Marisa O Ensor, PhD, LLM
Georgetown University, Justice and Peace Studies, Faculty Member
- Human Rights, Peace and Conflict Studies, Refugee Studies, Children and Youth, Gender, Transitional Justice, and 11 moreEducation in Emergencies, International Development, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Children's Rights, Sociology of Children and Childhood, South Sudan, Anthropology of Children and Childhood, Uganda, Refugees, Youth Studies, and Childhood studiesedit
- I am a gender and youth specialist with a background in the human dimensions of disasters, environmental change, conf... moreI am a gender and youth specialist with a background in the human dimensions of disasters, environmental change, conflict, displacement & security. Trained in political ecology (environmental anthropology) and human rights law, I have 15+ years of scholarship and practice in conflict-affected, and environmentally-fragile countries in Africa, Europe, the MENA region and Latin America.
Much of my work examines women’s and girls’ positive roles in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, human mobility, disaster risk management, and environmental governance, including climate action, focusing on the identification of context-specific solutions.
I am currently based at Georgetown University – Justice and Peace Studies Program and Institute for the Study of International Migration, School of Foreign Service.
Prior to joining Georgetown, I taught at several other universities in the US and abroad, including the American University in Cairo’s Center for Migration and Refugee Studies.
I have published 5 books and over 40 journal articles, book chapters, and policy briefs, and has presented her work in a wide range of global venues.edit
Securitizing Youth offers new insights on young people’s engagement in a wide range of contexts related to the peace and security field. It presents empirical findings on the challenges and opportunities faced by young women and men in... more
Securitizing Youth offers new insights on young people’s engagement in a wide range of contexts related to the peace and security field. It presents empirical findings on the challenges and opportunities faced by young women and men in their efforts to build more peaceful, inclusive, and environmentally secure societies. The chapters included in this edited volume examine the diversity and complexity of young people’s engagement for peace and security in different countries across the globe and in different types and phases of conflict and violence, including both conflict-affected and relatively peaceful societies. Chapter contributors, young peacebuilders, and seasoned scholars and practitioners alike propose ways to support youth’s agency and facilitate their meaningful participation in decision-making. The chapters are organized around five broad thematic issues that correspond to the 5 Pillars of Action identified by UN Security Council Resolution 2250. Lessons learned are intended to inform the global youth, peace, and security agenda so that it better responds to on-the-ground realities, hence promoting more sustainable and inclusive approaches to long-lasting peace.
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Commissioner by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right -- Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, this report discusses the key financial, land and housing rights and infrastructural factors framing housing... more
Commissioner by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right -- Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, this report discusses the key financial, land and housing rights and infrastructural factors framing housing reconstruction challenges for displaced families in post-Hurricane Mitch Honduras . A variety of constraints have resulted in high levels of inequity in access to land and the establishment of viable human settlements in Honduras, contributing to highly differential levels of disaster vulnerability. Patterns of explosive urbanization coupled with poor institutional capacity constitute additional difficulties that impede the fulfillment of Honduran citizens’ right to adequate housing.
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Given the very high proportion of children and youth among displaced populations worldwide, and the particular challenges and opportunities they must confront, their experiences, needs and aspirations must be investigated and factored... more
Given the very high proportion of children and youth among displaced populations worldwide, and the particular challenges and opportunities they must confront, their experiences, needs and aspirations must be investigated and factored into relevant policy and practice. Conceived as a follow up to the earlier Children and Migration: At the Crossroads of Resiliency and Vulnerability (Palgrave, 2010), this edited volume draws on empirical field research and robust policy analyses of cases of child displacement across the globe. Findings seek to inform forced migration programming so that it better responds to the age-differentiated priorities of displaced communities, hence promoting more sustainable durable solutions. These dynamics are shown to have a significant impact on the way in which access to material assets, education, employment opportunities, political participation and other key resources is negotiated among the youngest members of displaced groups.
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With 70 per cent of its people under the age of 30, Africa is the world's youngest continent. African youngsters have been largely characterized as either vulnerable victims of the frequent humanitarian crises that plague their homelands,... more
With 70 per cent of its people under the age of 30, Africa is the world's youngest continent. African youngsters have been largely characterized as either vulnerable victims of the frequent humanitarian crises that plague their homelands, or as violent militarized youth and 'troubled' gang members. Young people's contributions to processes of educational provision, peace building and participatory human development in Africa are often ignored. While acknowledging the profound challenges associated with growing up in an environment of uncertainty and deprivation, African Childhoods sheds light on African children's often constructive engagement with a variety of societal conditions, adverse or otherwise, and their ability to positively influence their own lives and those of others.
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Children and Migration offers a comprehensive analysis of the increasingly common phenomenon of child migration from the perspective of the children themselves. Situating child migration at the nexus of resiliency and vulnerability, the... more
Children and Migration offers a comprehensive analysis of the increasingly common phenomenon of child migration from the perspective of the children themselves. Situating child migration at the nexus of resiliency and vulnerability, the volume focuses on the local conditions that frame child migrants' lives as well as analyzes the broader issues of poverty, (under)development, conflict, and displacement that mark the movement of children within and across national borders.
Acknowledging that migrant children do not speak with one single voice, this volume bears testimony to the enormous diversity and multifaceted character of child migration. Drawing on rich ethnographic data as well as quantitative surveys, the book examines the experiences of children in a wide variety of migratory circumstances including economic child migrants, transnational students, trafficked, stateless, fostered, unaccompanied and undocumented children. This collection addresses theoretical, methodological and ethical considerations of research with migrant children, and analyze aspects of health, education, work, kinship and gender issues, as well as the special circumstances presented by forced migration.
Acknowledging that migrant children do not speak with one single voice, this volume bears testimony to the enormous diversity and multifaceted character of child migration. Drawing on rich ethnographic data as well as quantitative surveys, the book examines the experiences of children in a wide variety of migratory circumstances including economic child migrants, transnational students, trafficked, stateless, fostered, unaccompanied and undocumented children. This collection addresses theoretical, methodological and ethical considerations of research with migrant children, and analyze aspects of health, education, work, kinship and gender issues, as well as the special circumstances presented by forced migration.
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Around the world disaster vulnerability is on the rise. The incidence and intensity of disasters have increased in recent decades with lives being shattered and resources being destroyed across broad geographic regions each year. As... more
Around the world disaster vulnerability is on the rise. The incidence and intensity of disasters have increased in recent decades with lives being shattered and resources being destroyed across broad geographic regions each year.
As it swept across the Honduran landscape, the exceptional size, power and duration of Hurricane Mitch abruptly and brutally altered the already diminished economic, social, and environmental conditions of the population. In the aftermath of the disaster a group of seven socio-environmental scientists set out to investigate the root causes of the heightened vulnerability that characterized pre-Mitch Honduras, the impact of the catastrophe on the local society, and the subsequent recovery efforts. Edited by Marisa O. Ensor, this volume presents the findings of their investigation.
The Legacy of Hurricane Mitch offers a comprehensive analysis of the immediate and long-term consequences of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. Based on longitudinal ethnographic fieldwork and environmental assessments, this volume illustrates the importance of adopting an approach to disaster research and practice that places "natural" trigger events within their political, cultural, and socio-economic contexts. The contributors make a compelling case against post-disaster recovery efforts that limit themselves to alleviating the symptoms, rather than confronting the root causes of the vulnerability that prefigured the disaster.
As it swept across the Honduran landscape, the exceptional size, power and duration of Hurricane Mitch abruptly and brutally altered the already diminished economic, social, and environmental conditions of the population. In the aftermath of the disaster a group of seven socio-environmental scientists set out to investigate the root causes of the heightened vulnerability that characterized pre-Mitch Honduras, the impact of the catastrophe on the local society, and the subsequent recovery efforts. Edited by Marisa O. Ensor, this volume presents the findings of their investigation.
The Legacy of Hurricane Mitch offers a comprehensive analysis of the immediate and long-term consequences of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. Based on longitudinal ethnographic fieldwork and environmental assessments, this volume illustrates the importance of adopting an approach to disaster research and practice that places "natural" trigger events within their political, cultural, and socio-economic contexts. The contributors make a compelling case against post-disaster recovery efforts that limit themselves to alleviating the symptoms, rather than confronting the root causes of the vulnerability that prefigured the disaster.
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Often compounding each other, current trends including climate change, environmental degradation, and increased consumption associated with unsustainable development and population growth, present serious threats to human security at... more
Often compounding each other, current trends including climate change, environmental degradation, and increased consumption associated with unsustainable development and population growth, present serious threats to human security at global, national, and local levels. These trends are destabilizing economies, negating development gains, exacerbating gender-based violence against women and girls, and undermining global peace and security. This situation is particularly pronounced in countries like South Sudan where women and girls have often borne the brunt of multiple shocks and stresses. South Sudanese women are nevertheless engaging in diverse initiatives to promote peace, development, and more equitable environmental governance. This paper examines the circumstances that facilitate women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery, and climate change adaptation. Findings from an analysis of three local organizations underscore the significance of adopting a gender-transformative, intersectional approach to peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and development efforts, especially in contexts impacted by the adverse effects of climate change.
