David M. Malone

Greed and grievance : economic agendas in civil wars

The presence of economic motives and commercial agendas in wars is not so much a new phenomenon as a familiar theme in the history of warfare. In recent times, as the contributors to this volume show, the licensing of economically motivated violence in such places as Sierra Leone and Liberia has resembled, in terms of its functional utility, both medieval and early modern patterns of warfare. However, in the recent literature on conflict and, even more so, in the practice of international and nongovernmental organizations, comparatively little systematic attention has been given to the precise role of economically motivated actions and processes in generating and sustaining contemporary civil conflicts. This volume is intended to improve our understanding in this area.

Economic Agendas in Civil Wars: What We Know, What We Need to Know

Since the mid-1990s, the political economy of civil wars has acquired unprecedented relevance for scholars and policymakers dealing with pre-venting and mitigating armed conflict. The issue is now under scrutiny by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes, humanitarian and aid organizations, governments, international financial organizations (IFIs), and, importantly, the United Nations (UN). This chapter provides a tour d’horizon of this field, based largely on the research findings and policy debates that have emerged from the three-year project by the International Peace Academy (now the International Peace Institute) on Economic Agendas in Civil Wars (EACW), which concluded in 2004.

Unilateralism and U.S. Foreign Policy: International Perspectives

Has there been a new surge of American unilateralism? Why is the world fearful of a United States that goes it alone? What are the consequences, for both the United States and the world, of a unilateral America? This book seeks to answer these questions. Past discussions and debates among US contributors were sufficiently passionate as to suggest that a parallel investigation, this time by international scholars, about US approaches to multilateralism and unilateralism would prove illuminating.

Nepal in transition : from people's war to fragile peace

1. Introduction Sebastian von Einsiedel, David Malone and Suman Pradhan Part I. The Context: 2. The making of the Maoist insurgency Deepak Thapa 3. State power and the security sector: ideologies and interests Rhoderick Chalmers 4. Nepals failed development Devendra Raj Panday 5. Ethnic politics and the building of an inclusive state Mahendra Lawoti Part II. Critical Transition and the Role of Outsiders: 6. Masala peacemaking Teresa Whitfield 7. A comprehensive peace? International human rights monitoring in Nepal Frederick Rawski and Mandira Sharma 8. Support to Nepals peace process: the role of the UN mission in Nepal Ian Martin 9. Electing the constituent assembly Catinca Slavu 10. Revolution by other means: the transformation of Nepals Maoists Aditya Adhikari Part III. Regional Dynamics: 11. A yam between two boulders: Nepal, India and China Rajeev Chaturvedy and David Malone 12. Bringing the Maoists down from the hills: Indias role S. D. Muni 13. A Nepali perspective on international involvement Prashant Jha Part IV. Conclusions: 14. Conclusions Sebastian von Einsiedel, David Malone and Suman Pradhan.

India and China: Conflict and Cooperation

China and India are rising powers, keenly observed by the West and, increasingly, the rest of the world. Yet surprisingly for two states of such growing importance and with a rich and sometimes fractious history, their relationship seems to an outside eye largely reactive and, more broadly, adrift. China and India should be able to manage their parallel rise without generating shocks in their own continent. However, this will require careful management of bilateral irritants and potential regional crises. A more systematic dialogue process, going well beyond high-level visits, that acknowledges their differences instead of emphasising imagined similarities could lay the foundations for a better understanding of the domestic compulsions that drive each nations foreign policy.

The North-south Divide at the United Nations: Fading at Last?

After an early period in which Western countries dominated the debates and decisions of most United Nations bodies, the era of decolonization introduced several decades during which UN debates (and sometimes votes) came to be organized mainly along a North-South divide. The authors provide a brief history of this often poisonous dynamic, then focus on three recent debates at the UN: the discussion surrounding the Brahimi Report on UN peace operations, the question of humanitarian intervention, and the issue of financing for development. They argue that while the North-South divide has hampered the work (and often the reputation) of the United Nations, a more sober, less ideological mood seems to have taken hold of the UN, particularly in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States in September 2001.

The UN Security Council in the Post-Cold War World: 1987-97

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has experienced significant changes since the end of the Cold War. The article surveys key shifts in UNSC attitudes, mandates and activities between 1987 and 1997, nearly all of which stem from the twin phenomena of greater cooperation among the Permanent Five members (P-5) of the Council and of the Councils growing focus on civil wars and intercommunal strife which has launched the Council into new and largely untested waters. It argues that Council decisions since 1987 have profound significance for, and have enhanced the Councils role in, international relations despite several spectacular setbacks, notably in Bosnia and in Somalia. These decisions have eroded and redefined the concept of sovereignty.

Peace and Democracy for Haiti: A UN Mission Impossible?

In early 2004, the outbreak of political violence in Haiti and President Aristides departure into exile provoked first a US and French military intervention to stabilize the security situation, and then deployment of a UN peacekeeping force. This article will first offer a historical narrative, placing the UNs recent intervention in the larger context of the intense international involvement in Haitis affairs throughout the 1990s, including sanctions, UN-authorized use of force, a peacekeeping operation and years of peacebuilding efforts, all ending in failure. After identifying some of the policy lessons derived from the saga, the article then looks at the challenges ahead in relation to recent UN policy initiatives and reforms, notably on peacebuilding. It attempts to assess whether prospects for sustainable state-building in Haiti are consequently better than they were in 1994.

Improving the UN's Capacity for Conflict Prevention

Prevention of conflict is the first promise in the Charter of the United Nations. Yet, it is a promise that is constantly betrayed by local parties, governments, international organizations and, to some extent, the scholarly community which until quite recently had been unable to generate policy-relevant analysis of the circumstances in which this goal might be achieved. In the late 1990s, the study of conflict prevention flourished and was complemented by some notable successes in the practice of conflict prevention. This article focuses on those findings most pertinent to the UNs role in conflict prevention and what kinds of intervention measures it can adopt to strengthen its role and capacities for conflict prevention. The article argues that the wider family of agencies in the UN system, especially the agencies and programmes with a development remit, need to be engaged.

The evolving nature and role of the diplomatic mission

This article seeks to chart how the role of the diplomatic mission (most often thought of as the embassy) has evolved, primarily since the Second World War, to assess how it can be most useful to the sending state or institution, and to identify some of the characteristics of successful envoys, on the latter score drawing on several interviews. The occasional footnote refers to some personal experience and observations.