Peace StudiesPage 2

Mexican Government-Compiled List of the Disappeared is Leaked to the Public

This Washington Post article touches on a issue that has come up in Peace Studies 211: the victims of violence in Mexico who have simply gone missing (25,000 in the past six years). Efforts promised by the outgoing President Calderon are left largely for the incoming administration of Enrique Pena Nieto to put into effect. (WaPo) […]

Update: Crisis in the Congo

Among many other things, the article notes an example of negative peace. Negative peace need not be ‘negative’ insofar as it is usually better than open violence, but this is pretty negative in the usual sense of the word. NYT: “The most realistic solution, said another Congo analyst, is not a formal peace process driven by […]

NYT Cease-fire agreement reached. Its duration is uncertain.

NYT Update on the situation in Gaza: “CAIRO — Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire on Wednesday, the eighth day of lethal fighting over the Gaza Strip, the United States and Egypt said after intensive negotiations in Cairo. The cease-fire, which took effect at 9 p.m. local time (2 p.m. E.S.T.), was formally announced by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham […]

Wa-Po: “9 questions about Israel-Gaza you were too embarrassed to ask”

Some quick background reading if you’re coming late to the current Gaza crisis, or the long-running Palestinian-Israeli conflict to which it belongs. The link is here.

A Quick Glance at Hamas (WaPo)

A short critique of the view that Hamas can be isolated within Palestinian society in Gaza. The link is here.   “Over the weekend, Israel warned civilians, including journalists, to stay away from Hamas or risk being killed. Many Gazans said that is fundamentally impossible in a place where nearly everyone has a neighbor or […]

NYT Travel Article Explores How the Arts Have Helped Heal Divisions in Northern Ireland

Over the next year, the city is poised to make more positive headlines. Derry won a bid to be the first United Kingdom City of Culture in 2013, a designation that will bring a year’s-plus worth of marquee events showcasing both British and Irish culture. “This has always been a city that has a very strong cultural thread running through it,” said Shona McCarthy, the chief executive of Culture Company 2013, which is overseeing the year of events. “Some incredible artistic responses came out of the Troubles — from visual artists like Willie Doherty to writers like Seamus Heaney and the punk music of the Undertones. People are excited for the chance to showcase that.”

Arguing for Assassination

Five authorities on law and international security discuss assassination. All accept it, albeit with vary degrees of enthusiasm. Theirs are not, perhaps, peace studies perspectives, but they are worth the read. The link is here.

U.S. Military Ties to Southeast Asian Regimes Increase Despite Human Rights Concerns

"The decision to embrace Cambodia has prompted criticism from human rights groups and several U.S. lawmakers, who accuse the Obama administration of pursuing closer military and diplomatic ties with countries in China’s back yard at the expense of democratic reforms."

The Nuclear Arsenal and the National Deficit

Walter Pincus sees a path for deficit relief in reduction of the nuclear arms program. The link is here.