Amandla

This website has been created by the International Political Science Association (IPSA) to provide free online access to its conference papers. These cover all areas of political science research, often focussing on cutting edge topics and examples of new areas. They include assessments of the state of the profession in different parts of the world and coverage of developments in political science education. It is possible to search by author. title and subject area. Materials are available from the 2009 conference onwards. Although there are also some earlier examples. Copyright information is displayed on the website. http://paperroom.ipsa.org/ From Intute.ac.uk

 
Global Climate Network Discussion Paper 3: Low-Carbon Jobs in an Inter-Connected World (January 2010)

This report from the Global Climate Network shows that low-carbon technology can not only achieve climate change goals, but also create new jobs, boost economic growth and help improve access to...[more]

From: Polity.org.za

http://us-cdn.creamermedia.co.za/assets/articles/attachments/25474_25469_gcnlowcarbonjobs.pdf

African Arguments is hosted by the Royal African Society and the Social Science Research Council. This online discussion forum was launched in 2009 to supplement the African Arguments book series, edited jointly by Alex de Waal and Richard Dowden. Published by Zed Books in the U.K. and Palgrave Macmillan in the U.S.A. It aims to offer online discussion of controversies facing Africa. These include politics, globalisation, terrorism and international security. From Intute.ac.uk

http://africanarguments.org/

US: Obama: State of the Union Address by the US President, Washington

Madam Speaker, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:
Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For 220 years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They've done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they've done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.
It's tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable -- that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run, and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday, and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were the times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements, our hesitations and our fears, America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, as one people...[more]

From Polity.org.za

Update:

CitizenTube has a film version of President Obama’s state of the Union speech. They are inviting citizens to submit videos of qquestions which the president will then answer. See the materials online

On this topic the Guardian has also created an interesting feature which maps the words used in the speech and compares them with earlier presidnets. Find out what words he used the most!
It also has a very good summary of links to reaction to the speech from blogs and newspapers.

Here are more resources on Intute
Some particular highlights are:

Senate official website

C-Span resources includes videos and teaching materials.

 

Groundviews (Sri Lanka)

Groundviews is a Sri Lankan citizen journalism website. It provides a space to discuss issues relating to human rights, democracy and corruption, political ethics in Sri Lanka. In the past this has included reports, photos and comment on elections and presidential elections in Sri Lanka. They have included interesting examples of on the ground reports from citizens, including twitter and web 2.0 features. http://www.groundviews.org/

 

Vikalpa

Vikalpa is a citizen journalism initiative of the Centre for Policy Alternatives Sri Lanka. It aims to provide a space where democracy and governance in Sri Lanka can be explored by citizens in a variety of languages including Sinhala and Tamil. Users can consult videos, audio files and comment which have been contributed. They include materials relating to corruption, presidential and parliamentary elections, democracy and civil liberties in Sri Lanka. it is possible to browse by region. http://vikalpa.org/

     

What is International IDEA?

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide.

International IDEA’s mission is to support sustainable democratic change by providing comparative knowledge, and assisting in democratic reform, and influencing policies and politics.

What does International IDEA do?

In the field of elections, constitution building, political parties, women’s political empowerment, and democracy self-assessments, we undertake our work through three activity areas:

• providing comparative knowledge derived from practical experience on democracy building processes from diverse contexts around the world;
• assisting political actors in reforming democratic institutions and processes, and engaging in political processes when invited to do so; and
• influencing democracy building policies through the provision of our comparative knowledge resources and assistance to political actors.

Where does International IDEA work?