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This article examines the links between gender, mass violence, climate change, and displacement in South Sudan. I argue for risk-informed gender-sensitive strategies that incorporate local capacities and sources of resilience. When civil... more
This article examines the links between gender, mass violence, climate change, and displacement in South Sudan. I argue for risk-informed gender-sensitive strategies that incorporate local capacities and sources of resilience. When civil war engulfed South Sudan again in 2013, egregious human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence, were perpetrated with near complete impunity. As the national army was divided along Dinka-Nuer ethnic lines, soldiers from each faction turned against each other in a deadly pattern of revenge and counter-revenge attacks that soon spread across the national territory. Inter-communal conflicts also intensified, often centering on competition over land for pasture, cattle raiding, and the abduction of women and children. Additionally, environmental challenges, including both droughts and severe flooding, as well as locust swarms, have resulted in widespread crop loss and property damage. Famine was declared in 2017, with current conditions classified as widespread acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition. The intersection of these multiple crises has displaced nearly 4 million people. Despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, South Sudanese women have made significant strides in their push for inclusion in national peace processes.
Research Interests: Climate Change, Disaster Studies, Africa, Forced Migration, Environmental Security, and 8 moreFamine Studies, Genocide, Environmentally induced migration, Refugees and Forced Migration Studies, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, South Sudan, Women and Conflict, and Women and Climate Change
The literature on the security implications of climate change, and in particular on potential climate-conflict linkages, is burgeoning. Up until now, gender considerations have only played a marginal role in this research area. This is... more
The literature on the security implications of climate change, and in particular on potential climate-conflict linkages, is burgeoning. Up until now, gender considerations have only played a marginal role in this research area. This is despite growing awareness of intersections between protecting women’s rights, building peace and security, and addressing environmental changes. This article advances the claim that adopting a gender perspective is integral for understanding the conflict implications of climate change. We substantiate this claim via three main points. First, gender is an essential, yet insufficiently considered intervening variable between climate change and conflict. Gender roles and identities as well as gendered power structures are important in facilitating or preventing climate-related conflicts. Second, climate change does affect armed conflicts and social unrest, but a gender perspective alters and expands the notion of what conflict can look like, and whose security is at stake. Such a perspective supports research inquiries that are grounded in everyday risks and that document alternative experiences of insecurity. Third, gender-differentiated vulnerabilities to both climate change and conflict stem from inequities within local power structures and socio-cultural norms and practices, including those related to social reproductive labor. Recognition of these power dynamics is key to understanding and promoting resilience to conflict and climate change. The overall lessons drawn for these three arguments is that gender concerns need to move center stage in future research and policy on climate change and conflicts.
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Often described as ‘the future of the nation’, children in South Sudan represent the promise of a stable positive national identity in this conflict-ridden, newly independent African country. State- and nation-building efforts in the... more
Often described as ‘the future of the nation’, children in South Sudan represent the promise of a stable positive national identity in this conflict-ridden, newly independent African country. State- and nation-building efforts in the post-independence period have similarly targeted the members of the youngest generations, at least at the discourse and normative levels, as ideas of nationhood and childhood are seen as mutually constitutive. Progress made since the 2005 Peace Agreement has, however, been negated by the recent resurgence of ethnically fuelled conflict and population displacement. Unsuccessful efforts to mould the highly ethnically heterogeneous population of South Sudan into a coherent national entity and the failure to satisfy the needs of the very young population constitute leading factors contributing to the escalation of violence. Based on fieldwork conducted in several localities in South Sudan and northern Uganda between 2009 and 2013, this article discusses som...
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While homicides have slowly declined (SDG 16.1.1) and more citizens around the world have better access to justice (SDG 16.3), high-intensity conflicts and various manifestations of political violence (SDG 16.1.2) have increased in recent... more
While homicides have slowly declined (SDG 16.1.1) and more citizens around the world have better access to justice (SDG 16.3), high-intensity conflicts and various manifestations of political violence (SDG 16.1.2) have increased in recent years. Violent extremism – here defined as support for or perpetration of acts of violence with the purpose of advancing a socio-political agenda – has emerged as one of the most critical global threats of our time. A consensus is building that violent extremism and terrorism are both international security and development issues. It is well documented that economic and social development are better attained in the absence of violent conflict. The Secretary-General’s Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism makes a clear association between efforts to prevent violent extremism (PVE) and development. The UN Plan of Action on PVE calls for national and regional PVE action plans; it further encourages member states to align their development policies with the SDGs, many of which are highlighted as critical to addressing global drivers of violent extremism and enhancing community resilience. Drawing on my own research on the link between (under)development and radicalization in the Greater Horn of Africa and the Lake Chad Basin region, I argue that SDG 16 offers a valuable opportunity to bridge the development and security divide. Recent events in Africa and elsewhere underscore the need for a focus on “peace, justice, and strong institutions” as an entry point for development and security actors to foster collaborative inclusive approaches to prevent violent extremism and promote a more peaceful society.
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The concept of “Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE) has become central to the security policy of governments around the world. Yet despite the near-ubiquity of the term there is widespread disagreement over what the concept means. The... more
The concept of “Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE) has become central to the security policy of governments around the world. Yet despite the near-ubiquity of the term there is widespread disagreement over what the concept means.
The rise of the concepts of “violent extremism” (VE) and CVE has caused much discussion within peacebuilding communities around the world. Some see opportunities where the agenda of CVE and peacebuilding overlap. Others believe it is an agenda that distracts from the real root causes of conflict, and could actually undermine peacebuilding efforts.
To explore these issues further Peace Direct held a collaborative research project for experts and practitioners interested in this area. A range of experts in the topics of violent extremism and peacebuilding, from diverse contexts and expertise, came together to discuss these issues in an online forum run by the Convetit platform (www.convetit. com).
The rise of the concepts of “violent extremism” (VE) and CVE has caused much discussion within peacebuilding communities around the world. Some see opportunities where the agenda of CVE and peacebuilding overlap. Others believe it is an agenda that distracts from the real root causes of conflict, and could actually undermine peacebuilding efforts.
To explore these issues further Peace Direct held a collaborative research project for experts and practitioners interested in this area. A range of experts in the topics of violent extremism and peacebuilding, from diverse contexts and expertise, came together to discuss these issues in an online forum run by the Convetit platform (www.convetit. com).
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This report describes an interim data gathering process conducted in Burundi and Chad in 2015. The research focused on community efforts to protect children and build social cohesion in countries undergoing conflict or in post conflict... more
This report describes an interim data gathering process conducted in Burundi and Chad in 2015. The research focused on community efforts to protect children and build social cohesion in countries undergoing conflict or in post conflict settings. The report is a precursor to capacity building tools that will aim to strengthen social cohesion by reinforcing non-formal, community based resilience. The project is supported by UNICEF’s Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy Programme (PBEA) and led by the International Institute for Child Rights and Development (IICRD).
Research Interests: African Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Participatory Research, Participatory Action Research, Child protection, and 7 moreForced Migration, Chad, Social cohesion, Burundi, Community participation and engagement, Peace and Conflicts Studies, and Community Peacebuilding Processes, Community Empowerment and Capacity Building, Community Empowerment
The protection of children confronting adversity has become one of the central priorities of humanitarian interventions worldwide. The array of child-focused rights and protections established by international, regional and national... more
The protection of children confronting adversity has become one of the central priorities of humanitarian interventions worldwide. The array of child-focused rights and protections established by international, regional and national frameworks provides a normative foundation guiding efforts to facilitate the (re)establishment of more secure conditions. Despite a rhetorical acknowledgement of participation as enhancing children's provision and protection rights, much of children's rights activism in Africa continues to emphasise a protectionist approach over an empowering one. Furthermore, actualising children's rights constitutes a formidable challenge in fragile countries like South Sudan where difficult post-war conditions are compounded by significant discrepancies regarding the treatment of children in the various applicable legal systems. Advancing the view of children's rights as a living practice moulded by children's everyday realities, this paper discusses the situation of South Sudan as illustrative of the dilemmas of upholding the right of conflict-affected children in Africa to participate in their own protection.
