Report

HAWA GeNDER STUDY

The study explores the drivers and impediments affecting West African women’s entry into and advancement within the professional humanitarian assistance sector. It also provides recommendations for policymakers, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders within the humanitarian sector. In doing so, the study contributes to the project “Capacity Building for Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa” (HAWA IV), a project coordinated by the Austrian Centre for Peace (ACP) in cooperation with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and supported by the Austrian Ministry of Defense (MoD). 

French Version

L'étude explore les moteurs et les obstacles qui affectent l'entrée et la progression des femmes ouest-africaines dans le secteur de l'assistance humanitaire professionnelle. Elle formule également des recommandations à l'intention des décideurs politiques, des organisations humanitaires et d'autres parties prenantes du secteur humanitaire. Ce faisant, l'étude contribue au projet « Renforcement des capacités d’assistance humanitaire en Afrique de l'Ouest » (HAWA IV), un projet coordonné par le Centre Autrichien pour la Paix (ACP) en coopération avec le Centre International Kofi Annan de formation au maintien de la Paix (KAIPTC), financé par la Coopération autrichienne pour le Développement (ADC) et soutenu par le Ministère Autrichien de la Défense (MoD).

Report No. 5/2024

The Second Austrian Forum for Peace engaged with the significant challenges posed on peacebuilding initiatives by an increasingly fragmented global order. At the same time, the necessity is clear of recognising and engaging with emerging regional and international powers, such as China, India, Brazil, and others, who have considerable influence on reshaping the global landscape. These powers often bring alternative perspectives on international law and governance, viewing existing legal frameworks as tools that preserves an allegedly outdated global order dominated by Western powers.

In a changing world order, norms and practices of peace mediation — broadly defined as a means of assisting negotiations to prevent, manage, or end violent conflicts — are evolving. Alongside peace initiatives undertaken by the UN, regional bodies, and traditional Western mediators, there is a growing body of practice, developed by emerging powers, in assisting negotiations between conflict parties, especially in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The Austrian Forum for Peace Working Paper by Bernardo Mariani examines the role and impact of four emerging powers — China, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates — in international peace mediation. It investigates the policies, motivations, practices, comparative advantages, and constraints of their mediation work as well as the implications for international peacemaking efforts.

MEDIATING PEACE IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD ORDER - INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION: THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF EMERGING POWERS

Report No. 4/2024

The Second Austrian Forum for Peace engaged with the significant challenges posed on peacebuilding initiatives by an increasingly fragmented global order. At the same time, the necessity is clear of recognising and engaging with emerging regional and international powers, such as China, India, Brazil, and others, who have considerable influence on reshaping the global landscape. These powers often bring alternative perspectives on international law and governance, viewing existing legal frameworks as tools that preserves an allegedly outdated global order dominated by Western powers.

Dr. Jan Pospisil discusses in this Austrian Forum for Peace Working Paper why the rise of multipolarity, the resurgence of nationalism, and the increasing role of non-state actors are just a few factors contributing to this fragmentation, complicating the landscape of peace mediation. Moreover, potential approaches to armed conflict mediation and post-conflict transitions that might be more effective in this context of fragmentation are explored. Finally, Dr. Pospisil assesses whether new strategies are required to address the unique challenges posed by a fragmented global order and how these strategies might be implemented to foster sustainable peace in an increasingly complex world.

MEDIATING PEACE IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD ORDER - CONCEPTUAL REFLECTIONS ON CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES

Report No. 3/2024

ALLIANCES FOR PEACE

The report deals with the growing impact of the climate crisis on conflicts, upheavals in international relations and the prerequisites for mediation in the war over Ukraine or in West Africa. 
Assessments of how technological tools (PeaceTech) can support peace work and of new actors promoting and mediating peace are also summarised in a compact format.