International IDEA works worldwide. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, it has offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Peoples Action for Fair and Free Elections (Sri Lanka)

PAFFREL is a network of grassroots organisations which was founded in 1988 to campaign for fair and free elections in Sri Lanka. Its website provides information on the aims of the organisation, its membership and activities. It includes press releases and some reports on the state of democracy and the electoral system in Sri Lanka. It is possible to access reports on political violence during recent parliamentary, local government and presidential elections. Also accessible are some reports on its broader election monitoring activities in Bangladesh and Pakistan. http://www.paffrel.lk/

Department of Elections, Sri Lanka

This is the official website of the Department of Elections, Sri Lanka. It provides access to information on parliamentary and presidential election administration in the region. This includes an outline of the electoral process, listing of registered political parties, information on electoral procedure and legislation. Also provided are recent press releases relating to recent and forthcoming general and local elections in Sri Lanka plus some historical data on results dating tfrom 1947 to the present day. All information is offered in English. http://www.slelections.gov.lk/

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (Sri Lanka)

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) was formed in 1997 by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Coalition against Political Violence as an independent and non-partisan organisation to monitor the incidence of election related violence in Sri Lanka. Its blog provides access to recent press releases, reports, podcasts and comment on presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka. It includes election observation monitoring reports, plus maps and accounts of recent instances of human rights abuses and political violence. There are links to other human rights/ civil liberties monitoring organisations in the region. http://cmev.wordpress.com/

From eee

 

This excellent site was created by the Guardian newspaper to provide a single portal to the increasing number of free open access data websites maintained by national governments worldwide. Many of these sites include full text data sets, statistics which the public can download free of charge. Search the list for individual subject areas (covering all forms of domestic policy - health, education, defence, crime, economic policy, finance and census and population materials) or browse the directory of links to national open data initiatives. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world-government-data

From Intute.ac.uk

DOUBLE-SPEAK PARALYSES SOCIETY AND ECONOMY
William Gumede
The lack of honesty in South Africa?s political, economic and social debates is now becoming so severe it is undermining effective delivery of public services, the country?s economic prosperity and the consolidation of the democracy itself, says William Gumede.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61626

FROM RIGHTS TO COMMONS
Jason Hickel
While the achievement of universal ontological rights in South Africa as been a marvellous step forward, writes Jason Hickel, the paradigm f a rights-based revolution is seriously and fundamentally flawed, nd cannot serve the ends that South Africa intends it to. Cautioning hat the state can grant people discursively constituted rights with ne hand and strip them of the conditions for sustainable life with he other without ever having to confront the contradiction, Hickel ays it?s time to reclaim the heritage of the commons.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/61629 

OBAMA: DEFENDING THE 'INTERESTS OF EMPIRE'
Demba Moussa Dembele
For those anticipating sweeping, immediate change from Barack Obama's election to the US presidency, the results of the president's first year in office will undoubtedly have proven profoundly disappointing, writes Demba Moussa Dembele. Just as his Accra address was rooted in patronising references to 'corruption' and 'tribalism', it should be always borne in mind that Obama operates and will continue to operate first and foremost in defence of the 'interests of empire', Dembele stresses.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61612



OBAMA'S FIRST YEAR: CHANGE WE CAN STILL BELIEVE IN?
Ama Biney
Can or will Barack Obama deliver a more peaceful, humane world, asks Ama Biney, a year after his inauguration as 44th President of the United States. Offering a tentative evaluation of the path followed by the Obama administration so far, Biney suggests that genuine change lies not with the president, but in the remobilisation of a grassroots movement among the ordinary Americans who had the optimism and motivation to campaign for him.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61622



OBAMA'S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY TOWARDS AFRICA: THE FIRST YEAR
Daniel Volman
A year into his presidency, Barack Obama is essentially following the same course of militarised action in Africa pursued by his predecessors over the past decade, writes Daniel Volman. A consequence of the US president's faith in the necessity of the global war on terror and pragmatic political concerns around retaining oil supplies, Obama's approach to Africa has been entirely rooted in asserting his country's military might, Volman concludes.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61614

Recently South African Professors John Dugard and Kader Asmal have been in the news for their opinions for and against the Khulumani litigation currently before the US Court of Appeals in New York. That litigation involves claims on behalf of apartheid victims for reparations from corporate defendants; the argument being that the defendants, as companies, traded with the apartheid regime and thereby facilitated the crime against humanity of apartheid...[more]

Written by: Max du Plessis, Senior Research Associate, ICAP, ISS; Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
The writer was one of the professors that joined Professor Asmal in providing an opinion to the US Court of Appeals.

