PeaceLab in English - PeaceLab-Blog

PeaceLab in English A fresh look at peace and security

‘Preventing Crises, Resolving Conflicts, Building Peace’ are key challenges for Germany’s and Europe’s evolving international role. Berlin is investing in the field, both financially and conceptually. On this blog, we discuss how to target these investments towards better crisis prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding. Most contributions are in German, but we occasionally ask international experts for their views. This section collects contributions in English. You are warmly invited to join the discussion: Subscribe to our weekly email-updates (in German), share and comment on posts on social media (@PeaceLabBlog, #PeaceLab), read our summary of the preceding “PeaceLab2016” debate or send us an email at peacelab@gppi.net.

Countering Fake News? Learn from Cognitive Science!

Cognitive science has shown that if people know that they might be misled before any misinformation is presented, they become more resilient to being misinformed. To successfully debunk fake news, the German government could enhance its horizon scanning capabilities to identify the strategies and tools of disinformers. It should also support NGOs that tackle misinformation.

Stephan Lewandowsky • 05. November 2019

Strategic Communications in Conflict and Stabilisation Interventions

During recent years, communications have evolved into an integral component of UK conflict and stabilisation interventions. This article presents excerpts of a 2016 paper by the UK Stabilisation Unit that aims to provide practical advice about strategic communications in conflict and stabilisation interventions.

Stabilisation Unit • 17. Oktober 2019

Germany’s EU Council Presidency: Kick-Starting the Search for European Security under Multipolarity

Strengthening the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy should be a top priority for the German Presidency of the EU Council in 2020. Berlin should step up its partnership with France, stick to its PESCO commitments and help initiate big picture thinking about European defense, including a more constructive discussion about European strategic autonomy.

Barbara Kunz • 24. Oktober 2019

Better Early than Sorry: How the EU Can Use its Early Warning Capacities to their Full Potential

The European Union has put instruments and tools in place to improve its early warning mechanisms. Member states must now work with EU institutions to make them more effective. One concrete step that Germany could take is to push the new EU leadership to regularly put countries ‘at risk’ on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council.

Lisa Musiol • 09. Oktober 2019

A National Solution to the Algerian Crisis?

There is great concern about outside interference in the current situation in Algeria, tying the hands of external actors. The German government is best advised to offer indirect support through the African Union and Tunisian civil society actors. It should take a decisive stance against human rights violations and stop arms exports into the country.

Isabelle Werenfels, Luca Miehe • 20. September 2019

The EU and the Balkans: Moving beyond Failure

Over the last years, EU policy towards the Balkans has contributed to – rather than mitigated – instability in the region. It is time for a policy shift. Under its new foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, the EU needs to take a decisive stand against any attempted border changes in the region. Germany should lead this effort.

Toby Vogel • 11. September 2019

EU Weapons Exports Will Backfire

The European Peace Facility (EPF) is designed to make EU foreign policy stronger and more flexible. However, handing weapons to volatile states comes with great risk. The EU’s resources would be better spent on UN Peace Operations and independent monitoring of arms flows.

Klem Ryan • 27. August 2019

Discover the Security Council’s Informal Tool for Crisis Management

As a member of the UN Security Council, Germany should convene Arria-formula meetings more frequently to address specific impending crises and conflicts. In doing so, it should also strengthen cooperation with countries from the Global South. This would grant additional expertise and flexibility to the Council and diversify the included voices and preferences.

Melanie Coni-Zimmer, Anton Peez • 19. August 2019

Invest in Peace: Five Priorities for the Next EU Budget

In the upcoming period, Brussels will focus on the EU’s budget for 2021-2027. There are five things actors concerned with conflict prevention and peacebuilding should keep in mind in the budget negotiations. The first one: be prepared to build alliances with unusual bedfellows!

Andrew Sherriff, Pauline Veron • 06. August 2019

Effectiveness: The Missing Word in Civilian Crisis Management?

The shift in the EU’s crisis management towards internal security needs and away from local needs might decrease the effectiveness of civilian missions. To bolster their effectiveness, the EU and its member states should improve training and secondment mechanisms and be open for external evaluations. The Finnish and German EU Presidencies can pave the way for this.

Jyrki Ruohomäki • 24. Juli 2019

First Things First: Prioritize Mass Atrocity Prevention

The EU has to mainstream mass atrocity prevention into its security, development, and trade policies which requires political prioritization. Conducted seriously, this would lead to structural prevention and sharpened warning-response mechanisms. Germany could improve the coordination in Brussels to anticipate risks in regions that contribute most to refugee flows.