Report No. 2/2024

Water scarcity as an entry point for environmental peacebuilding in the persian golf

Water insecurity, climate change, and water-intensive economic activities represent an existential threat to Gulf region states. An environmental peacebuilding approach can add nuance to traditional debates about water management at a time of climate breakdown. This report considers water in its full hydrological cycle and analyses the implications of water scarcity on a regional level as well as the double-binds generated by technological solutions applied to water security. The paper then concludes by giving suggestions for opportunities brought by an environmental peacebuilding approach, such as enabling complex regeneration through regional cooperation. Using a multi-layered systemic lens, it becomes clear that solutions and progress towards such solutions must duly recognize the complex nature of the water-climate-security nexus. Such a perspective could allow entry points to stop downward spirals of water scarcity and conflict as well as pioneer fundamental change towards peace and sustainability.

Report No. 1/2024

EMERGING APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD

The growing number of conflicts - Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan, etc. - is accompanied by a weakening of the international system and a stalemate in important peace processes. While traditional actors in mediation are increasingly positioning themselves in support of specific conflict parties and are becoming less attractive as "convening platforms", the mediation efforts of new hosting states are often linked to specific interests. The publication discusses how Austria could position itself as a neutral actor within these new approaches to mediation.

Report No. 1/2023

Dealing with justice and peace issues in times of war

Sustainable peace can only be found if human rights and international law are taken into account, but within wars and armed conflicts these principles of justice are violated. The report discusses this dilemma peacebuilders are facing in Ukraine, Sudan, or Israel and Palestine, and investigates if the call to end violence and the call to bring perpetrators to justice can be reconciled with human rights and justice issues while pursuing peace initiatives.

Report No. 7/2020

EMOTIONEN IM KONFLIKT - EMANZIPATION IN ZEITEN VON RESSENTIMENT

Dass Emotionen in der Politik und in sozialen und politischen Konflikten eine zentrale Rolle spielen, ist bekannt, wird aber trotzdem zu wenig berücksichtigt. Ist ein gewisses Ausmaß an persönlich empfundener Empörung notwendiger Bestandteil jedweden politischen Engagements und jedweder politischen Veränderung?  Wann schlägt produktive Empörung in destruktive Gewalt um? Welche Ängste treiben den „Wutbürger“ wirklich um? Wann wird Empörung zum Selbstzweck? Was macht den neuen Autoritarismus und Nationalismus für viele Menschen so attraktiv? Warum wählen Menschen sich Regierungen, die die Ohnmachtserfahrungen dieser selben Menschen noch potenzieren? Warum kann so viel Hass so schnell als Mittel der Politik mobilisiert werden? Warum scheint die Festgefahrenheit so vieler gewaltförmiger und kriegerischer Konflikte weniger mit der Abwesenheit von Transformationspotentialen und Lösungsvorschlägen, sondern vielmehr mit starrsinnig verteidigten Gefühlsqualitäten und damit unterfütterten Vorurteilsstrukturen zu tun zu haben? 

Report No. 6/2020

THE UNGOVERNANCE OF PEACE - TRANSITIONAL PROCESSES IN CONTEMPORARY CONFLICTSCAPES

The report rethinks peace, peace formation, but also peacebuilding as an ungoverned process. Liberal peace governance, resting on the pillars of settlement, resolution, and relation, is unlikely to deliver its promised outcomes. The irresolvable discrepancy between the promise of liberal peace and its inability to deliver is the background against which peace ungovernance emerges. It operates under the premise of non-closure in enduring transitions, where time, space, and relationality are not subject to an agreed common understanding, but elements of strategy and politics.

Report No. 5/2020

UNTANGLING CONFLICT: LOCAL PEACE AGREEMENTS IN CONTEMPORARY ARMED VIOLENCE

This research draws on discussions held at two Joint Analysis Workshops in October and November 2019 organised by the Political Settlements Research Programme (PSRP). The workshops were held in cooperation with The British Academy (BA) and the Rift Valley Institute (RVI). In total, over 100 participants from 25 countries involved with or researching on local peace agreements contributed to thematic discussions.