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Mine action in the era of the SDGs and sustaining peace
Yeonju JungThis year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty. After two decades, however, there are continuing struggles against mines/ERWs and their effects on human security and development.
President Trump’s speech in Warsaw: Problematising ‘Western values’ and the case for inclusivity
Dr Ian AnthonyOn 6 July 2017, in his first major speech on foreign soil addressing security issues, President Donald Trump focused his attention on the need for states that constitute ‘the West’ to take the steps needed to address what the President labelled ‘dire threats to our security and to our way of life’.
The EU common defence: Deeper integration on the horizon?
Dr Lina GripThe EU Global Strategy is considered the outcome of a review of the European Security Strategy (ESS) in light of the dramatic changes in the EU’s security environment since 2003, alongside the substantial institutional and legal developments caused by enlargement and the Lisbon Treaty.
Renewal of MINUSMA: A missed opportunity for new generation of DDR
Annelies Hickendorff and Dr Jaïr van der LijnBy not acknowledging important aspects of Mali’s continuously changing security environment, the UN Security Council has missed the opportunity to use MINUSMA’s mandate renewal to strengthen the DDR process.
How Brazil’s political and economic crisis affects its military spending
Dr Diego Lopes da SilvaBrazil's military spendng decreased by 7.2% in 2016, which is related to the political and economic crises currently affecting the country.
The African Union’s road to financial independence: Pragmatic or ideological?
Maria OsulaRecognizing its growing financial dependence on external partners, the African Union has proposed an ambitious self-financing programme.
Cultural diversity for dialogue and development
Dr Anastasia AladyshevaMay 21 is the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Given today’s conflicts, political uncertainties and support for nationalism, it is important to be reminded of the benefits that diversity brings to development.
The need for dialogue on common security challenges in Europe
Dr Lars-Erik LundinDr Lars-Erik Lundin looks back at the role of dialogue in resolving previous European security challenges and argues that a simliar approach is needed today.
Afghanistan’s political elite continues to jeopardize stability
Richard GhiasyAfghanistan's political power struggle keeps the country in a deadlock of security and socio-economic crises. Achieving stability in Afghanistan, and the wider region, will require effective power-sharing from Afghanistan's two competing political camps.
Technology at the service of peace
Helena Puig Larrauri and Olivier CottrayTechnology and innovation have a role to play in peace. Two sessions at the upcoming 2017 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development will focus on how technology can be harnessed to aid peacebuilding programmes via the emerging field of peacetech.