The UN’s otherwise transformative Women, Peace and Security agenda has a blind spot for corruption. Twenty-five years on from the UN’s landmark Resolution 1325, Ara Marcen Naval argues for integrating anti-corruption into the WPS agenda as an essential act of justice and protection. Twenty-five years after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, the Women, … Continue reading From Blind Spot to Blueprint: Why tackling corruption is essential to the Women, Peace and Security agenda
‘Europe’s Role for Peace in the World’: A Positive Peace Scenario from Sicherheit neu Denken
In order to overcome major global challenges, especially climate breakdown and the crisis in the international legal order, it is necessary to end the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible. Europe also urgently needs to reimagine its role in the world, beyond its often subordinate role to US interests. To meet both these aims … Continue reading ‘Europe’s Role for Peace in the World’: A Positive Peace Scenario from Sicherheit neu Denken
The Evolution of Peacekeeping: A vision of human security partially fulfilled
For our series of ‘Stories of People- and Planet-Centred Cooperation’ we interviewed David Curran from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Peace and Security about the value and importance of UN peacekeeping, an area with a bold vision but a chequered record of achieving human and sustainable security. Most people are familiar with the blue helmets, … Continue reading The Evolution of Peacekeeping: A vision of human security partially fulfilled
Human Security and the Mainstreaming of People in International Relations
For our series of Stories of People- and Planet-Centred Cooperation, we interviewed Zsófia Hacsek of Coventry University about the origins, meaning and impact of the Human Security paradigm. Over three decades, this centring of people and planet has revolutionised thinking about security, but also experienced a backlash from those committed to the ‘national security’ concerns … Continue reading Human Security and the Mainstreaming of People in International Relations
International Cooperation, 80 years on from 1945
As we approach another major anniversary of the end of the Second World War (VE80), the international institutions built to prevent such a cataclysmic conflict reoccurring have never seemed so challenged. Amidst the anxiety about where we are headed, politically and diplomatically, it is essential that we communicate the successes of cooperation and sustainable security. Joana Frew summarises some of the critiques of the post-1945 order and begins to look at successes achieved since then. RS will be sharing more such stories of cooperation, success and progress in developing sustainable security in a webinar on 21 May and a series of Blog articles over this year.
Righting Wrongs, Enabling Disarmament: The role of disability rights in the search for sustainable peace
Humanitarian disarmament initiatives made significant progress in the post-Cold War era but until now their linkage to disability rights has been weak. Sean Howard and Tammy Bernasky report on a new Disability Rights and Disarmament Initiative that demands full and effective participation of people with disabilities at the United Nations and beyond.
Nuclear Secrecy: The UK’s common agenda with Russia and North Korea
The UK is in denial about the legacy of its Cold War nuclear weapons testing programmes as well as about the potential impact of a future nuclear war. Sean Howard sees bad faith in the new UK government’s voting record at the UN’s disarmament committee and some unsavoury partners in its campaign to maintain nuclear secrecy.
Beyond COP28: Plan E and the Entangled Security Approach
With this year’s COP once again failing to meet expectations for rapid transition to a post-fossil fuel future, surely a more effective and urgent approach is required? Elizabeth Boulton argues for a Plan E that would harness global cooperation to see off humanity’s common ‘hyperthreat’ of planetary breakdown.
UK Denies Toxic Nuclear Legacy in Kiribati
The second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is underway in New York. Absent (again) is the British government. Ben Donaldson of Spoiler Alert reports on how the UK is refusing to face up to the toxic legacy of nuclear testing in its former colony, Kiribati.
The Will to Wonder: Ambition, empowerment and inspiration for a shared society
Why is it that our collective imagination and action can range across the galaxy to solve abstruse mysteries but humanity can’t get to grips with the immediate problems of poverty, pandemic and climate breakdown? Clem McCartney appeals for a renewed capacity to wonder that can excite us to act and protect all that we stand to lose by our inaction.