ICAR In The News
Journal of Peace Research Features ICAR PhD Student Tetsushi Ogata
Book Review by Tetsushi Ogata
(Journal of Peace Research, May 2008)
[Review: Tan, See Seng, 2007. The Role of Knowledge Communities in Constructing Asia-Pacific Security: How Thoughts and Talk Make War and Peace.] The book’s major contribution lies in building theoretical foundations providing alternative conceptions of security discourse between Track Two diplomacy and official policy process in the Asia-Pacific. Knowledge communities in question are primarily the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) and the ASEAN Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS). The author takes a radical constructivist view of the discourses of such knowledge communities, arguing that Track Two diplomacy and its practices are neither autonomous subjects nor passive recipients; they are not agents freely shaping national and regional security through instrumental actions or simply preserving prior structural functions and identities. READ MORE
Journal of Peace Research Features ICAR PhD Student Adriana Salcedo
Book Review by Adriana Salcedo
(Journal of Peace Research, May 2008)
[Review: Volkan, Vamik. 2006. Killing in the Name of Identity: A Study of Bloody Conflicts.] This book addresses one of the key challenges in the field of peace and conflict studies: identity-based conflicts. By studying the links between massive trauma, political ideologies, and new tragedies, Volkan provides the reader with a new vision and strategies for peaceful solutions to some of the most intractable conflicts. He is pessimistic about the prospects of achieving a peaceful world, not only because of humans’ innate aggression (highlighted earlier by Freud), but also because of the psychology of large groups that share a common identity and the psychological need to find common allies and enemies. READ MORE
Journal of Peace Research Features ICAR PhD Student Ekaterina Romanova
Book Review by Ekaterina Romanova
(Journal of Peace Research, May 2008)
[Review: Rotberg, Robert I., ed., 2007. Worst of the Worst: Dealing with Repressive and Rogue Nations.] Nation-state repression and tyranny can be overtly violent, as in Zimbabwe, Burma, or Uzbekistan, or relatively peaceful, as in Turkmenistan, Belarus, or Syria. Yet, all repressive regimes are manipulative, coercive, and abusive. The book, Worst of the Worst, is a compilation of a series of case-studies united by a common theoretical discussion of repressive and aggressive states. In this superbly edited volume, Robert Rotberg, Director of the Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution at Harvard University and President of the World Peace Foundation, attempts to define the meaning and attributes of a rogue state.
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Journal of Peace Research Features ICAR PhD Student Fatima Hadji
Book Review by Fatima Hadji
(Journal of Peace Research, May 2008)
[Review: Nasr, Vali, 2007. The Shia Revival: How Conflict Within Islam Will Shape the Future.] The recent reality shift in the Middle East exposes the prevalent sectarian politics shaping the future of the region and its prospects for democracy and peace. The geopolitics and the provocative factors of power hindering the co-existence of the Shia and the Sunni find their roots in historical grievances and in the re-enactment of struggles for power. Nasr articulates that competing theologies and the crystallization of tribal and ethnic identities are the factors that fuel violence and magnify differences in the Middle East. The ideologies of identity politics, power, and narratives of struggle contours the geopolitical realities within which the Shia and the Sunni co-exist. READ MORE
Iraq Policy in the Post-Bush Era: Clinton, McCain and Obama
By Juliette Shedd, ICAR PhD Student
(Journal of International Peace Operations, May-June 2008)
Evaluating Iraq policy must start with identifying U.S. national interests in Iraq. If we determine that long term stability in Iraq is not necessary, than a pull out of U.S. troops and reallocation of funds and manpower makes sense. However, there appears to be consensus that a stable, peaceful Iraq is in the U.S. interest. In that case, U.S. policy toward Iraq should seek to employ the lessons learned from other peace processes. The three leading Presidential candidates have made Iraq a main focus of the campaign and spelled out policy prescriptions. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois) emphasize political and economic reconstruction, while Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) pushes for a security-first stabilization policy. Whether security or reconstruction is emphasized will have a profound impact on Iraq’s future. READ MORE
US Policy in Iraq: A Plague on Both Houses
By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
(Journal of International Peace Operations, May-June 2008)
For all of Washington's white papers on the war in Iraq, testimonies by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, and wonkish retching over the war's latest development - the recent routing of Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, for example - the cures counseled by Congress, the candidates, and the Administration continue to be nauseatingly simplistic: withdrawal or stay the course. The contrasting spectrum of solutions is stark - from immediate withdrawal to an unimaginable 100-year presence - and the criteria for success, or anything remotely close to a "win" constantly shifting. READ MORE
Poppy, Poverty and the Taliban: Interview with Afghanistan's Ambassador to the US, Said Tayeb Jawad
By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
(Journal of International Peace Operations, May-June 2008)
Michael Shank: What do you make of the United States’ new tack in dealing with poppy in Afghanistan – that of planting pomegranate instead of spraying crops? What’s your assessment regarding the most effective way of addressing the opium problem? Do you see promise in providing farmers with alternative crops? Ambassador Jawad: First we have to be very clear that there is no one solution for a very complicated problem such a poppy. There is no silver bullet to kill this beast. Over-emphasis has been made, actually a lot over the past five years, on eradication, all types of eradication, manual or aerial spraying or others, which is important but only aspect of fighting narcotics. It’s one-fifth of the strategy. READ MORE