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As wartime inhabitants, female children have oft en been presented as paradigmatic non-agents, victims of a toxic mixture of violent circumstances and oppressive cultural practices. Child- and gender-sensitive approaches, on the other... more
As wartime inhabitants, female children have oft en been presented as paradigmatic non-agents, victims of a toxic mixture of violent circumstances and oppressive cultural practices. Child- and gender-sensitive approaches, on the other hand, have embraced a more balanced recognition of displaced girls’ active, if oft en constrained, efforts to cope with adverse circumstances. In South Sudan, a young country mired in unresolved conflict and forced displacement, girls must navigate multiple and complex challenges. Drawing on fieldwork conducted among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and returnees in South Sudan, I examine ways in which gender shapes local realities of conflict,
displacement, return, and reintegration, focusing on the often overlooked experiences of girls and female youth. Study findings evidence displaced girls’ remarkable determination and resourcefulness as they struggle to overcome a persistently turbulent climate of social instability, deprivation, and conflict.
displacement, return, and reintegration, focusing on the often overlooked experiences of girls and female youth. Study findings evidence displaced girls’ remarkable determination and resourcefulness as they struggle to overcome a persistently turbulent climate of social instability, deprivation, and conflict.
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In post-independence South Sudan, the cultural practices and identities of youth, like other spheres of the country’s turbulent social life, are shaped by multiple cultural flows. From their long years in exile, which often comprised much... more
In post-independence South Sudan, the cultural practices and identities of youth, like other spheres of the country’s turbulent social life, are shaped by multiple cultural flows. From their long years in exile, which often comprised much or all of their childhoods, returnee youth imported different cultural orientations that reveal the salience of style and group membership as central bases for identity and belonging. Drawing on fieldwork conducted among young South Sudanese refugees in Egypt and Uganda and returnees in South Sudan, this paper examines the various identities and youth cultures adopted and re-constructed by displaced youth living in Juba in the post-independence period. Young people’s social self-positioning, their expressed aspirations, and the challenges and opportunities they themselves identify as shaping their experiences of reintegration are also examined.
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This paper discusses some of the challenges and opportunities faced by youth as active participants in processes of post-conflict justice and reconciliation in Africa. I draw on field data from South Sudan and Uganda, two countries... more
This paper discusses some of the challenges and opportunities faced by youth as active participants in processes of post-conflict justice and reconciliation in Africa. I draw on field data from South Sudan and Uganda, two countries emerging from decades of brutal and inter-related civil war where youngsters often bore the brunt of the violence. Qualifying the uncritically assumed association between transitional justice, customary law, and reconciliation, research among youth from both countries suggests that these are potentially, but not necessarily, linked processes. I argue for a more nuanced approach to post-conflict justice based on a close examination of the differential ways in which these efforts impact female and male youth in transitional societies.
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Peacebuilding efforts in Africa have run the gamut from curricular changes explicitly incorporating peace education pedagogy, to national and internationally-sponsored transitional justice processes, to the popular use of drama, poetry,... more
Peacebuilding efforts in Africa have run the gamut from curricular changes explicitly incorporating peace education pedagogy, to national and internationally-sponsored transitional justice processes, to the popular use of drama, poetry, song, painting and other forms of artistic expression. Contemporary realities across the African continent reveal an increasing interest in the fields of education, memory and reconciliation, currently recognized as interrelated, constitutive of peacebuilding processes, and pressingly relevant. The ways in which people in Africa choose to memorialize or silence hardship, whether collectively organized or individually expressed, offer illuminating insights into post-violence justice and provide valuable information about African society, government and culture both in periods of conflict and times of peace. The papers included in this Special Issue are illustrative of these recent trends.
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More than 2 million Southerners have returned to South Sudan since 2005, following the end of the North–South civil war. Building on research conducted in South Sudan, as well as Egypt and northern Uganda, this report examines the process... more
More than 2 million Southerners have returned to South Sudan since 2005, following the end of the North–South civil war. Building on research conducted in South Sudan, as well as Egypt and northern Uganda, this report examines the process of reintegration of refugees and internally displaced persons returning to South Sudan since the signing of the 2005 Peace Agreement. The study focuses on the role played by displaced youth as they find themselves differentially situated vis-à-vis the various determinants of sustainable return and reintegration. The research finds that intergenerational tensions are a result of many displaced youths’ aspirations to a “modern” – often meaning urban – way of life perceived as incompatible with traditional livelihoods and social relations. In turn, these dynamics are impacting the way in which access to material assets, education, employment opportunities, political participation and other key resources is negotiated among displaced groups and those who stayed behind. The study also finds evidence of significant gender differences.
As the pressures of responding to the complex needs of the vast numbers of returning individuals continue to mount, reintegration remains a loosely defined concept among government officials and external assistance agencies and, furthermore, understandings of what constitutes “sustainable return” differ markedly among the various stakeholders. Intergenerational differences regarding reintegration needs and aspirations, and even the very desirability of return, are rarely considered. This report shares primary research findings that may support return and reintegration programming so as to better respond to the age- and gender-differentiated needs and aspirations of diverse migrant groups in South Sudan.
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As the pressures of responding to the complex needs of the vast numbers of returning individuals continue to mount, reintegration remains a loosely defined concept among government officials and external assistance agencies and, furthermore, understandings of what constitutes “sustainable return” differ markedly among the various stakeholders. Intergenerational differences regarding reintegration needs and aspirations, and even the very desirability of return, are rarely considered. This report shares primary research findings that may support return and reintegration programming so as to better respond to the age- and gender-differentiated needs and aspirations of diverse migrant groups in South Sudan.
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The tension inherent in the juxtaposition of children’s right to participation and to protection is most starkly manifested in the context of armed conflict. The possibility that children may not only choose to participate in military... more
The tension inherent in the juxtaposition of children’s right to participation and to protection is most starkly manifested in the context of armed conflict. The possibility that children may not only choose to participate in military structures, but actually derive some benefits from such participation must be seriously considered. Failure to adequately address children’s own motivations and wishes constitutes a denial of their participation rights. It also poses a threat to disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programmes seeking to facilitate child ex-combatants’ transition to civilian life. Inspired by the new paradigm of social studies and the theory of legal pluralism, this article presents the findings of a study of participation rights as they apply to child soldiers. Using the child-focused DDR initiatives currently being implemented in South Sudan as a main case study, the author combines insights derived from an examination of local norms and universal legal standards with field research to elucidate the legal, cultural, moral and practical dilemmas of upholding child soldiers’ right to participation. Analysis of these inter-related issues seeks to advance the view in favour of field-based investigations testing the current normative assumptions guiding both child advocacy and DDR policy.
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This paper explores the experiences of Honduran migrant children in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Some had migrated to this city after Hurricane Mitch devastated their already poverty-stricken country in 1998, but... more
This paper explores the experiences of Honduran migrant children in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Some had migrated to this city after Hurricane Mitch devastated their already poverty-stricken country in 1998, but many of them were forced to relocate again after Katrina. Many others have only recently arrived in New Orleans to join relatives attracted by the construction boom that followed the disaster. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Honduras and New Orleans, I examine the contribution of these young migrants to their families’ survival strategies, including their participation in post-disaster reconstruction work.
Findings counter dominant frameworks that pathologize the experience of disaster survivors, assuming their responses to be maladaptive, and conceptualize children as passive, dependent victims. Instead, I argue for a holistic approach that places
young displacees in the broader context of the cultural and socioeconomic factors that prefigured the catastrophe and examines children’s resilience, not just their
vulnerability.
Findings counter dominant frameworks that pathologize the experience of disaster survivors, assuming their responses to be maladaptive, and conceptualize children as passive, dependent victims. Instead, I argue for a holistic approach that places
young displacees in the broader context of the cultural and socioeconomic factors that prefigured the catastrophe and examines children’s resilience, not just their
vulnerability.
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In the concluding chapter, I synthesize and elaborate upon the overall lessons offered by the volume. As the individual contributions reveal, young women and men across the world are actively seeking opportunities to participate socially,... more
In the concluding chapter, I synthesize and elaborate upon the overall lessons offered by the volume. As the individual contributions reveal, young women and men across the world are actively seeking opportunities to participate socially, politically and economically – advocating for the needs of their communities in Kenya; engaging in environmental peacebuilding in South Sudan and Uganda; becoming educated against violence and conflict in Afghanistan; struggling to reach social adulthood in Rwanda; or using media to fight violent extremism across the globe. Some of these experiences have been successful; others have met with as yet unresolved challenges. By contributing to a better understanding of the changing nature of violent conflict and identifying potential strategies to reverse the negative manifestations of youth exclusion, this volume takes an important step forward in our path towards sustaining peace.
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The introductory chapter opens the volume outlining the most salient themes emerging in the current wave of international interest in the role of youth in peace and security issues. It discusses the emergence of the global Youth, Peace... more
The introductory chapter opens the volume outlining the most salient themes emerging in the current wave of international interest in the role of youth in peace and security issues. It discusses the emergence of the global Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda, the 2015 adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2250, and the multiple international and regional youth-related frameworks, documents, events and other initiatives that have followed in its wake. The Introduction explains the critical role that this volume will play in expanding the limited existing literature; it also lays out the structure of the volume and introduces the subsequent chapters.