From Institute of Security Studies via Polity.org.za

Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices and trends in more than 90 nations and territories worldwide, finding that governments responsible for serious human rights violations have intensified attacks against human rights defenders and organisations that document abuse. http://us-cdn.creamermedia.co.za/assets/articles/attachments/25398_wr2010.pdf

From Polity.org.za

The case for integrated resource plan public hearings. http://www.polity.org.za/article/the-case-for-integrated-resource-plan-public-hearings-2010-01-22

Globalizations is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, quarterly journal which aims to provide "the widest possible space for discussion of alternatives to a narrow economic understanding of globalization. The move from the singular to the plural is deliberate and implies scepticism of the idea that there can ever be a single theory or interpretation of the term". The journal publishes research that explores and discusses "multiple interpretations and multiple processes that may constitute many possible globalizations, many possible alternatives". Topics include global political economy, the global environment, global public health, global gender relations, global human security, global culture, global governance and global ethics.

From Celia: The Library has online access to the full-text articles from 2004; however there is a 12 month embargo preventing online access to the most recent articles.

This site provides free access to a chapter from the 2009 Human Security report published by the Human Security Report Project at the School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University. This 72 page section discusses recent declines in mortality worldwide. It reveals that nationwide death rates actually fall during the course of most of today's armed conflicts.It provides statistics on the number of deaths from wars, a section on war death rates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and armed conflict and health policy. http://www.humansecurityreport.info/2009Report/2009Report_Complete.pdf

From Intute.ac.uk

This site was created by the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library, to provide researchers with a directory of links to key United Nations resources on Haiti. They include UN resolutions, news of the humanitarian efforts following the 2010 earthquake, plus links to background papers, reports and statistics on the recent economic, political and human rights situation in Haiti from United Nations bodies. http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/haiti/haiti.htm

From Intute.ac.uk.

Guide to nongovernmental organizations for the military: A primer for the military about private, voluntary, and nongovernmental organizations operating in humanitarian emergencies globally

This basic handbook was edited and rewritten by Lynn Lawry and published in 2009 by the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM) Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) International Health Division, of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health affairs); U.S. Department of Defense. Originally intended as a primer for American military staff, it also serves as a useful reference guides to NGOs. The 368 page book covers the purpose and role of NGOS (including charities and international humanitarian aid agencies) and their role in conflict zones, peace keeping and humanitarian crises. It includes statistics on deployment and legal regulation of relations with military bodies. Appendixes give profiles of key UN agencies and explain the Red Cross/ Red Crescent structure.From Intute.ac.uk

http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/ngo-guide.pdf

The Transparency for Technology Network was co-funded by Open Society Institute's Information Program and Omidyar Network's Media, Markets & Transparency initiative, during the first three months of 2010 it is creating an online mapping of over 30 case studies of technology projects that increase transparency, government accountability, and civic engagement in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, China, and Central & Eastern Europe. Users to the site may view summaries of the projects, listen to interviews with their founders and materials relating to them. They highlight good use of web 2.0 technology and citizen participation to increase democracy. Copyright and technical information is displayed on the website. http://transparency.globalvoicesonline.org/

From Intute.ac.uk

Scaling Opportunity: Information and Communications Technology for Social Inclusion

 

The World Economic Forum studies, in this report, how Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are evolving to address the social and economic needs of the poor.

http://us-cdn.creamermedia.co.za/assets/articles/attachments/25237_scalingict.pdf

To pardon or not to pardon? And then who to pardon? These questions have occupied acres of column space, bloggers too numerous to tally and South Africans of all persuasions over the past few weeks. This as journalists were able to make news during silly season out of the fact that Shabir Shaik (friend of the president and convicted fraudster) and Eugene De Kock (apartheid hit squad commander) have applied for presidential pardon. It is a subject that couldn’t fail to touch nerves and stimulate passionate and vociferous debate across the board. When the time comes to make his decision President Jacob Zuma will have any number of opinions and advice as to who is most deserving of the act of presidential mercy...[more]

by Chandré Gould, senior researcher, Crime, Justice and Politics Programme, ISS Cape Town