CTV News Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons
By Dan Matheson
(CTV News, April 28, 2008)
Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, on Canadian TV analyzing the recent statements of Reverend Jeremiah Wright at the NAACP conference in Detroit and at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Simmons identifies the issues which have brought Jeremiah Wright into the national spotlight and examines the impact of Wright upon the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. Interview conducted by Dan Matheson on April 28th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST
Conflict Learning Audio Podcast Features ICAR Professor Susan Hirsch and Undergraduate Students
By Bill Warters
(Conflict Learning, April 26, 2008)
In this episode we hear highlights from the ACR Education Section conference Sustaining Conflict Resolution Education: Building Bridges to the Future held March 9-11, 2008 in Fairfax, Virginia on the campus of George Mason University. Speakers include Larry Dieringer, Executive Director, Educators for Social Responsibility and Associate Professor Susan Hirsch from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason. We also hear from Peer Mediation Partners undergraduate interns Rebecca Newman, Roxanne Libby, William Still and Jared Schmidt who describe their work going into middle schools and high schools in their region to support peer mediation across the educational spectrum. LISTEN TO BROADCAST
National Review Features ICAR Professor Solon Simmons
By Christina Hoff Sommers
(National Review, April 24, 2008)
Women have surpassed men in most areas of education, but men continue to be more numerous in fields like math, physics, and engineering. For more than a decade, feminist groups have been lobbying Congress to address the problem of gender “injustice” in the laboratory. Their efforts are finally bearing fruit. Federal agencies are now poised to begin aggressive gender-equity reviews of math, science, and engineering programs. Groups like the National Organization for Women must be celebrating - but American scientists should brace themselves for the destructive tsunami headed their way. READ MORE
Why Use Mediation?
Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri & Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Student
(Le Matin, April 24, 2008)
Conflict is present in all societies, be it in families, businesses or communities. Conflict is not inherently negative: it results from the diverse complexities amongst groups or individuals with regards to their beliefs, opinions, interests and identities. While such differences are a powerful source of the richness of the world, they sometimes lead to escalating tensions if emerging conflicts are not thoughtfully managed. Disputes that result in litigation or worse, to the use of violence, frequently have additional negative impact on our jobs and families. Alternatively, utilizing non-violent, extrajudicial approaches to deal with professional or personal disputes provides a foundation for harmonious homes, prosperous businesses, stable communities and subsequently, a more peaceful society at large. READ MORE
Haaretz.com TV Features ICAR Professor Marc Gopin
(Haaretz.com, April 22, 2008)
In recent years, Rabbi Marc Gopin increasingly finds himself in meetings with senior religious leaders in Syria, where he is considered a guest of honor. Gopin is the director of the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution and professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. He is a strong believer of the potential religious texts have to encourage peace making. Video courtesy of Haaretz.com TV, April 22, 2008. WATCH BROADCAST
This Earth Day is Different
By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and US Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)
(The Hill, April 22, 2008)
Earth Day, for some, is comparable to a sacred holiday, reminding us to tread carefully on nature's hallowed ground. For others, Earth Day serves as a starter on the basics of recycling and light-bulb changing. Regardless of the myriad ways in which Americans approach Earth Day '08, it remains substantially different from '07. What changed in one year? Washington joined the world in tackling climate change. Beyond the irrefutable science, the benefits of pursuing a more sustainable energy footprint were too vast to be ignored. While much work awaits us, the change in attitudes is profound. READ MORE
Washington Post Features ICAR Professor Nadim Rouhana
By Deborah Howell
(Washington Post, April 20, 2008)
Reporting about Israel and the Middle East is an important but thankless task. A Middle East reporting assignment means catching flak from pro-Israel and pro-Arab groups who often see stories through their own lenses. Here's an example: One paragraph in a Dec. 20 story by Scott Wilson, then Jerusalem bureau chief and now foreign editor, stated: "Except for a relatively small Druze population, Arabs are excluded from military service mandatory for all but ultra-Orthodox Jews, an essential shared experience of Israeli life and a traditional training ground for future political leaders." READ MORE
Poppy Crop Destruction Drives Farmers Towards Taliban
By Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
(Financial Times, April 12, 2008)
Sir, With reference to your report, "US seeks Afghan heroin action" (April 5/6): the American proclivity for short-term, high-visibility gains precludes, yet again, sound strategy. Aerial spraying does not constitute an effective poppy eradication programme. Critically, this counter-narcotics strategy ignores the demand side. If not Afghanistan, new suppliers will invariably emerge elsewhere. It also fails to find alternative livelihoods for farmers. READ MORE