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Exacerbated by the adverse effects of climate change, conflicts over natural resources are among the greatest challenges in 21st-century geopolitics. These conflicts present serious threats to human security at both the national and local... more
Exacerbated by the adverse effects of climate change, conflicts over natural resources are among the greatest challenges in 21st-century geopolitics. These conflicts present serious threats to human security at both the national and local levels. Natural resources and environmental governance can nonetheless serve as a vehicle for peace if managed in a sustainable and equitable manner. This would require the meaningful participation of youth together with other relevant partners. Yet, young women and men’s increasingly active role in environmental action, and the ways in which climate change uniquely impacts the security and development prospects of youth remain as of yet understudied. Following the recommendations of The Missing Peace Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, this chapter examines the interaction between youth and climate change which, I argue, is critical for understanding the underlying mechanisms for how forced migration, conflict and security challenges apply specifically to young people. Based on longitudinal ethnographic fieldwork conducted among various youth-led organizations in South Sudan and Uganda, I examine the challenges and opportunities facing conflict-affected youth in these two countries in their efforts to address the impacts of climate change, alleviate security challenges, and promote sustainable peace for all.
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Balancing transitional societies’ need for justice against the best interests of children and youth is a difficult endeavor. The displacement of young people who, unaccompanied or with their families, are forced by conflict and human... more
Balancing transitional societies’ need for justice against the best interests of children and youth is a difficult endeavor. The displacement of young people who, unaccompanied or with their families, are forced by conflict and human rights violations to flee their homes and communities represents an additional challenge in societies seeking to transition toward a more inclusive, sustainable peace. Transitional justice mechanisms, from special courts and tribunals to truth and reconciliation processes, must contend with the intricacies of respecting young people’s rights as they are affected by and participate in legal and nonjudicial proceedings. Specifically, effective efforts to combat impunity require an equitable and well-functioning juvenile justice system that also promotes rehabilitation and social reintegration. To this end, international standards must be reconciled with local cultural values, giving due weight to youngsters’ views. It is also worth bearing in mind that “members of the younger generations, especially those who grew up in exile – i.e., refugee camps managed by international aid organizations – and were exposed to alternative understandings of justice and reconciliation” do not always share the priorities of their older counterparts. However, rarely are these differences noted and taken into account in earnest within the overall context of post-conflict measures. This chapter examines the case of displaced young adults and children during and in the aftermath of genocidal violence in Rwanda as an example of the gaps and silences that exist in the area of transitional justice practices.
Research Interests: Youth Studies, Refugee Studies, Transitional Justice, Restorative Justice, Children and Youth, and 8 moreChildren's Rights, Rwanda, Genocide, Transitional justice and reconciliation processes, Refugees and Forced Migration Studies, Displacement, Gacaca Courts, and Refugee and Forced Migration Studies
Egypt’s rapid population growth and extreme water scarcity make the country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The country’s long Mediterranean coastline is already experiencing the consequences of sea level rise,... more
Egypt’s rapid population growth and extreme water scarcity make the country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The country’s long Mediterranean coastline is already experiencing the consequences of sea level rise, including saltwater intrusion, soil salinization and deterioration of crop quality. In a country where 95 percent of freshwater resources are generated outside its territory, any change to water availability can have major consequences for food and energy security, as well as employment, housing, sanitation, education and health care, heightening risks of social tension and political instability. This situation constitutes a particularly serious threat for women, who are marginalized in economic, social and political spheres. Policy responses to the climate crisis in Egypt have so far concerned environmentalists and gender equality advocates alike. Recognizing the co-benefits of women’s empowerment and climate resilience, and supporting synergistic action to realize them, constitutes an important avenue for sustaining peace in Egypt.
Here's the official UN report:
https://gender-nr-peace.org/assets/2020_GCS_Report/GCS_PolicyReport_200611.pdf
And this is the website with an interactive map of current projects:
https://www.gender-nr-peace.org/gender-climate-security/
Here's the official UN report:
https://gender-nr-peace.org/assets/2020_GCS_Report/GCS_PolicyReport_200611.pdf
And this is the website with an interactive map of current projects:
https://www.gender-nr-peace.org/gender-climate-security/
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This chapter discusses the situation in Post-Hurricane Mitch Honduras, characterized by a number of conflicting trends. An examination of these trends can improve our understanding of the seldom explored reconstruction stages that... more
This chapter discusses the situation in Post-Hurricane Mitch Honduras, characterized by a number of conflicting trends. An examination of these trends can improve our understanding of the seldom explored reconstruction stages that directly follow a disaster's aftermath and can also help identify guidelines and inform better practice in the areas of disaster management and polity. Given the increasing incidence and intensity of disasters in recent decades all over the world, improving strategies for post-disaster reconstruction has become a profoundly important concern of the global community.
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It is generally accepted that when disasters strike, the poor and socially disadvantaged are most vulnerable and least equipped to cope with the impact. The factors discussed in this chapter created interrelated and mutually reinforcing... more
It is generally accepted that when disasters strike, the poor and socially disadvantaged are most vulnerable and least equipped to cope with the impact. The factors discussed in this chapter created interrelated and mutually reinforcing crises that resulted in the hight levels of vulnerability of many Honduras. Women, particularly poor women, have been disproportionately affected by the disaster's impact. Along with age and class, among other variables, gender conditions the resources, roles, rights, and responsibilities assigned to women and men and is a crucial factor determining people's position in society. In spite of the human tragedy provoked by Hurricane Mitch, new opportunities for positive change also emerged from the destruction. This chapter examines the role that gender played in determining the capabilities and constraints facing the Honduran population in their efforts to rebuild their lives after the devastation caused by the disaster.
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The exceptional size, power, and duration of Hurricane Mitch dramatically exposed Honduras’ high level of social and environmental vulnerability and also made post-disaster reconstruction efforts particularly challenging. When Hurricane... more
The exceptional size, power, and duration of Hurricane Mitch dramatically exposed Honduras’ high level of social and environmental vulnerability and also made post-disaster reconstruction efforts particularly challenging. When Hurricane Mitch devastated the country, most of the population were already living in chronic poverty and facing severe resource constraints. This chapter addresses the impact of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, describes the event itself, and examines the devastation left in its wake in light of the highly vulnerable pre-disaster conditions. The interaction between physical and demographic factors and between historical and contemporary political-economic factors are analyzed next. The chapter concludes by examining the responses of the Honduran government and the international community, which were instrumental in assisting the survivors and helping the country start the recover process.
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While the horrific violence and associated displacement of millions of Syrians remain the focus of worldwide attention, the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been unfolding with far less visibility. Yet current figures... more
While the horrific violence and associated displacement of millions of Syrians remain the focus of worldwide attention, the crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been unfolding with far less visibility. Yet current figures suggest that more than one in five of CAR’s 4.9 million inhabitants have been displaced and nearly half of the population is urgently in need of assistance. Violence intensified in 2012 as Christian-dominated militias, known as anti-Balaka, took retribution against the minority Muslim population for violent acts blamed on the former government and its supporters—a coalition of mostly Muslim rebels, known as the Séléka. Given the combination of generalized poverty, mounting insecurity, and the frustration of unmet humanitarian needs, local Chadian authorities and international experts share a concern that villages along the border and refugee camps may become breeding grounds for further violence and radicalization. In Chad’s and CAR’s complex political, ethnic, and religious environment, the succession of intensified violence and subsequent waves of displacement defy simple, mono-causal links between forced migration and radicalized attitudes. Findings suggest that a combination of woefully limited resources and unsuitable policies is placing Central African refugees in an increasingly precarious situation.
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Wartime violence and displacement are deeply gendered and generational processes that affect girls and boys differently from one another and from their adult counterparts. Drawing on fieldwork undertaken among South Sudanese refugees in... more
Wartime violence and displacement are deeply gendered and generational processes that affect girls and boys differently from one another and from their adult counterparts. Drawing on fieldwork undertaken among South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and returnees in South Sudan, this chapter examines the multiple ways in which gender shapes local realities of conflict, displacement and survival, focusing on the often overlooked experiences of children and youth. Findings support the premise that, despite the pervasive gendered hardship and dislocation they continue to endure, South Sudanese girls and boys have developed instrumental coping strategies that hold the promise of positive social engagement and the eventual re-establishment of peace.
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During the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), millions of refugees fled the south of the countryseeking shelter in one of the sprawling camps in neighbouring African nations. Many of them were children,... more
During the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005), millions of refugees fled the south of the countryseeking shelter in one of the sprawling camps in neighbouring African nations. Many of them were children, often unaccompanied minors who had been orphaned or separated from their relatives during the war. Some of them arrived in the U.S. as refugees, as was the case with the close to four thousand famous “Lost Boys of Sudan” who were resettled to various American cities in 2001; others are the U.S.-bornchildren of refugee parents and have never been anywhere in Africa. A large number of these youngsters live in Omaha, Nebraska, a city that emerged as a significant South Sudanese enclave in the 1990s. The term “diasporas” is often used, both in the U.S. and in South Sudan, to lump them all together in everyday discourse. Based on multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork conducted since 2009, this chapter examines the contested notions of “childhood,” “migration” and “refugeeness” that frame the experiences of South Sudanese-American children. This analysis seeks to elucidate the relationship between displacement, belonging and the construction of a diasporic sense of self among South Sudanese children “growing up in migrancy” in Omaha and, by qualified extension, elsewhere in the diaspora.
