Year: 2009

Interreligious Dialogue: A Way Toward Peace?

Post author By
Post date 03/12/2009
No Comments on Interreligious Dialogue: A Way Toward Peace?

Religious Symbol, Wikicommons

On Thursday 3rd of December, the Parliament of the World’s Religions opened the doors of its 5th parliamentary session in Melbourne, Australia. The first session took place on 1893 at the World Exposition of Chicago. The parliament waited 100 years to host its second parliamentary session and since 1993, the inter-religious body has met every 5 years.

At its first meeting, the assembly wanted to promote a better understanding of different cultures and already called for peaceful relations between all religions. They also called for a common understanding of faith, exemplified by Indian Hindu delegate Swami Vivekananda’s call: “if there is ever to be a universal religion, it must be one which will hold no location in place or time; which will be infinite, like the God it will preach; whose Son shines upon the followers of Krishna or Christ, saints or sinners, alike; which will not be the Brahman or Buddhist, Christian or Mohammedan [Muslim], but the sum total of all these”.

After 100 years of inactivity, the assembly has started to play a proactive role in what is called para- or indirect diplomacy; ensuring that different religions and populations exchange views and opinions on global affairs with a religious perspective; the final goal being peace. For example, in 1999 the assembly focused on HIV/AIDS. This year, the parliament will focus on the rights of indigenous people and on climate change.

Tags Parliament, Dialogue, International Relations, Culture, Religion, Peace

ISN Weekly Theme: The Road to Copenhagen

Post author By
Post date 02/12/2009
No Comments on ISN Weekly Theme: The Road to Copenhagen

The end of polar bears? Photo: Cornelia Kopp/flickr — Save the polar bears, photo: Cornelia Kopp/flickr

With tough weeks ahead for negotiators, experts and politicians in the picturesque Danish capital, the ISN takes a closer look at the political and geopolitical stakes of the global climate change game.

In our Special Report this week Christian Hirschi asks whether industrialized and industralizing countries alike will just keep “polluting first and cleaning up later” or whether some measurable progress- even without a legally binding treaty- will be made next week. In the second article, Sara Kuepfer examines the effects of climate change on the Arctic and stresses the urgent need for a framework for the international management of this geostrategically valuable and contested region.

In our Policy Briefs section, an East-West Center publication addresses the issue of climate change and state commitments. It focuses on China’s likely negotiation position.

Another interesting item from our extensive Policy Brief holdings: a Center for Security Studies analysis of the climate change – security policy nexus.

In Publications, a paper by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development detailing approaches that enable developing countries to achieve greater access to climate change technology.

In Links, a very useful BBC article detailing the positions of the main players at Copenhagen.

In our IR Directory a link to the Arctic Council and the International Institute for Environment and Development.

And please remember that last month’s Special Issue Newsletter on the topic can be found here.

Tags International Relations, Environment, Kyoto Protocol, Denmark, Climate

Switzerland: Quo Vadis?

It was the first Sunday of Advent and a black day for everyone who cherishes the values of enlightenment. It was unexpected since everyone seemed to be against it: almost all political parties, the national churches, representatives of the economy and many other organizations.

But it happened still: The Swiss banned the construction of minarets in yesterday’s vote.

Reactions after the result were impressive. Within minutes I received text messages and Facebook group invitations from all sorts of people. One of the groups is “I am ashamed of the results of the Anti-Minaret initiative!.” When I wanted to invite more friends to join I realized that they were all already there – from the most conservative to the most liberal people I know.

Tags Xenophobia, Government, Human Rights, Culture, Islam, Switzerland, Religion, Elections

Recommended Reading: Handbook of Security Studies

Post author By
Post date 30/11/2009
No Comments on Recommended Reading: Handbook of Security Studies

Myriam Dunn Cavelty, Senior Researcher and Coordinator of the Crisis and Risk Network (CRN) and Victor Mauer, Deputy Director of the Center for Security Studies (CSS) recently published the Routledge Handbook of Security Studies.

Focusing on contemporary challenges, this major new Handbook offers a wide-ranging collection of cutting-edge essays from leading scholars in the field of security studies.

The field of security studies has undergone significant change during the past 20 years, and is now one of the most dynamic sub-disciplines within international relations. It encompasses issues ranging from pandemics and environmental degradation to more traditional concerns about direct violence, such as those posed by international terrorism and inter-state armed conflict. A comprehensive volume, comprising articles by both established and up-and-coming scholars, the Handbook of Security Studies identifies the key contemporary topics of research and debate today.

This work is a benchmark publication with major importance both for current research and the future of the field. It will be essential reading for all scholars and students of security studies, war and conflict studies, and international relations.

The Handbook can be purchased online.

For more information on international security check out the ISN website.

Myriam Dunn Cavelty and Victor Mauer (eds.) (2009), Handbook of Security Studies, London and New York: Routledge.

Tags International Relations, Media, Security research, Handbook of Security Studies