Centre For Peace & Conflict Studies

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

Beyond the Armistice: Efforts for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

Publisher: Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
Date of Publishing: October 2023
Country: Cambodia
Language: English

The book “Beyond the Armistice – Efforts for Peace on the Korean Peninsula” is a compilation of interviews with individuals from different countries, sectors, and generations, who are committed to advocating peace on the Korean Peninsula. These individuals, which include civil society leaders, former policymakers, diplomats, aid experts, and educators, share their journeys in peacebuilding or efforts in engaging in dialogues. Their insights shed light on the complexities of the Korean Peninsula tension, where the unresolved Korean War has caused structural injustices for over seven decades that sustain a system of division and play a significant role in rising tensions and hostilities on the Peninsula and beyond. They urge for an immediate resumption of dialogue to reduce tension and rebuild trust, calling for a cessation of hostilities by all parties, a shift from a militarised security narrative, and a more robust, inclusive process for peace that includes the voices of people affected by the conflict. The book documents a variety of suggestions and recommendations for the policy community and civil society groups to work together towards achieving these goals.

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies would like to express its sincere gratitude to Misereor for their support in creating this publication, as well as to GPPAC Northeast Asia for their financial assistance in printing it. While Misereor and GPPAC provided financial backing for this project, the viewpoints and ideas expressed in the publication are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Misereor and GPPAC.

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Listening Methodology: Application of a Peacebuilding Research

Author: Soth Plai Ngarm
Published by: CPCS
Published date: September 2022

The Listening Methodology is a qualitative research approach seeking to capture the feelings, thoughts, and opinions of communities living in a conflict to collect a unified voice and help amplify voices sidelined in peace processes. This manual briefly describes the listening methodology, adapted from the CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, which aims to help conflict research practitioners develop and operate a listening project effectively.

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Moving Beyond Multi-Track Diplomacy and Big Man Mediation

Author: Emma Leslie, Shadia Marhaban, Meredith Preston McGhie, Ameya Kilara, Julia Roig, Christine Ahn, and Neha Sanghrajka
Published by: CPCS
Publication date: February 2022

What is mediation in the 21st century? What does it mean to be a peace leader in this time? How could organizations adapt to shocks like pandemics and ever-shifting dynamics? And why should we let go of the “big man” approach to solving conflicts?

We asked seven world-renowned peace leaders at the forefront of 21st-century mediation and peacebuilding to share their experiences and lessons learned to help answer these traditional approaches and inspire those who read it and work for peace everywhere. The writings in this book are excerpted from the 9th Asia Peace Practitioners Research Conference, hosted by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in November 2020. These powerful words and engaging discussions reflect a significant shift in how mediation and peacebuilding are seen.
Videos of each chapter are available.

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Being in the Middle By Being at the Edge

Author: Steven and Sue Williams
Published by: CPCS
Publication date: October 2020 (2nd Edition)
ISBN: 1 85072 13

This book elucidates the concrete experiences of the authors in political conflict mediation in Northern Ireland and Uganda. Written by two leading Quaker mediators, but, most case studies, quotes, stories and anecdotes described here are from a combination of sources that are useful to those who have acted as mediators and to anyone who may take on this kind of role in the future. Mediation and negotiation efforts described here provides different perspective of understanding political mediation. Engaging various key peace stakeholders in political settlement and utilizing the approach of working behind the scenes and leading from behind make all the processes possible.

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Islamic Leadership for Political Change

A Message by Minister Mohagher Iqbal, Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and Chairman, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Peace Implementing Panel entitled “Islamic Leadership for Political Change: The Bangsamoro Experience” shared on May 26th, 2020 on the occasion of Eid 2020, and at the request of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.

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The Freedom to Decide Our Future

Author: Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies (CPCS)
Published by: Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies (CPCS)
Publication date: January 2019
ISBN: N/A

The conflict in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand has taken close to seven thousand lives since it re-ignited in 2004. The Thai State has been engaged in a peace process with the MARA Patani, an umbrella organisation claiming to represent the insurgency from the South. The Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), widely recognized as controlling most of the armed insurgents in the region, reportedly refuses to participate in the peace process unless the question of independence can be discussed; leaving the formal peace talks in a deadlock. In the midst of these high-level dynamics, a crucial and critical voice must be remembered – that of the every day people who are living in the heart of the conflict. How is the conflict is affecting their lives? What is the impact of the 15 years of violence on their livelihoods, education, culture, identity and dignity? To find answers to these questions, researchers from the region employed CPCS’ Listening Methodology to conduct an in-depth study of the opinions, perspectives and aspirations of the people living in these communities. This publication documents the results of the research, along with key emerging recommendations for the international community, the Thai State, the armed insurgent movement and the general public.

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Re-examining Ethnic Identity in Myanmar

Author: Sarah L Clarke, Seng Aung Sein Myint, and Zabra Yu Siwa
Published by: CPCS
Publication date: May 31, 2019
ISBN: N/A

Since its independence from Britain in 1948, the country of Burma, also known as Myanmar, has experienced decades of armed conflict focused on issues related to ethnic identity. Over generations, ethnic-based conflicts have produced severe humanitarian and human rights consequences for many, including death and injury, displacement, gender-based violence, and a lack of access to basic services. A focus on ethnic categorisation and ethnic identity narratives have also contributed to systems and structures that have institutionalised discrimination against some while allocating benefits and entitlements to others, producing a landscape of deep fractures, inter-group competition, and distrust.

“Re-examining Ethnic Identity in Myanmar” re-examines ethnicity from the perspective of diverse Myanmar stakeholders. Emerging from a closer examination of historical experiences and grievances, this report seeks to uncover the ways that ethnic identity has been used for a variety of political purposes. The objective of this analysis is to bring complex root causes of armed conflict in Myanmar to the surface in order to better consider and identify strategies that address long-standing tensions and violence. The report explores these issues with reference to three case studies: one focused on Kachin ethnic identity, one on Arakanese ethnic identity, and one on Karen ethnic identity. The case studies provide additional historical background aimed at grounding the views raised by meeting participants and community stakeholders. The report concludes by considering a range of recommendations aimed at multiple Myanmar stakeholders, including leaders from a variety of ethnic communities, the Myanmar government, and international actors.

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Negotiating Peace

Author: Mohagher Iqbal
Published by: Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies (CPCS)
Publication date: 2018
ISBN: N/A

Negotiating Peace: An Insider’s Perspective to the Bangsamoros’ Struggle for Self-Determination is a compilation of MILF Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal’s speeches from 2005 to 2018. The book captures the historic events that shaped the peace process, and the wisdom, principles, and insights of the MILF in its engagement with the Philippine government to pursue the Bangsamoros’ aspirations.

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ABOUT OUR PUBLICATIONS

CPCS produces practitioner-focused research and publications in the field of applied conflict transformation. Produced together with our regional partners, these publications and papers seek to:

promote creative, innovative and home-grown approaches to conflict intervention in Asia;
make important and contextually relevant resources accessible for peace practitioners and scholars in the Asia region and beyond;identify, consolidate and share peacebuilding best practices by testing and challenging them; and
contribute and influence the existing body of conflict transformation knowledge.

Through our publications, we seek to share the lessons learned regarding where we work, the people we work with and the way that we work.