city:noref

NOREF - Why “no-fly zones” or “IS-free zones” are not a solution in Syria
▻http://www.peacebuilding.no/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/Syria/Publications/Why-no-fly-zones-or-IS-free-zones-are-not-a-solution-in-Syria

There is a renewed push to establish “no-fly” and “IS-free” zones in Syria. An external military intervention to establish such zones, even with the good intention of protecting civilians, is likely to precipitate more chaotic fighting and further harm civilians. Instead, the international community should build a minimum consensus among the “Friends of Syria”, Russia, and Iran to accommodate the interests and concerns of Syria’s external stakeholders, and reconcile the existential fears of various communities and regime supporters in Syria with the aspirations of the country’s majority Sunni population. Once these fundamental issues are addressed, a political solution to the Syrian crisis will become possible.

NOREF - Why is it so hard to get women to the peace table? And why is that not even the right question?

▻http://peacebuilding.no/Events/Why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-women-to-the-peace-table-And-why-is-that-not-

Why is it so hard to get women to the peace table? And why is that not even the right question?

A breakfast seminar with Dr. Carol Cohn
11 April 2014, 08.30-10.00
Fafo Auditorium, Borggt., 2B, Oslo

Peace processes have gained increasing attention and criticism for excluding women, youth, civil society and various other grassroots actors, leaders and perspectives. Many transnational civil society actors and advocates for women’s and human rights have lobbied with limited degrees of success for women’s inclusion at the peace table. However, even getting to the peace table is no guarantee that key issues will be put on the agenda, into the agreement, or even implemented or funded following an agreement. This seminar with Dr Carol Cohn will attempt to shed light on the complex gendered institutional and political realities in which peace processes are themselves grounded and situated, and will problematise advocacy efforts to include women in these processes.

NOREF - The future of the Middle East and North Africa

▻http://www.peacebuilding.no/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/Publications/The-future-of-the-Middle-East-and-North-Africa

The future of the Middle East and North Africa

George Joffé, 20 August 2013

http://www.peacebuilding.no/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/regions/middle-east-and-north-africa/publications/the-future-of-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/715727-1-eng-US/The-future-of-the-Middle-East-and-North-Africa_illustration.jpg

Despite the expectations born of the Arab Spring 30 months ago, the outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region looks much more clouded today. The crisis in Egypt has underlined the difficulties of democratic governance within an Islamic context, the struggle in Syria has worrying regional implications and the general problem of economic regeneration heightens the atmosphere of general regional concern. More than this, the current situation reflects once again the ways in which the MENA region is of global significance as major powers become involved in regional economic and political challenges. The global implications have been worsened by repeated policy failures by major powers as they have missed opportunities to influence regional outcomes effectively. As a result the Iranian nuclear issue has now become enmeshed in the Syrian crisis and in the new sectarian divides that split the region. Many national and regional problems remain from the past, however, not least the issue of Israel’s relations with its diplomatic and strategic neighbourhood and the wider but related issue of U.S. inability to play an even-handed role. The result is that the outlook also remains gloomy, not because regional problems cannot be solved but because past prejudice continues to constrain the ability of major powers with interests in the region to participate in their solution.

#proche-orient #Afrique_du_nord

NOREF - African security in 2013: a year of disequilibrium?

▻http://www.peacebuilding.no/Regions/Africa/Publications/African-security-in-2013-a-year-of-disequilibrium

African security in 2013: a year of disequilibrium?
Morten Bøås, James J. Hentz, 18 April 2013

Africa’s security is currently standing at a crossroads. Relatively high African growth rates in combination with the increased institutional strength, credibility and legitimacy of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have led to greater confidence in Africa’s ability to deal with its security challenges. However, the continent is also confronted with significant security challenges that could have severe ramifications across several countries and regions.

#afrique #sécurité-humaine #sécurité-politique

NOREF - Jerusalem, Netanyahu and the two-state solution

►http://www.peacebuilding.no/Regions/Middle-East-and-North-Africa/Israel-Palestine/Publications/Jerusalem-Netanyahu-and-the-two-state-solution

Daniel Seidemann , 28 August 2012

What are Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s real intentions vis-à-vis Israeli–Palestinian negotiations and the two-state solution? What does he really want? Speculation aside, a great deal can be gleaned about both Netanyahu’s core beliefs and his intentions by examining his words and his actions with respect to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is universally recognised as a key permanent status issue, which, for any peace agreement, will require the reconciling of competing Israeli and Palestinian claims as well as recognition and protection of Jewish, Muslim and Christian equities. In the context of the current political stalemate, however, it has become much more than that. Today, Jerusalem is both the volcanic core of the conflict – the place where religion and nationalism meet and combine in a potentially volatile mix – and a microcosm of the conflict and the imbalance of power that characterises developments on the ground.

#isarel #palestine #Netanyahu