The international community’s capacity for conflict management remains a potentially highly effective, albeit not flawless, instrument for managing a wide range of security challenges, which, however, will be applied, as it always has, selectively and in line with the national interests of the great powers.
Civil War
Sudan and South Sudan’s unresolved post-independence issues
Two rather sobering conclusions are difficult to escape one year after South Sudan’s independence: the situation in the country has hardly improved for the majority of its population and most challenges that have plagued South Sudan have their causes in local leadership failures.
Afghanistan between the Bonn Conference and fears of sectarian warfare
The recent attacks in Afghanistan underscore that the situation in the country continues to represent a major challenge for internationalised peacebuilding and state building efforts and that the fundamental problem remains wide-spread insecurity.
Iraq at a crossroads: Dealing with the Energy Question and Disputed Territories
Maintaining, and actively managing, the status quo does not resolve any of the big questions, but it avoids “solutions” that are worse than the problems they are targeted at.
What does the future hold for Kirkuk?
Three months after parliamentary elections were held in Iraq, a new government has yet to be formed, and it appears that the status of Kirkuk remains one of the stumbling blocks on the way to forming a new coalition.
Where next for a democratic Iraq?
The Iraqi elections and their results were certainly not a complete and utter failure in bringing Iraq closer to a democratic society but they also offer a glimpse at the challenges ahead.