An Interview with Buntu Siwisa, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes

This month, our featured interview is with Dr. Buntu Siwisa. He manages the Knowledge Production Department at the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), which is in located in South Africa. ACCORD's charter is to provide innovative and specifically African solutions to conflict. What this means in practical terms is working with the intellectual and institutional resources available on the continent to promote 'conflict transformation'. Such a transformation, Dr. Siwisa argues, cannot take place without dialogue that involves governments, multi-lateral institutions and civil society - including Africa's youth. » Read the full interview

• New Partner: Center for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS)
  Headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies (CAPS) is an independent research and advocacy institute. It aims to influence policy-makers in key areas such as the Afghan peace process, state building, governance, counternarcotics, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. More
• New Partner: Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)
  The Integrated Regional Information Networks group (IRIN) joined us this month as a partner and contributor to the ISN Security Watch series. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, IRIN is an award-winning humanitarian news and analysis service that specializes in covering under-reported issues and regions. More
• Out Now: Small Arms Survey 2013
  Did you know that homicides related to the Italian Mafia dropped by 43% from 2007 to 2010? This is one of the many data points available in the Small Arms Survey 2013: Everyday Dangers, which looks at armed violence outside the context of traditional conflict. In addition to the chapters that focus on ‘everyday violence’, the ‘weapons and markets’ section of the report provides new data on the use of specific weapons by armed actors, such as drug-trafficking organizations and insurgents. More
• Elcano Royal Institute Publishes the Global Presence Index
  How can we measure the 'global presence' of a country? Earlier this month, our partners at the Elcano Royal Institute in Spain launched the Elcano Global Presence Index (IEPG). The IEPG measures and ranks the external presence of various countries by assessing the impact of their economic, military and 'soft' power over the last year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the US, Germany, the UK and China came out on top of the new index. To determine where your country stands see more. 　
• New IPI Website: 'Providing for Peacekeeping'
  Our partners at the International Peace Institute (IPI) have launched the 'Providing for Peacekeeping' website. The purpose of the new site is to provide current peacekeeping-related information and analyses, a database of all uniformed contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, and country profiles which examine why certain countries decide to participate in these efforts. (Note: The site is part of IPI's 'Providing for Peacekeeping' project, which is also supported by the Elliott School of International Relations at George Washington University, and Griffith University.) More　
• GCSP Security Policy Conference
  You might not want to miss the upcoming Security Policy Conference entitled 'New Players and European Partnerships', which will be co-hosted by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and the German Federal College for Security Studies. The conference, which will take place from 17 - 19 October 2013 in Berlin, will look at the emergence of new global players and the impact they may have on the security policies of NATO and the EU. More　
• Call for Papers - IIR Perspectives
  The Institute of International Relations (IIR) in Prague invites you to contribute to a special issue of its Perspectives journal. Given the issue's general theme, 'Challenges to Diplomacy', proposed articles should focus on the changing dynamics of 21st century diplomacy. The deadline for article submissions is 30 September 2013. More
• USIP Jennings Randolph Fellowship
  If interested, you may want to apply for the Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The fellowship is open to scholars, policy analysts, policy makers, journalists, and other experts who would like to spend 9-10 months with USIP to conduct research on pressing international peace and security challenges. The closing date for applications is 6 September 2013. More　　
• DIIS Seeks Senior Researcher - Political Economy of Natural Resources
  Are you an expert in the political economy of natural resources? If so, our partners at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) are looking for a senior researcher to study 'extractive economies' and the role of the BRICSs and multinational corporations in developing countries. The closing date for applications is 19 August 2013. More　
• SAIIA Job Opportunities
  There are two new job opportunities at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). More specifically, SAIIA seeks program heads for its 'Governance & the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)' project and its newly integrated 'African Foreign Policies and External Powers' program. The closing date for applications is 5 August 2013. More　
• Fall Internships at the Atlantic Council
  The Atlantic Council is looking for fall interns. As in the past, successful candidates will participate in a variety of activities that support individual programs and divisions, including research, writing, event management and project development. The application deadline is 2 September 2013. More