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Refugees occupy an ambiguous position in contemporary nation-states. From a normative standpoint, their experience is defined by persecution and the crossing of national borders. The disruption of place-based notions of identity — of... more
Refugees occupy an ambiguous position in contemporary nation-states. From a normative standpoint, their experience is defined by persecution and the crossing of national borders. The disruption of place-based notions of identity — of settling in a new place without belonging to it — associated with forced displacement often leads to a sense of permanent transience. Encounters with difference, dissonance, and exclusion are counterpoised by a search for new identity, social acceptance and belonging. The salience of these issues is particularly acute for refugee youth, whose social memberships are multiple and evolving and, as this chapter will illustrate, frequently contestive, and oppositional. Gang affiliation, while often associated with transgressive and even violent behaviour, must also be understood as an effort to respond to the many ruptures and transformations of anchors of belonging experienced by young refugees.
Research Interests: Sociology of Children and Childhood, Youth Studies, Refugee Studies, Anthropology of Children and Childhood, Anthropology of Borders, and 6 moreChildren and Youth, Migration, Multiculturalism, Acculturation, Diasporas, Children in State Care, Youth Justice, Gender and Violence, Youth gangs, Anthropology of Children and Youth, Refugees and Forced Migration Studies, and South Sudan
This chapter argues that promoting children‘s wellbeing in practice requires a multidimensional approach that moves beyond exclusively legalistic children’s rights frameworks, and incorporates a broader understanding of children’s needs... more
This chapter argues that promoting children‘s wellbeing in practice requires a multidimensional approach that moves beyond exclusively legalistic children’s rights frameworks, and incorporates a broader understanding of children’s needs and priorities. In particular, I examine the research–policy–practice nexus in the area of children’s rights, and identify the main lessons learned by the various epistemic and praxis communities on specific aspects of the human rights of children.
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With 70 per cent of its people under the age of 30, Africa is the world’s youngest continent. Informed understandings of the implications of this so-called ‘youth bulge’ have been hampered by the shortage of detailed research on the... more
With 70 per cent of its people under the age of 30, Africa is the world’s youngest continent. Informed understandings of the implications of this so-called ‘youth bulge’ have been hampered by the shortage of detailed research on the issue. Enquiry into the lives and social circumstances of children and youth around the world has increased significantly in recent decades, spearheaded by the emergence of a ‘social science of childhood’ in the 1980s and the widespread ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This evolving focus of enquiry on children issues, however, has been largely confined to the Global North. The limited corpus of reliable research on Africa’s youngest citizens has tended to adopt a negative outlook. Some noteworthy exceptions notwithstanding, African youngsters have been largely characterized as either vulnerable victims of the frequent humanitarian crises that plague their homelands, or as violent militarized youth and ‘troubled’ gang members. Young people’s positive contributions to processes of conflict resolution, disaster management, and participatory human development in Africa are often ignored. While acknowledging the profound challenges associated with growing up in an environment of uncertainty and deprivation, African Childhoods sheds light on African children’s often constructive engagement with a variety of societal conditions, adverse or otherwise, and their ability to positively influence their own lives and those of others.
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The Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd) has historically marked the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere – and heralded spring in the Southern one. Climate change has however disrupted the traditional concept of four seasons. As the... more
The Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd) has historically marked the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere – and heralded spring in the Southern one. Climate change has however disrupted the traditional concept of four seasons. As the planet warms up, the tropics have been expanding by 0.1 to 0.2 degrees of latitude every decade; places that once had four seasons are shifting to having just two; even in regions that still have four seasons, weather and temperature patterns have been profoundly modified. This altered seasonality is sending shock waves through communities dependent on climate-sensitive activities for their livelihoods, and exacerbating conflict risks. Scaled-up adaptation efforts that support those most severely impacted – often women and girls – are urgently needed.
Seasonal changes in precipitation and temperature affect soil moisture, evaporation rates, river flows, lake levels, and snow cover. The resulting changes in vegetation affect the type and amount of food available for humans and other organisms. Women and girls represent a high percentage of poor communities that are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood. In rural areas, they are primarily responsible for household water supply and energy for cooking and heating, as well as for food security.
https://gender-nr-peace.org/news/spotlights/show/NewsItem-5982
Seasonal changes in precipitation and temperature affect soil moisture, evaporation rates, river flows, lake levels, and snow cover. The resulting changes in vegetation affect the type and amount of food available for humans and other organisms. Women and girls represent a high percentage of poor communities that are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood. In rural areas, they are primarily responsible for household water supply and energy for cooking and heating, as well as for food security.
https://gender-nr-peace.org/news/spotlights/show/NewsItem-5982
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The links between gender, mass violence, climate change, and human mobility are complex and interrelated. In South Sudan, where four in five people endure extreme poverty, and 70 per cent of the population needs humanitarian assistance,... more
The links between gender, mass violence, climate change, and human mobility are complex and interrelated. In South Sudan, where four in five people endure extreme poverty, and 70 per cent of the population needs humanitarian assistance, women and girls bear the brunt of the country’s multiple challenges. These include a combination of environmental extremes, conflict, and sexual and gender violence, often resulting in displacement. As Marisa O. Ensor argues here and in her recent paper, these women and girls have nevertheless persisted in making their voices heard even if it means defying deeply rooted patriarchal gender norms.
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Although Indigenous communities comprise less than 5 percent of the world's population, Indigenous peoples safeguard 80 percent of the planet's biodiversity. Indigenous lands are also crucial to protecting forest ecosystems and immense... more
Although Indigenous communities comprise less than 5 percent of the world's population, Indigenous peoples safeguard 80 percent of the planet's biodiversity. Indigenous lands are also crucial to protecting forest ecosystems and immense carbon stores. More than 20 percent of the carbon stored above ground in the world's forests is found in land managed by Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon Basin, Mesoamerica, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia. Indigenous traditional knowledge of natural resource management and sustainable land use offer important lessons to cope with the negative impacts of climate change, promote conservation, and contribute to disaster risk reduction. Yet, as the climate crisis intensifies with record floods, fires, and heatwaves across the world, so does the violence against Indigenous environmental defenders, many of whom are women.
https://gender-nr-peace.org/news/spotlights/show/NewsItem-6011
https://gender-nr-peace.org/news/spotlights/show/NewsItem-6011
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Water deprivation is increasingly recognized as a political and security problem. Tensions resulting from the growing imbalance between global water demand and supply can escalate into conflict. The UN estimates that at least one-quarter... more
Water deprivation is increasingly recognized as a political and security problem. Tensions resulting from the growing imbalance between global water demand and supply can escalate into conflict. The UN estimates that at least one-quarter of the world's population will live in water-scarce regions by 2050. In 2001, then-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that "fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of conflict and wars in the future." Water insecurity can undermine regional and global partnerships and hinder foreign policy and geopolitical objectives. Conversely, water diplomacy has also been recognized as a potentially powerful tool for long-lasting international cooperation and peacebuilding. Efforts to solve water-related conflicts and promote water cooperation for peace, termed "water diplomacy" or "hydro-diplomacy," continue to be male-dominated. Several recent events and related publications are contributing to bridging this persistent gender gap.
Research Interests: Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender and Environment, Gender and Peacebuilding, Environmental Security, Peacebuilding, and 4 moreEnvironmental Diplomacy, Gender and water, Land and Water Resources (Conflict, Business, Peace and Cooperation Dynamics), and Environmental Peacebuilding Processes in the Middle East
The East African Community (EAC – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) is home to some of the greatest water sources in the world. These include Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria and the Nile River Basin. The... more
The East African Community (EAC – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) is home to some of the greatest water sources in the world. These include Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria and the Nile River Basin. The distribution of water varies significantly within the EAC; some areas often experience a rain surplus (e.g. Burundi, Rwanda, and parts of Uganda), while others usually suffer a considerable water deficit (e.g. central Tanzania and large parts of Kenya). This disparity contributes to regional tensions. Women and girls are responsible for water collection in eight out of ten households obtaining water off premises. Their participation as water leaders is increasingly prominent, especially at the community level. Women’s leadership, often championing dialogue over dispute, has become even more critical given current water resource challenges.
Destabilized by COVID-19 and the worst devastation from locusts in half a century, water security in the EAC countries was further compromised in 2020 by floods that contaminated water sources across much of the region. The floods were triggered by torrential rains that started in March and intensified again in August and September, leading to massive flooding and landslides. This caused almost 500 deaths, mainly in Kenya and Rwanda, and vast population displacement. In South Sudan, months of cycling between flooding and violence forced an estimated 600,000 people to flee their homes. Most of those displaced were women and children.
