Global militarisation

The current priority of the dominant security actors is maintaining international security through the vigorous use of military force combined with the development of both nuclear and conventional weapons systems. Post-Cold War nuclear developments involve the modernisation and proliferation of nuclear systems, with an increasing risk of limited nuclear-weapons use in warfare – breaking a threshold that has held for sixty years and seriously undermining multilateral attempts at disarmament. These dangerous trends will be exacerbated by developments in national missile defence, chemical and biological weapons and a race towards the weaponisation of space.

Conflict Minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Aligning Trade and Security Interventions

Ruben de Koning | SIPRI | July 2011

Issues:Competition over resources, Global militarisation

Mineral resources have played a crucial role in fuelling protracted armed conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This Policy Paper examines the the prospects for and interactions between various trade- and security-related initiatives that are aimed at demilitarizing the supply chains of key minerals. It also describes the changing context in which such initiatives operate. Finally, it offers policy recommendations for how the Congolese Government and international actors can coordinate and strengthen their responses in order to break resource–conflict links in eastern DRC.

Article source: SIPRI

Image source: Tim Pearce, Los Gatos

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Posted on 6/07/11

A New Road for Preventative Action

East West Institute | East West Institute | June 2011

Issues:Climate change, Competition over resources, Global militarisation, Marginalisation

A gap continues to exist between the international community’s rhetoric about conflict prevention and its responsibility to protect people from severe human rights violations. The record of human misery caused by violent conflict is testimony to the chronic  lack of political will to respond collectively to newand emerging threats to peace. The ineffectiveness of many global efforts at preventive diplomacy is evidence that traditional diplomatic approaches,  including the use of force, simply may not work.

Article source: East West Institute

Image source: AfghanistanMatters

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Posted on 29/06/11

Drones Don't Allow Hit and Run

Prof Susan Breau | Oxford Research Group | June 2011

Issues:Global militarisation, Marginalisation

If You Use Drones You Must Confirm and Report Who They Killed, Says Legal Team.

International lawyers have identified an existing but previously unacknowledged requirement in law for those who use or authorise the use of drone strikes to record and announce who has been killed and injured in each attack.

A new report, 'Drone Attacks, International Law, and the Recording of Civilian Casualties of Armed Conflict', is published on 23 June 2011 by London-based think tank Oxford Research Group.

Article source: Oxford Research Group

Image source: Official U.S. Navy Imagery

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Posted on 23/06/11

Space: the final frontier of Sino-US rivalry?

Sahiba Trivedi | openDemocracy | June 2011

Issue:Global militarisation

China’s sky-high space ambitions have the potential to upset the current world order. Within the coming decade, China may become capable of challenging America’s dominance over space and its monopoly over global navigational systems.

Over the past few years, China has engaged in completing high-profile, grand projects like high-speed rail, the world’s biggest airport terminal (since overtaken by Dubai) and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Its space programme, like all else, is a matter of Chinese prestige. On successful completion, it will be yet another grand feather in China’s cap signalling its ambition of becoming a world power.

Image source: Matthew Simantov

Article source: openDemocracy

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Posted on 23/06/11

Climate Change, Nuclear Risks and Nuclear Disarmament: From Security Threats to Sustainable Peace

Jurgen Scheffran | World future Council | June 2011

Issues:Climate change, Global militarisation

This study brings to light the multidimensional interplay between climate change, nuclear risks and nuclear disarmament, and its critical implications for the strategic security environment. In addition, it explores prospects and openings to tackle these key challenges, stressing the role played by institutions to “strengthen common ecological and human security, build and reinforce conflict-resolution mechanisms and low-carbon energy alternatives, and create sustainable lifecycles that respect the capabilities of the living world."

Read the full report here.

Image source: GreenDominee

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Posted on 8/06/11

Security Net: Nuclear Risk Reduction in Southern Asia

Lydia Walker and Annie Siris Coomb | Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies | June 2011

Issue:Global militarisation

“Security  Net” is a scenario for a future Nuclear Risk Reduction Regime in Southern Asia. It explores what such a regime might look like, how it might come into existence, what are its central challenges, and what might be its ramifications  for  nuclear proliferation and non-proliferation policy in Southern Asia today.  

This study examines the idea of a “Southern Asia” itself and considers the differences between the relationship  of  regional identity  formation  to  nuclear  non-proliferation in Southern Asia in comparison  to  Southeast  Asia  and  Latin America.    It  then  considers  what  sort  of internal  drivers,  wild  cards,  or outside forces could create incentives for regional cooperation on Nuclear Risk Reduction in Southern Asia the future.  

Article source: Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

Image source:  jmuhles

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Posted on 1/06/11