Veranstaltungsbericht How Stabilization Worked in Iraq, and What the UN Can Learn from it On 18 April 2018, the German Mission to the United Nations in New York hosted a roundtable on success factors of stabilization in Iraq and its lessons for the international community. At the UN, stabilization remains a contentious issue that sparked a lot of interest in the speaker’s conclusions: it’s all about political strategy, international coherence, local leadership and flexibility in deploying funds. PeaceLab editorial team • 20 April 2018
Artikel The German Conversation on Multilateralism: An Inside-Outside Perspective German discussions about multilateralism have mostly ignored the issue of weaponised interdependence and focussed on minor-level reforms. Yet ignoring such a fundamental issue, while papering over the cracks, risks damaging the system even further. Germany and Europe should at least consider pursuing a limited membership multilateralism based on shared values (such as democracy, liberalism and pluralism) and closely integrated production chains involving like-minded allies and partners. Amrita Narlikar • 21 September 2020
Artikel Global Security Policy: We are required to deliver The guiding principle during our two-year term on the Security Council will be a rules-based international order. Germany will take a holistic view on security, prioritize prevention and the promotion of peace, and strengthen UN peace missions. More than ever, it is important to take a clear position on current crises. Christoph Heusgen • 16. Juli 2018
Artikel A Europeanized German Security Council Seat: How Berlin’s Actions Can Live Up to Its Words Merkel and Maas announced ambitious goals for “Europeanizing” the German seat on the UN Security Council. To avoid disappointing its closest partners, Berlin needs to find more inclusive ways of leading on both thematic and crisis-specific issues – and possibly sacrifice some of its own priorities. Noémi Blome, Theresa Lütkefend • 01 November 2018
Artikel The Foundations of the Rule of Law – Time to Think and Act Politically The ultimate test of the rule of law is whether or not it protects against tyranny. The legal and judicial profession is not always best placed to serve this purpose. In order to strengthen the rule of law in fragile and conflict-affected states, donors and technical assistance providers need to pay more attention to the foundational political environment, particularly constitutional design and political inclusion. Sumit Bisarya • 16 April 2019
Artikel There Are More Than Victims and Former Combatants In transitional justice contexts, court verdicts often do not enjoy universal acceptance. Thus, Germany should promote the interplay between judicial and non-judicial mechanisms to increase trust in the judgements. Also, the German approach has to overcome the binary of victims and perpetrators and foster the public participation of a much broader spectrum of actors in transitional justice processes. Ljubinka Petrovic-Ziemer • 21 November 2018
Artikel Plural Justice: A Holistic Approach to Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding Transitional justice processes often are too narrow and technocratic. Restorative and retributive justice alone may not lead to a stable peace, because it does not resolve underlying grievances that led to violent conflict. Therefore, transitional justice should incorporate conflict resolution, civil rights and participation, as well as socioeconomic and redistributive justice to address historical marginalization. Lisa Laplante • 31 October 2018
Artikel 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 May 2019
Artikel Trusted in the East, Germany Should Lead More in the South Instead of hunkering down behind fences, Europe needs to engage with the huge challenges and opportunities of Africa. Germany is uniquely positioned to reconcile such a focus with a continuing commitment to the Eastern neighborhood, and thus mobilize the whole of Europe for conflict prevention. Jean-Marie Guéhenno • 21 July 2016
Artikel 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 October 2019
Artikel Fostering the Rule of Law – a Milestone Approach Rule of law assistance is marked by paradoxes like neglecting the blatant political dimension. To overcome these paradoxes, the German actors have to continuously measure the impact of their programs via a set of predetermined indicators such as official statistics in line with Human Rights-Based Approach to Data or a public register of complaints of ill-treatment and high profile corruption. Bojan Gavrilovic • 11 April 2019
Artikel German Policewomen in Peace Operations: Understanding and Overcoming Barriers To permanently increase the number of German policewomen in foreign deployments and to prioritize gender issues, German decision-makers should systematically examine and address specific obstacles for policewomen, expand gender aspects in preparatory training courses, and promote greater exchange with and between women returning from missions. Nina Steinitz • 29 October 2020
Artikel Germany on the Security Council: Time to Stand Up In the two years of its membership on the UN Security Council, Germany should not be afraid to engage in high-profile initiatives to solve the most pressing security issues. With Brexit coming up, Berlin also has the opportunity to fill Great Britain’s role of advocating for EU priorities. Tanja Bernstein • 08. Juni 2018
Artikel More Than Money: How to Address COVID-19 in Conflict Zones in Africa Germany and other EU countries need to address COVID-19 in Africa’s conflict zones with more than just financial support. To approach the situation strategically, they must support regional response and local solutions, promote sustainable ceasefire negotiations, and continue to address underlying causes of conflict. To do this, fostering regional technology-based solutions is key. Oheneba Boateng • 22 June 2020
Artikel No Peace without Peace Education and Education Reform Too often, education marginalizes students rather than empowering them. Peace agreements should provide for educational reforms that channel local knowledge into sustainable education systems. Utilising its comparative advantages, Germany can play a stronger role in both emergency peace education and in long-term education reforms for peace. Katja Anger • 23 January 2017
Artikel The Path to a German National Security Council Greater coherence and strategic capability are crucial for the success of future German foreign and security policy. This year’s coalition negotiations provide a unique opportunity to readjust Germany’s national security architecture. But to succeed, all relevant parties will need to be clear on what they want to change – and how to change it. Sarah Brockmeier • 20 May 2021
Artikel Peace First at the Horseshoe Table Germany brings diplomatic weight to the UN Security Council, to which it was elected on 8th June. The German government should use this advantage to support mediation and peace processes as priorities of its two-year membership. It should focus on three central instruments in this regard: refining sanctions, accountability of troop contributing countries, as well as the organization of more flexible visiting missions by Security Council diplomats. Gerrit Kurtz • 09 July 2018
Artikel Want Better Policymaking on Conflicts and Crises? Support Independent Journalism Fewer and fewer journalists are covering international conflicts. This is a serious problem: A lack of media attention leads to low public awareness and understanding of conflicts, and to worse policy responses. For policymakers looking to improve communication on crisis prevention, stabilisation, and peacebuilding, supporting independent media coverage would go a long way. Heba Aly • 18 March 2020
Artikel Better Than You Think: UN Involvement in Local Peace Processes In recent years, UN peacekeeping missions have increasingly engaged in mediating local conflicts – with demonstrated successes. UN member states such as Germany should strengthen such efforts by investing in the logistical capacities of UN missions and by using bilateral diplomatic channels in mission countries in support of the UN’s engagement with national-level stakeholders. Allard Duursma • 02 September 2020
Artikel Beyond “Women and Children” – Children's Agency in Armed Conflict Children play vital roles in armed conflicts and determine the chances for sustained peace. Germany should treat children not as passive victims but as full-fledged agents of peace and conflict. To do so, the federal government should fund research on which child-focused peacebuilding interventions work best and support children’s inclusion in all stages of peace processes. Sofie Lilli Stoffel • 13 April 2021