in their daily work. International partners have an important role to play in supporting their safety and protection. Understanding women peacebuilders’ roles and the types of risks they face is the first step in ensuring an adequate response. This case study forms part of the Building Holistic Security: Addressing Security Risks of Women Peacebuilders Through Partnerships report, focused on how international partners can better partner with women peacebuilders to address the risks and insecurity they face in the different facets of …

Building Holistic Security (Case Study: Tanzania), Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Tatu Mkiwa Nyange

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

Highlighting how recognition and common vision can help mitigate security risks to women peacebuilders.

Women peacebuilders inevitably face risks and insecurity in their daily work. International partners have an important role to play in supporting their safety and protection. Understanding women peacebuilders’ roles and the types of risks they face is the first step in ensuring an adequate response. This case study forms part of the Building Holistic Security: Addressing Security Risks of Women Peacebuilders Through Partnerships report, focused on how international partners can better partner with women peacebuilders to address the risks and insecurity they face in the different …