 

 

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation is a South African based research body. Founded in January 1989 under the name of the Project for the Study of Violence, it now conducts research into peacebuilding, reconciliation, gender equality and justice, criminal justice and reconciliation in post Apartheid South Africa. Its website provides information on its history, aims and activities. It includes access to full text papers and reports. These include coverage of restorative justice, reconciliation and the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa.From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.csvr.org.za/

It is a year since Barack Obama became president of the USA – are you disappointed by what he has done?

at the outset a BBC world service poll showed high levels of optimism worldwide.

This week the Brookings Institution launched it own status report

Angus reid Monitor has been tracking his performance in the polls. in January 50% were content with his handling of duties.
However the BBC recently published a report showing ratings falling

The Rasmussen report has some presidential approval ratings show that only 28% of Americans strongly approve of his performance while 38% strongly disapprove.

find out more about what he is actually doing from these resources recommended by Intute. then make up your mind.

follow his activities on Twitter and facebook
Politifact (PolitiFact (a project of the St. Petersburg Times) is tracking if he has kept his promises.

the Washington Post has a number of interesting projects: In Obamas word – enables you to read (and track the topics/ words appearing frequently) in his speeches.
Potus Tracker examines his daily diary looking at meetings, who he meets and what vhe discusses.

 

From: 

http://www.intute.ac.uk/blog/2010/01/20/brack-obama-one-year-on-has-he-fulfilled-our-hopes/

State of the World's Indigenous People

The United Nations has launched its first publication on the State of the World’s Indigenous People. The report notes that the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples suffer from disproportionately, often exponentially, higher rates of poverty, health problems, crime and human rights abuses; stressing that self-determination and land rights are vital for their survival. Startling figures contained in report include:

In the United States, a Native American is 600 times more likely to contract tuberculosis and 62 per cent more likely to commit suicide than the general population.

In Australia, an indigenous child can expect to die 20 years earlier than his non-native compatriot. The life expectancy gap is also 20 years in Nepal, while in Guatemala it is 13 years and in New Zealand it is 11.

In parts of Ecuador, indigenous people have 30 times greater risk of throat cancer than the national average.

Worldwide, more than 50 per cent of indigenous adults suffer from Type 2 diabetes – a number predicted to rise.

Read more about the report and download a copy in full (pdf, 2860KB) from the website.

Want to make your contribution to help earthquake-struck Haiti? Avoid the scammers trying to cash in on public sympathy to the crisis and use these reputable organizations from South Africa and abroad. Details of how to donate follow... 

Gift of the Givers

The South African Red Cross

Unicef

Doctors Without Borders

Oxfam

VERASHNI PILLAY, Mail and Guardian

World Health Organization : Haiti

http://www.who.int/hac/crises/hti/en/

A comprehensive and regularly updated information resource on the ongoing (January 2010) public health crisis and emergency in earthquake-hit Haiti. Produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) this resource contains situation reports, a public health risk assessment report, maps, technical guidelines, videos, press releases, and podcasts. Links to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) social media resources are provided (including relevant PAHO Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels). From Intute.ac.uk

‘If we want to turn around black education in South Africa, we must start by changing prevailing anti-learning attitudes’, argues William Gumede. ‘Anti-learning attitudes’, says Gumede, are compounded by a ‘lack of political will from leaders to do something beyond mouthing off rhetoric, wrong official priorities and absentee black parents’.                                    http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61413

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2010: SOUTH AFRICA'S UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

Dale McKinley looks at what the new decade holds for South Africa, as politicians, corporate mandarins and the media attempt to gloss over the ‘dirty’ realities of the country's ‘grinding poverty, homelessness and mass inequality’ ahead of the World Cup.

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61414

Google and China: Guardian newspaper

China and the internet: a question of politics or management?

