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3661. Africa's Fragile States: Empowering Extremists, Exporting Terrorism

Author:
Zachary Devlin-Foltz
Publication Date:
08-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Abstract:
Africa's fragile states create political and security environments that enhance the leverage of Islamist extremists in their ongoing struggle with moderates for influence. Countering extremism in Africa, therefore, cannot be separated from building stronger, more legitimate states. Robust state security operations can neutralize extremists in the short term. However, they are an insufficient long-term counterextremism strategy unless coupled with opportunities for moderates to engage in the political process. In fragile states, maintaining moderate Islamist support for the state should be a central stabilization objective.
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Terrorism, and Fragile/Failed State
Political Geography:
Africa and Washington

3662. A Breakthrough in Justice? Accountability for Post-Election Violence in Kenya

Author:
Chandra Lekha Sriram and Stephen Brown
Publication Date:
08-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Centre on Human Rights in Conflict
Abstract:
The International Criminal Court (ICC) provides the most promising, and potentially only, venue for accountability for those most responsible for serious post-election violence in Kenya.
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Democratization, and International Law
Political Geography:
Kenya and Africa

3663. Mental Health Responses for Victims of Sexual Violence and Rape in Resource-Poor Settings

Author:
Thomas Callender and Liz Dartnall.
Publication Date:
12-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
“Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited tohomeand work”. Sexual violence as defined by the World Report on Violence and Health (Jewkes, Sen , 2002)
Topic:
Gender Issues, Health, Human Rights, and Human Welfare

3664. Researcher Trauma, Safety and Sexual Violence Research

Author:
Elizabeth Dartnall, Jan Coles, Shazneen Limjerwala, and Jill Astbury
Publication Date:
05-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
"I remember well the initial physical sensation I experienced. It was deep bone chilling coldness, which came whenever the women told meabout the depths of their horror, terror and torture. [...] Whenever I am writing from that emotional place of horror I still experience deep seated coldness and my ears feel congested and I feel flu like. This lasts for the length of time that I am immersed in such [emotionally] deep writing." (SVRI discussion board 2009, female researcher, North America).
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Security, Health, Human Rights, and Human Welfare
Political Geography:
North America

3665. Vicarious Trauma: Understanding and Managing the Impact of Doing Research on Sensitive Topics

Publication Date:
01-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative
Abstract:
We do research on sensitive topics because we care. We want to use our research findings to influence how society responds to an issue; to advocate for legislative change or policy improvements, or to strengthen prevention efforts through achieving a better understanding of why something occurs. We also do it because we enjoy learning about our world, and sharing experiences with like minded colleagues. Doing this work can be immensely rewarding. It can also be emotionally challenging. Listening to, reading about and analysing data on some of the most awful things human beings do to themselves and others can cause psychological distress and even physical health problems. By reading a particularly harrowing story; or after a long day in the field being an active empathic witness of trauma, or by analysing and re-analysing traumatic data, traumatic stories can gather in our mind, evoke strong feelings and result in distress and trauma related symptoms. Continuous exposure can result in vicarious trauma.
Topic:
Conflict Prevention, Health, Human Rights, and Human Welfare

3666. Controlling conflict resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Author:
Ruben de Koning
Publication Date:
07-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Abstract:
The political economy of mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is central to sustaining the conflict in the east of the country. Transforming it is a priority in order to alleviate the conflict and suffering that it fuels. In an attempt to ensure that conflict minerals—minerals sourced from militia controlled mines—do not enter the legal supply chain, industrial actors, the Congolese Government and outside donors have established schemes to trace minerals such as cassiterite and coltan back to the mines of origin.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution, Security, Corruption, Political Economy, Poverty, Natural Resources, and Foreign Aid
Political Geography:
Africa and Democratic Republic of the Congo

3667. Understanding Military Innovation: Chinese Defense S in Historical and Theoretical Perspective

Author:
Thomas G. Mahnken
Publication Date:
09-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
Abstract:
Given the high stakes involved in China's rise, both in Asia and globally, understanding the scope and pace of Chinese military modernization is an important undertaking. This brief applies insights from the theory and history of military innovation to the task of understanding China's development of anti-access and area denial capabilities and provides recommendations on how the United States can improve its ability to detect and recognize Chinese military innovation.
Topic:
International Relations and Military Strategy
Political Geography:
United States, China, Asia, and North America

3668. The Chinese Defense Economy's Long March from Imitation to Innovation

Author:
Tai Ming Cheung
Publication Date:
09-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
Abstract:
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, China's defense science, technology, and innovation (DSTI) system has been vigorously developing a comprehensive set of innovation capabilities that will eventually allow it to join the world's top tier of military technological powers. Ample access to financial, human, and research resources; strong political support; inflows of foreign technologies and know-how; and the introduction of advanced modes of governance, market competition, and management are producing significant progress, although from a low base. But long-term success is far from assured as daunting structural bottlenecks stand in the way, not the least of which is the struggle to overcome a long history of debilitating Socialist central planning.
Topic:
Defense Policy, Economics, Markets, Science and Technology, and Governance
Political Geography:
China and Asia

3669. Does Doctrine Drive Technology or Does Technology Drive Doctrine?

Author:
Dennis Blasko
Publication Date:
09-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
Abstract:
Within China's overall national strategy, priority goes to national economic development. How this fits with the PLA's needs to modernize and China's overall military strategy is driven by the concept of People's War that emphasizes strategy over technology and may hold some surprises for the United States.
Topic:
Military Strategy
Political Geography:
United States, China, and Asia

3670. China's Defense Electronics Industry: Innovation, Adaptation, and Espionage

Author:
James Mulvenon and Matthew Luce
Publication Date:
09-2010
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
Abstract:
Contrary to popular perceptions of China as either "technology thief" or "technology superpower," the success of the Chinese defense electronics sector can be attributed to a combination of indigenous innovation, adaptation of foreign technology, and large-scale technology espionage. Advanced defense electronics components and systems play a key role in this revolution in military capability, making it imperative to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese defense electronics industry and their implications for U.S. interests in the region.
Topic:
Economics, Science and Technology, and Military Strategy
Political Geography:
United States, China, and Asia