Destabilized by COVID-19 and the worst devastation from locusts in half a century, water security in the EAC countries was further compromised in 2020 by floods that contaminated water sources across much of the region. The floods were triggered by torrential rains that started in March and intensified again in August and September, leading to massive flooding and landslides. This caused almost 500 deaths, mainly in Kenya and Rwanda, and vast population displacement. In South Sudan, months of cycling between flooding and violence forced an estimated 600,000 people to flee their homes. Most of those displaced were women and children.
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Enduring violence, climate change and other environmental crises force people in South Sudan to flee their home towns. Women and girls face gender-specifc challenges and opportunities as they seek to cope with new environments and... more
Enduring violence, climate change and other environmental crises force people in South Sudan to flee their home towns. Women and girls face gender-specifc challenges and opportunities as they seek to cope with new environments and changing social structures.
https://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/migration/laenderprofile/317971/south-sudanese-women
https://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/migration/laenderprofile/317971/south-sudanese-women
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Already one of the most fragile and environmentally vulnerable countries globally, South Sudan has been buffeted by two additional emergencies in recent months; namely, the arrival of locust swarms that threaten the already compromised... more
Already one of the most fragile and environmentally vulnerable countries globally, South Sudan has been buffeted by two additional emergencies in recent months; namely, the arrival of locust swarms that threaten the already compromised food supply, and the coronavirus outbreak which, if it cannot be quickly contained, would have disastrous consequences in a country with one of the weakest healthcare systems in the world. The combination of these multiple crises has left more than seven million people – about two thirds of the population – in dire need of some form of humanitarian assistance and protection. Women and girls have often borne the brunt of the violence and challenging humanitarian conditions. The current peacebuilding phase in South Sudan nonetheless offers significant opportunities for advancing gender equality, mainstreaming women’s perspectives in peacebuilding, and fostering their budding efforts in environmental stewardship.
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Progress toward peace in South Sudan during 2019 moved in fits and starts, as the parties to the conflict missed many key deadlines set in the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. Nonetheless, the current peacebuilding phase in South Sudan... more
Progress toward peace in South Sudan during 2019 moved in fits and starts, as the parties to the conflict missed many key deadlines set in the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement. Nonetheless, the current peacebuilding phase in South Sudan offers significant opportunities for advancing gender equality, mainstreaming women’s perspectives in peacebuilding, and fostering their budding efforts in environmental stewardship. Both the National Action Plan 2015-2020 for Women, Peace, and Security (NAP for UNSCR 1325), and the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement establish numerous provisions promoting women’s participation in public life. Gender issues also figure prominently in South Sudan’s First State of Environment Report, which considers the role of sustainable resource management as a vehicle for peace.
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“We’re fighting for our lands, for our water, for our lives,” said an indigenous woman from Colombia, describing her work as an environmental defender. She spoke at a December 2019 workshop on Gender, Peace and the Environment held in... more
“We’re fighting for our lands, for our water, for our lives,” said an indigenous woman from Colombia, describing her work as an environmental defender. She spoke at a December 2019 workshop on Gender, Peace and the Environment held in Bogotá, Colombia, that brought together social, environmental, and legal scholars and practitioners—including indigenous women—to discuss women, peace, and security issues.
Indigenous women and girls are making significant contributions to the parallel Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) global agendas. With their traditional knowledge of natural resource management, they can offer valuable insights on how to cope with the negative impacts of climate change. Yet, they are often the targets of violence.
Read the rest of it here: https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2020/02/unsung-sheroes-climate-action-global-peace-security-agendas/
Indigenous women and girls are making significant contributions to the parallel Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) global agendas. With their traditional knowledge of natural resource management, they can offer valuable insights on how to cope with the negative impacts of climate change. Yet, they are often the targets of violence.
Read the rest of it here: https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2020/02/unsung-sheroes-climate-action-global-peace-security-agendas/
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September 12, 2019 marks one year since South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and former Vice President-turned-opposition leader Riek Machar signed a new peace agreement. The human and environmental cost of the five-year war it ended has... more
September 12, 2019 marks one year since South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and former Vice President-turned-opposition leader Riek Machar signed a new peace agreement. The human and environmental cost of the five-year war it ended has been staggering. Women and girls have often borne the brunt of the violence. Fighting and displacement have also placed tremendous pressure on the country’s abundant wildlife and natural resources. Militarized cattle raiding and competition over access to traditional grazing lands threaten the country’s tenuous stability. Gender-sensitive environmental peacebuilding promises to be one of the strategies needed to resolve these multiple challenges.
Read the rest here:
https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/09/environmental-peacebuilding-answer-south-sudans-conflict/
Read the rest here:
https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/09/environmental-peacebuilding-answer-south-sudans-conflict/
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Climate change is being increasingly framed as a security issue—a “threat multiplier” that can amplify the risks of breakdowns in peacefulness. Yet, even extreme climate hazards do not always lead to higher levels of violence. For the... more
Climate change is being increasingly framed as a security issue—a “threat multiplier” that can amplify the risks of breakdowns in peacefulness. Yet, even extreme climate hazards do not always lead to higher levels of violence. For the first time since the Institute for Economics and Peace began producing the Global Peace Index in 2007, the 2019 Global Peace Index (2019 GPI) is factoring climate change into its analysis, contributing to the ongoing debate over the link between climatic changes and conflict risks. Unsurprisingly, the 2019 index concludes that changes in climate and resource availability tend to create or exacerbate tensions among affected populations. On the other hand, the report also finds that climate-related disputes, especially those associated with water, are often resolved cooperatively. This finding begs the question, under which conditions are climate-related tensions more likely to result in conflict than cooperation? And perhaps more importantly, what can be done to promote climate cooperation over violent conflict? While the 2019 index does not offer conclusive answers, it makes a strong case for using Positive Peace scores as a diagnostic tool. Positive Peace consists of factors that create and sustain peaceful societies.
Read the rest here: https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/07/climate-change-meets-positive-peace/
Read the rest here: https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2019/07/climate-change-meets-positive-peace/
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The case of South Sudan can be seen as representative of a broader pattern of the convergence of climate change, resource scarcity, and insecurity. Current projections of climate change suggest that the region will become more arid,... more
The case of South Sudan can be seen as representative of a broader pattern of the convergence of climate change, resource scarcity, and insecurity. Current projections of climate change suggest that the region will become more arid, experience longer dry seasons, and become more prone to drought, exacerbating the factors that drive conflicts over access to resources. On a more positive note, South Sudan is also illustrative of the ways in which peacebuilding efforts can include attention to issues of climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability. This is especially the case when these peacebuilding initiatives benefit from the meaningful participation of the country’s largest demographic sector – the youth of South Sudan. Youth have traditionally been at the forefront in articulating local concerns and aspirations; if provided with the right opportunities, they have an important contribution to make as indispensable stakeholders in South Sudan’s climate change and security nexus.
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This paper discusses the securitization of the discourse and policies framing the realities of young refugees in Africa. Drawing on an anthropological extension of the so-called Copenhagen School Securitization Theory, I argue that... more
This paper discusses the securitization of the discourse and policies framing the realities of young refugees in Africa. Drawing on an anthropological extension of the so-called Copenhagen School Securitization Theory, I argue that current tendencies to examine young refugees’ experiences of political violence and displacement through a security lens may actually increase, rather than mitigate the risk of radicalization. Findings discussed are the result of UNICEF-sponsored ethnographic fieldwork among displaced communities from Burundi and the Central African Republic.
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Counterterrorism policymakers and practitioners increasingly focus on developing a more effective strategic approach to address violent radicalization. This has been reflected in the emergence of the policy and practice of “countering... more
Counterterrorism policymakers and practitioners increasingly focus on developing a more effective strategic approach to address violent radicalization. This has been reflected in the emergence of the policy and practice of “countering violent extremism” (CVE). The growing salience of CVE-related initiatives is accompanied by a keen interest in understanding the reasons why young people are so heavily represented among radicalized militants.
Despite the long-standing anthropological interest in conflict, intergroup hostility and social cohesion (Fried 1957; Murphy 1957; Otterbein 1968), and a more recent focus on youth violence (Abbink and van Kessel 2005; Ensor 2013; Hart 2008), our discipline’s engagement with the CVE field has to-date been rather limited. I argue here that the anthropology of children and youth is well positioned to contribute to this field by elucidating the socio-cultural basis of radicalization and violent extremism. is understanding is crucial to the development of pro- grams to mitigate extremist activity and foster societal resilience.