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/17525/2/China_and_the_internet(LSERO).pdf

This site provides free access to a journal article by Christopher R. Hughes which was published in China quarterly, 175. pp. 818-824. DOI: 10.1017/S0305741003000468, 2003. This version is made available on the internet via LSE Research Online. The 7 page paper considers the management of Internet use in China, its regulation and surveillance and if it has the potential for increasing democratic expression.

World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO)

World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) is an international organisation which works to unite and represent NGOs (non-governmental organisations) worldwide. Its website provides information about its aims, membership and activities. It includes press releases, details of conferences and codes of ethics relating to the work of NGOs worldwide. This includes coverage of the role of civil society in peace-keeping, human rights and the elimination of all forms of discrimination and injustices. Users to the site may find particularly useful the directory of NGOS. This can enable the identification of civil society organisations (human rights watchdogs and grass roots groups) operating in specific regions of the world.From Intute.ac.uk

http://www.wango.org/

Mullahs, Guards, and Bonyads: An Exploration of Iranian Leadership Dynamics
Source: RAND Corporation

The Islamic Republic of Iran poses serious challenges to U.S. interests in the Middle East, and its nuclear program continues to worry the international community. The presidential election of June 2009 that returned Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power and led to broad protests and a government crackdown presents yet another cause for U.S. concern. Yet the U.S. ability to “read” the Iranian regime and formulate appropriate policies has been handicapped by both a lack of access to the country and the opacity of decisionmaking in Tehran. To help analysts better understand the Iranian political system, the authors describe

• Iranian strategic culture, including the perceptions that drive state behavior
• the informal networks, formal government institutions, and personalities that influence decisionmaking in the Islamic Republic
• the impact of elite behavior on Iranian policy formulation and execution
• factionalism, emerging fissures within the current regime, and other key trends.

From The Docuticker

State-owned power producer Eskom moved on Monday to defend its highly unpopular application for price increases of 35% a year for the three-year period from April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2013, at the first of what would be nine provincial-based public hearings between January 11 and January 22.

The hearings form part of the second multiyear price determination period, or MYPD2.

The utility faced stiff opposition from all six of those who made oral presentations at the Nelspruit Civic Centre in Mpumalanga, as well as some challenging questions from members of the four-member National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) panel.

Pulp and paper producer Sappi, for instance, warned that South Africa's power prices were set to rise to above those of the US by 2011, should the increases be approved, while the rate of increase provided very little time and space for adaptation....[more]

Angola: conflict and development, 1962-2002

http://ideas.repec.org/a/uwe/journl/v1y2006i1p25-29.html

This site provides free access to the full text of a paper by Manuel Ennes Ferreira (Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa) which was published in Economics of Peace and Security Journal volume 1, no.1, and 2006 pages 25-29. It is available in full text via the repec website. The article traces the recent history of Angola, exploring the influence of internal and external economic and political conditions on Angola�s development.

 

Angola: International Crisis Group

http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1234

This site is maintained by the International Crisis Group, a watch dog on human rights worldwide. This section provides free access to statements and full text reports relating to Angola which it has published since 2003. These include coverage of civil war, conflict and international security

 

Angola: Council on Foreign Relations

http://www.cfr.org/region/160/angola.html

This site is maintained by American think tank the Council on Foreign relations. It provides free access to information and materials relating to its research on Angola. They include comment, analysis and full text reports dating from approximately 2000 onwards. Topics covered include geopolitics, international and regional security and Angola and American foreign policy towards Angola.

 

Angola : failed yet successful

http://www.fride.org/download/WP81_Angola_failedyetsucessful_ENG_may09.pdf

This site provides free access to the full text of a 38 page report by David Sogge which was published as working paper no. 81 in April 2009 by FRIDE, an independent think-tank based in Madrid. The report considers issues relating to Angola and security. This includes coverage of the historical roots of conflict in Angola, the formal and informal forces and incentives are at work in Angola�s territorial political economy that affect state weakness and its relationship with the international political economy.