Chiara De Franco • 18. Juli 2019

Conflict in Cameroon: EU and African partners should not count on France

European and African partners should not wait for France to move diplomatically to address the growing crisis in Cameroon. Rather, they should foster an international debate from which Paris will not be able to hide.

Marie-Emmanuelle Pommerolle • 12. Juni 2019

Civilian CSDP Compact: Boosting Crisis Management and Strategic Autonomy

Its blend of civilian and military instruments make the EU a unique security actor, but challenges in decision-making, implementation, and political will might impede its goal to become a stronger global player. Germany is in a strategic position to influence these processes and should use its diplomatic network and civilian know-how to better coordinate EU external action.

Tania Laţici • 11. Juni 2019

Towards Citizen-Oriented SSR: A Needs Assessment with Syrians in Germany

A security needs assessment conducted with Syrian nationals residing in Germany demonstrated that citizens view themselves as central to SSR processes. Not only do they have clear visions and demands for security provision, they also expect it to respond to their needs. SSR processes should follow security needs assessments, which aim to understand what reforms are necessary to ensure citizens feel safe and secure, particularly in post-conflict environments.

Nora-Elise Beck, Lars Döbert • 06. Juni 2019

Directorate ISP: No Deus Ex Machina for the EU’s Integrated Approach

Due to improved managerial strength and operational implementation, the new Directorate Integrated Approach for Security and Peace (ISP) will clarify and strengthen the chain of command in implementing the EU’s Integrated Approach. However, the new structure fails to merge the operational level with the political level. In this regard, the EU could learn lessons from recent UN reforms.

Loes Debuysere, Steven Blockmans • 05. Juni 2019

Justice for Peace: Closing the Global Justice Gap to Prevent Conflict and Instability

Over 5.1 billion people worldwide do not have meaningful access to justice. Preventive approaches in justice strategies are an effective way to tackle this global justice gap. Germany should invest in justice data and innovation as well as smarter justice financing. Successful examples should be showcased at the UN’s High-level Political Forum in July.

Maaike de Langen • 29. Mai 2019

Sustaining Peace, Building Justice: Lessons from the International Development Law Organization

Strong rule of law institutions are crucial for preventing conflicts and building peace. Effectively promoting the rule of law requires sustained and context-sensitive engagement, quick wins, grassroots partnerships and empowered citizens. Such work needs to involve informal justice mechanisms, combat violence against women and stay engaged during all phases of conflict.

International Development Law Organization • 20. Mai 2019

Attacking the Rule of Law as a Peril for Democracy

The rule of law is under attack – in Europe and elsewhere. This has destructive consequences for democracy as well since both are inseparably connected. The German government must not underestimate the fragility of the rule of law and should closely study the concrete political and legal instruments that undermine it.

Matthias Mahlmann • 16. Mai 2019

Making Power-Sharing Work: The Role of Mediation

While the promise of power-sharing is often necessary to reach peace agreements, power-sharing institutions are unlikely to function effectively in post-conflict settings. Mediation can help making power-sharing work – if it improves inter-elite relationships, addresses issues unresolved in peace agreements, and provides a framework for local conflict resolution.

Alexandre Raffoul • 15. Mai 2019

International Rule of Law Assistance: Learning from Failures in Afghanistan

18 years of rule of law assistance in Afghanistan provide key lessons for donors: Ensure that assistance for security and assistance for justice go hand in hand and make fighting corruption a priority. In supporting local organizations, Germany should combine clear criteria for funding with the flexibility needed to work in a country like Afghanistan.

Lutforahman Saeed • 08. Mai 2019

Lessons from German Rule of Law Support in Sudan and South Sudan

Establishing access to justice for all in fragile states requires looking into practical realities and understanding where people actually seek justice. Experiences from Sudan and South Sudan show that Germany should (1) support more informal justice providers; and (2) more women at the community level; and (3) combine rule of law promotion with the fight against inequality and discrimination.

Noha Ibrahim Abdelgabar, Pall Davidson • 07. Mai 2019

Civil Society and Rule of Law Assistance in Fragile States: Lessons from Libya

When working with civil society, donors need to be flexible, provide regular psychological and security support and advocate for official channels for civil society participation in the design of rule of law initiatives. “Civil society” is not a homogenous entity. Projects therefore need to factor in time and space for debate within civil society.

Rebecca Wright • 06. Mai 2019

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