Despite the long-standing anthropological interest in conflict, intergroup hostility and social cohesion (Fried 1957; Murphy 1957; Otterbein 1968), and a more recent focus on youth violence (Abbink and van Kessel 2005; Ensor 2013; Hart 2008), our discipline’s engagement with the CVE field has to-date been rather limited. I argue here that the anthropology of children and youth is well positioned to contribute to this field by elucidating the socio-cultural basis of radicalization and violent extremism. is understanding is crucial to the development of pro- grams to mitigate extremist activity and foster societal resilience.
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The year 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC elevated children to the status of independent rights-holders, placing children’s issues at the center of... more
The year 2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC elevated children to the status of independent rights-holders, placing children’s issues at the center of the mainstream human rights agenda. At the same time, the past two and a half decades have underscored the fact that progress on children’s well-being does not automatically follow from the adoption of legal provisions. In this column I briefly examine some of the most salient achievements of this Convention, which, challenges and dilemmas notwithstanding, now forms an indelible part of our legal, political, and moral zeitgeist.
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Katarzyna Grabska’s compelling book, Gender, Home & Identity: Nuer Repatriation to Southern Sudan, is a sensitive account of the lives of a group of South Sudanese refugees and their gendered experiences of war-time displacement and... more
Katarzyna Grabska’s compelling book, Gender, Home & Identity: Nuer Repatriation to Southern Sudan, is a sensitive account of the lives of a group of South Sudanese refugees and their gendered experiences of war-time displacement and eventual repatriation. Her analysis is based on multi-sited ethnographic research carried out in Kenya and South Sudan between April 2006 and September 2007. More specifically, her book follows the efforts of 17 Nuer families and over 50 additional individuals who fled their homes in order to escape the violence that tore their communities apart during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Their initial flight was followed by long-term displacement throughout Sudan and several East African countries until they settled in Kakuma, a refugee camp in northwestern Kenya where they remained for years.
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This course is an introduction to the field of Justice and Peace Studies. It covers a broad range of topics to provide students with an interdisciplinary theoretical and practice-oriented understanding of the causes of war and the... more
This course is an introduction to the field of Justice and Peace Studies. It covers a broad range of topics to provide students with an interdisciplinary theoretical and practice-oriented understanding of the causes of war and the approaches to justice and peace. We start with theories and narratives that explore the roots of violence, distribution of natural resources and structural processes such as (neo)colonization and globalization. We examine the impact and diverse connections between global conflicts and issues such as militarization, development, education, health, poverty, environmental governance, climate justice, forced migration, collective violence, and reconciliation. We take a comparative approach into violent and non-violent movements and strategies among communities to bring about social and political change. Drawing on assigned readings, group work, dialogue, case study analysis and presentations we critically examine as a community our own values and exchange ideas on transforming violence to arrive on our own definition of peace.
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This seminar examines the key concepts, theories and approaches underpinning young people's engagement in international peacebuilding scholarship, policy and practice. Beginning with the recognition that engaging young women and men in a... more
This seminar examines the key concepts, theories and approaches underpinning young people's engagement in international peacebuilding scholarship, policy and practice. Beginning with the recognition that engaging young women and men in a constructive manner constitutes a peacebuilding imperative, we will analyze the role of youth as significant actors in international and local community peacebuilding efforts. We will examine the impact of conflict on youth as well as young women's and men's potential for participation in conflict resolution processes. Such peacebuilding is often initiated by youth themselves, and is supported by local, national and international development and other organizations. Some of the issues explored include: the emergence of the global Youth, Peace & Security (YPS) agenda; evidence-based factors associated with youth engagement in peacebuilding; the wide range of peacebuilding activities and their demonstrated outcomes; and the impact that a focus on radicalization and extremism, employment and education, and environmentalism and climate action play in supporting and/or presenting barriers to youth engagement in peacebuilding. The course is suitable for everyone with an interest in peacebuilding and in conducting research in fragile, conflict-affected and transitional countries, regardless of discipline or theoretical orientation.
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Course Description: This graduate seminar provides an overview of the basic principles and methodologies for program design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (D-MEL) with emphasis on practical applications in development, humanitarian,... more
Course Description: This graduate seminar provides an overview of the basic principles and methodologies for program design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (D-MEL) with emphasis on practical applications in development, humanitarian, or peacebuilding projects. This approach seeks to improve project performance and learning from their successes and failures by providing answers to three essential questions: 1) Are we doing the right thing? 2) Are we doing it well? And 3) Are there better ways of doing it? Conceptual frameworks for mixed methods design (both qualitative and quantitative) in program monitoring and evaluation will be presented. Methodological and implementation challenges and applications in program assessment, impact, development, interventions, and overall implementation will also be discussed.
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This course offers a critical assessment of justice and reconciliation processes in conflict and post- conflict settings across the globe. It examines the most prevalent approaches to transitional justice; that is, the sometimes... more
This course offers a critical assessment of justice and reconciliation processes in conflict and post- conflict settings across the globe. It examines the most prevalent approaches to transitional justice; that is, the sometimes competing, sometimes complimentary prescriptions for responding to the imperative of prosecuting those responsible for mass human rights violations while also addressing the need to facilitate some form of national reconciliation. Topics discussed include peacebuilding, truth commissions, retributive, restorative & distributive justice, amnesties and reparations, indigenous justice mechanisms, and apologies, memorials and commemorations. Additionally, case studies will expose students to the different types of traditional and non-traditional forms of transitional justice, the role of gender, ethnicity and class in these processes, and the domestic and international politics which often shape the formulation and outcomes of post-conflict justice processes.
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Community development refers to the broad set of skills and institutions that local communities utilize in an effort to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of its residents. This introduction to the field of community development... more
Community development refers to the broad set of skills and institutions that local communities utilize in an effort to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of its residents. This introduction to the field of community development explores the meaning of key ideas such as " community " and " development, " and analyzes the roles that various stakeholders play in developing community. We will use a multidisciplinary approach to better understand the historical roots of community development, as well as its key theories, methods and practices. Both older " expert-driven " traditions and more recent approaches privileging participatory development and community action research will be discussed. Topics to be examined include: the links that connect communities, practices that spark development, and the ways in which local communities can participate in the design and planning of neighborhoods, programs, campaigns and initiatives to suit their needs and objectives. Finally, we will explore how we might work as researchers and practitioners, moving beyond the confines and strictures of development and academic institutions to engage with communities globally. Course Format: This course combines lectures, analyses of case studies, group discussions and hands-on practice on methods and approaches to community development work. Due to the practical nature of many of the topics treated in the course, students are expected to come to class prepared to make a meaningful contribution to the discussions and exercises, and to work on weekly assessments that will be presented during the seminar.
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This graduate* seminar prepares students in anthropology and cognate disciplines to design research projects, write grant proposals, collect and analyze data, and write up research findings. Topics addressed include the relationship... more
This graduate* seminar prepares students in anthropology and cognate disciplines to design research projects, write grant proposals, collect and analyze data, and write up research findings. Topics addressed include the relationship between theory and method, defining researchable questions, participant observation, writing fieldnotes, interview techniques (unstructured, semi-structured, structured), transcription, sampling, designing questionnaires, coding data, data analysis, and research proposal evaluation criteria. The course also examines the ethical issues involved in social science research more broadly, from informed consent to “ownership” of data and responsible use of research results. Practical exercises provide students with “hands-on” opportunities to practice techniques of collecting, coding, analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data. Additionally, students acquire the research skills necessary for developing an NSF-style research proposal and applying for IRB certification.
* Also available to qualified upper-level undergraduate students with permission form both their advisor and the instructor.
* Also available to qualified upper-level undergraduate students with permission form both their advisor and the instructor.
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Course Description: This seminar introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of peace education from both theoretical and applied/practical perspectives. The course content and processes will explore a range of conceptual,... more
Course Description: This seminar introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of peace education from both theoretical and applied/practical perspectives. The course content and processes will explore a range of conceptual, analytical, and praxis-oriented perspectives and encourage students to reflect on the possibilities and challenges of educating for peace in a world of complex and escalating conflicts and violence. It provides an overview of the history, central concepts, scholarship, and practices within the field, with a particular focus on case-studies of peace education in practice worldwide. Additional focal points include the role of culture, ethnicity, gender, intergenerational relations and religious affiliation on peace education dynamics and non-violent conflict resolution processes. Given the pedagogical focus of peace education, this course requires the active and thoughtful participation of all class members. Seminar-style discussions, lectures, guest presentations and practical exercises constitute the bulk of the course's structure, supplemented with occasional videos and guest speakers.
Research Interests:
This course offers a thorough grounding of Conflict Transformation as a philosophical orientation, theoretical framework and practical approach, with attention paid to both historical foundations and recent developments in the field.... more
This course offers a thorough grounding of Conflict Transformation as a philosophical orientation, theoretical framework and practical approach, with attention paid to both historical foundations and recent developments in the field. Course materials and activities seek to guide the " transformation " of three major aspects of conflict: 1) what relevant stakeholders think about conflict; 2) how they/we think about conflict; and 3) how they/we engage in conflict. We will focus our learning on various contexts as contested spaces for social change and transformation regarding issues of violence, oppression, injustice, development, and difference. Drawing on Conflict Transformation's foundational notion of " peace by peaceful means " , we will examine multiple theories and models that analyze conflicts in different settings and identify approaches to positive and sustainable change with a social justice lens.