 

Angola: Human Security Gateway

http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/search.php?advanced=yes&regions[]=27

The Human Security gateway is a joint project of the Human Security report project and School for International Studies at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. It aims to provide researchers with a searchable database of links to key websites, full-text reports, journal articles, news items and fact sheets relating to human security worldwide. Human security is defined as the protection of individuals from wars, civil wars and violence. It website enables users to search or browse by country or topic. Topics covered include: peace keeping operations, children and armed conflict, international humanitarian law, gender and security and refugees. Each resource has an added description of content. The section on Angola includes coverage of international security, human rights, the diamond trade and conflict. It includes links to news bulletins, maps and recent academic reports from aid agencies an, think tanks and NGOs. It is possible to sign up to receive RSS feed alerts when new materials are added.

The Human Security Report Project (HSRP) is based at Simon Fraser University in Canada, and it "conducts research on global and regional trends in political violence, their causes and consequences and presents its findings in a manner that is accessible to the policy and research communities, the media, educators and the interested public." The "About" section states that the e-resources it provides through its website has effectively changed the way human security issues are understood and managed. The "Publications" link on the left hand side menu provides access to the "Human Security Brief" for 2005-2007, as well as to "Articles", "Books", "Book Chapters", "Workshop Reports" and "Opinion Pieces". The categories of data used in the HSRP are fleshed out in the "Data Resources" link on the left hand side of the page. The categories of data used are "Armed Conflict", "Deadly Assault on Civilians", "Terrorism", and "Other Human Security Indicators". The nine "Research Initiatives" of the HSRP can be accessed on the right hand side menu. [KMG] From Scout Report

http://www.hsrgroup.org/

Combating terrorism in the Horn of Africa and Yemen

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/publication/2110/combating_terrorism_in_the_

This site provides free access to the full text of a report by Debbie West for Program on Intrastate Conflict, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 2005. The 38 page document reviews the situation and impact on international security in Djibouti; Eritrea Ethiopia; Kenya; Somalia and Somaliland; The Sudan and Yemen.From Intute.ac.uk

In this videoclip, Ebrahim Fakir of the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa speaks to Polity's Amy Witherden about the South African government's performance since the April elections, and the appointments made by President Jacob Zuma.

http://www.polity.org.za/article/politics-and-governance-in-2009-2009-12-10

From Polity.org.za

While most of the world has enjoyed exponential economic growth, more than one-sixth of the world is today roughly as poor as their ancestors were many generations ago. Widely accepted general explanations for the persistence of such poverty have been elusive and are needed by the international development community. Building on a well-established model of human infectious diseases, we show how formally integrating simple economic and disease ecology models can naturally give rise to poverty traps, where initial economic and epidemiological conditions determine the long-term trajectory of the health and economic development of a society. This poverty trap may therefore be broken by improving health conditions of the population. More generally, we demonstrate that simple human ecological models can help explain broad patterns of modern economic organization.

Full Paper

Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences

 

Conflict Barometer 2009 (PDF; 4.1 MB)
Source: Heidelberg Institute on International Conflict Research, University of Heidelberg

A total of 365 political conflicts was counted in 2009. Among those were seven wars and 24 severe crises, amounting to 31 conflicts fought out with the use of massive violence. Sporadic violent incidents occurred in 112 conflicts, which were therefore classified as crises. Nevertheless, the majority of all conflicts were conducted non-violently, with 108 cases being classified as latent and 114 as manifest conflicts. Compared to the previous year, the total number of conflicts rose slightly from 353 in 2008 to 365. The total number of non-violent conflicts rose by ten, as did the number of crises. In contrast, the number of highly violent conflicts decreased consid- erably from nine wars and 30 severe crises, i.e. a total of 39 highly violent conflicts, in 2008 to 31 highly violent conflicts in 2009.