Research Interests:
Course Description: This seminar introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of conflict analysis and resolution from both theoretical and applied/practical perspectives. We will examine the key concepts, definitions and theories... more
Course Description: This seminar introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of conflict analysis and resolution from both theoretical and applied/practical perspectives. We will examine the key concepts, definitions and theories of conflict causation, and consider a range of practical tools and approaches to conflict management. Attention will be paid to the distinguishing characteristics of social, political and economic conflicts, as well as to the challenges and opportunities presented by multi-level community organizing, grassroots conflict resolution and related strategies. Additional focal points include the role of culture, ethnicity, gender, intergenerational relations and religious affiliation on conflict dynamics and conflict resolution processes. Practical exercises will provide students with opportunities to analyze real life conflicts, and practice various methods for conflict resolution with an emphasis on collaborative problem solving, negotiation and mediation. Seminar-style discussions, presentations and practical exercises constitute the bulk of the course’s structure, supplemented with occasional videos and guest speakers.
Research Interests:
Course Description: This seminar examines the key concepts and theories underpinning both social studies of childhood and youth, and international development scholarship and practice. Beginning with the recognition that engaging young... more
Course Description:
This seminar examines the key concepts and theories underpinning both social studies of childhood and youth, and international development scholarship and practice. Beginning with the recognition that engaging young people in a constructive manner constitutes a development imperative, we will analyze the role of youth as significant actors in international and local community development as well as key players in civil society and peacebuilding. Topics to be discussed include young people’s education and health, their involvement in labor and contribution to livelihood strategies, environmental issues, the situation of youngsters living in especially difficult circumstances, and youth’s engagement in peacebuilding, social and economic justice and community organizing. We will also consider how youth’s potential for participation in development processes may be undermined by poverty, inadequate access to education and health facilities, exploitation, violence, insecurity, and displacement. Attention will be paid to the ways in which youth’s involvement in process of international development in shaped by globalization and growing international inequality, as well as more local conditions and cultural practices. The approach will be interdisciplinary, combining theoretical and practical dimensions, and acknowledging the contributions of social scientists, human rights advocates, and young people themselves to youth-inclusive development research, policy and practice. Discussions, lectures and assigned readings provide the bulk of the course materials, supplemented with occasional videos and guest speakers.
This seminar examines the key concepts and theories underpinning both social studies of childhood and youth, and international development scholarship and practice. Beginning with the recognition that engaging young people in a constructive manner constitutes a development imperative, we will analyze the role of youth as significant actors in international and local community development as well as key players in civil society and peacebuilding. Topics to be discussed include young people’s education and health, their involvement in labor and contribution to livelihood strategies, environmental issues, the situation of youngsters living in especially difficult circumstances, and youth’s engagement in peacebuilding, social and economic justice and community organizing. We will also consider how youth’s potential for participation in development processes may be undermined by poverty, inadequate access to education and health facilities, exploitation, violence, insecurity, and displacement. Attention will be paid to the ways in which youth’s involvement in process of international development in shaped by globalization and growing international inequality, as well as more local conditions and cultural practices. The approach will be interdisciplinary, combining theoretical and practical dimensions, and acknowledging the contributions of social scientists, human rights advocates, and young people themselves to youth-inclusive development research, policy and practice. Discussions, lectures and assigned readings provide the bulk of the course materials, supplemented with occasional videos and guest speakers.
Research Interests:
Course Description: This seminar examines some of the most relevant issues facing displaced children worldwide from socio-cultural and human rights perspectives. Topics to be discussed include the theory, methods and ethics of research... more
Course Description:
This seminar examines some of the most relevant issues facing displaced children worldwide from socio-cultural and human rights perspectives. Topics to be discussed include the theory,
methods and ethics of research with displaced children, the international legal framework, the role of culture, refugee movements and internal displacement, children as labor migrants, child soldiers, unaccompanied minors, children in disasters, and human trafficking. Attention will be paid to the ways in which migration and refugee movements are linked to both local and global issues of poverty, (under)development, environmental degradation, conflict, and displacement as they affect children. The contributions of anthropologists and human rights advocates to protection work on behalf of displaced children will also be examined. Discussions, lectures and assigned readings provide the bulk of the course material, supplemented with occasional videos and guest speakers.
This seminar examines some of the most relevant issues facing displaced children worldwide from socio-cultural and human rights perspectives. Topics to be discussed include the theory,
methods and ethics of research with displaced children, the international legal framework, the role of culture, refugee movements and internal displacement, children as labor migrants, child soldiers, unaccompanied minors, children in disasters, and human trafficking. Attention will be paid to the ways in which migration and refugee movements are linked to both local and global issues of poverty, (under)development, environmental degradation, conflict, and displacement as they affect children. The contributions of anthropologists and human rights advocates to protection work on behalf of displaced children will also be examined. Discussions, lectures and assigned readings provide the bulk of the course material, supplemented with occasional videos and guest speakers.
Research Interests:
BOOK CONCEPT: The recent proliferation of international activity on youth, peace and security (YPS) has been motivated by demographic imperatives – today’s generation of youth is larger than it has been at any other time in human history... more
BOOK CONCEPT:
The recent proliferation of international activity on youth, peace and security (YPS) has been motivated by demographic imperatives – today’s generation of youth is larger than it has been at any other time in human history – as well as geopolitical realities – more than 600 million of those youngsters live in conflict-affected regions. As the concept of national security has been expanded to the broader construct of “human security”, security agendas have been globalized, linking security concerns in the Global North to political unrest and fragility in more peripheral regions of the global economy where most of this “youth bulge” – or “youth dividend”, depending on one’s standpoint – lives. The global YPS agenda has further been driven by moral panics over the purportedly growing threat of radicalization of globally-connected but marginalized youth by media-savvy extremist groups.
Adopted in December 2015, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250) on Youth, Peace and Security formalized the global YPS agenda by establishing an international framework to address the critical role of youth in building and sustaining peace and preventing violent conflict. A Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, as requested by UNSCR 2250, was recently made available . Titled "The Missing Peace: Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security", this study provides a blueprint for implementing UNSCR 2250 and the follow-on resolution 2419(2018).
Supporters of UNSCR 2250 posit that this resolution is an important landmark for the recognition of the constructive role young people can play as agents for positive change, recognizing their contributions as catalysts for peace and actors in preventing violence. More critical views have also emerged, observing that “such arguments do not hold up to scrutiny, as recent documents on global youth and security are saturated with concerns with youth as threat and liability”. Dominant gender discourses in the global YPS agenda remain problematic and constitute a further point of contention.
The chapters included in this edited volume seek to advance this debate by sharing empirical findings on youth’s engagement in the wide range of experiences related to the peace and security field. Lessons learned may inform the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda so that it better responds to on-the-ground realities, hence promoting more sustainable and inclusive approaches to long-lasting peace.
The recent proliferation of international activity on youth, peace and security (YPS) has been motivated by demographic imperatives – today’s generation of youth is larger than it has been at any other time in human history – as well as geopolitical realities – more than 600 million of those youngsters live in conflict-affected regions. As the concept of national security has been expanded to the broader construct of “human security”, security agendas have been globalized, linking security concerns in the Global North to political unrest and fragility in more peripheral regions of the global economy where most of this “youth bulge” – or “youth dividend”, depending on one’s standpoint – lives. The global YPS agenda has further been driven by moral panics over the purportedly growing threat of radicalization of globally-connected but marginalized youth by media-savvy extremist groups.
Adopted in December 2015, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (UNSCR 2250) on Youth, Peace and Security formalized the global YPS agenda by establishing an international framework to address the critical role of youth in building and sustaining peace and preventing violent conflict. A Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, as requested by UNSCR 2250, was recently made available . Titled "The Missing Peace: Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security", this study provides a blueprint for implementing UNSCR 2250 and the follow-on resolution 2419(2018).
Supporters of UNSCR 2250 posit that this resolution is an important landmark for the recognition of the constructive role young people can play as agents for positive change, recognizing their contributions as catalysts for peace and actors in preventing violence. More critical views have also emerged, observing that “such arguments do not hold up to scrutiny, as recent documents on global youth and security are saturated with concerns with youth as threat and liability”. Dominant gender discourses in the global YPS agenda remain problematic and constitute a further point of contention.
The chapters included in this edited volume seek to advance this debate by sharing empirical findings on youth’s engagement in the wide range of experiences related to the peace and security field. Lessons learned may inform the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda so that it better responds to on-the-ground realities, hence promoting more sustainable and inclusive approaches to long-lasting peace.