From Docuticker

An interesting site maintained by the Washington Post. It provides free access to a searchable database of the text of speeches delivered by American president Barack Obama since he took office in 2009. It is possible to search by keyword, browse by policy area or topic; consult some statistics on number of speeches made and frequency of words used. Some speeches include video film footage. Copyright and technical information is displayed on the website.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/obama-speeches/

From Intute.ac.uk

 

 

Yemen and stability in the Persian Gulf: confronting the threat from within

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=194

This site provides free access to the full text of a pamphlet by Dr. Stephen C. Pelletiere. which was published in 1996 by the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. The 44 page report focuses attention on the growing importance of Yemen for security in the Persian Gulf. It suggests ways in which the situation could be eased by USD foreign policy initiatives.

Al-Qa'ida, tribes and instability in Yemen

http://www.lowyinstitute.org/PublicationPop.asp?pid=1192

This site provides free access to a working paper by Sarah Phillips and Rodger Shanahan which was published by the Lowy Institute in November 2009. The 14 page paper discusses the emergence of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and its possible impact on international security and terrorism. The full text requires registration to download.

Yemen: Council on Foreign Relations

http://www.cfr.org/region/416/yemen.html

This website is maintained by US foreign policy research institute the Council on Foreign relations. It provides free access to statements, opinions, analyses and reports relating to Yemen which it has published since 2005. These cover international security, terrorism and American foreign policy towards the region.

Yemen: fear of failure

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/677/

This site provides free access to the full text of a briefing paper by Briefing Paper Ginny Hill which was published by Chatham House in November 2008. The 12 page paper considers issues relating to Yemen, international security and the threat of terrorism.

Yemen Forum

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/research/middle_east/current_projects/yemen/

This site provides information on a project launched by UK think tank Chatham House to study issues relating to stability and development in relation to Yemen. This includes coverage of political stability, international security, terrorism and Yemen. Users may access information on the project, plus full text articles, reports and papers published by it and Chatham House staff since approximately 2005.

 

Yemen: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

This site is maintained by research body the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This section provides free access to its materials relating to Yemen. These include full text press releases, papers, reports and materials from events. They include discussion of Yemen political reform, Islam and politics in the Arab world, international security and terrorism.

http://carnegieendowment.org/regions/?fa=list&id=219

 

Yemen: International Crisis Group

This site is maintained by independent monitoring organisation the International Crisis Group. It provides free access to its statements and full text reports relating to Yemen. These include analysis of matters relating to Yemen, international security and terrorism. Materials date from 2003 onwards.

 

http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2440&l=1

 

On the knife’s edge: Yemen’s instability and the threat to American interests

This site provides free access to a policy briefing by Andrew M. Exum and Richard Fontaine which was published by the Center for a new American Security in November 2009. The 7 page report provides an assessment of the threat to international security from Yemen. It includes coverage of links to terrorism and Al-Qaeda.
http://www.cnas.org/node/3771

 

Yemen: Guardian newspaper

This site is maintained by the Guardian newspaper. It provides free access to the latest news stories, headlines, comment and analysis (including blog postings) about Yemen from Guardian newspaper staff. Topics covered include international security, terrorism, political reform, Islam and politics and the links between Yemen and international terrorism. The main emphasis is upon current news.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/yemen

 

Global health watch 2 : an alternative world health report

Global Health Watch is a full-text electronic book with chapters covering a comprehensive range of topics on world health, which include poverty, access to medicines, mental health, water and sanitation, nutrition, tuberculosis, AIDS, malaria and the politics of global health. Published in 2008, this educational resource for health professionals provides discussions concentrating on some alternative perspectives on world health, the root causes of poor health and global health inequalities. Developed by the co-operative effort of three lobbying organisations, the Peoples Health Movement, Medact and the Global Equity Gauge Alliance who issue reports on the state of global health to raise awareness of health disparities between developed and developing countries.

http://www.ghwatch.org/ghw2/ghw2pdf/ghw2.pdf

From Intute.ac.uk

The Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS is an open access online journal published by SAHARA which is "an alliance of partners who seek to conduct, support and use social sciences research to prevent the further spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of its devastation in Africa". The journal aims to facilitate "sharing knowledge, conducting multi-site multi-country research projects that are intervention-based with the explicit aim of generating new social science evidence for prevention, care and impact mitigation of the HIV epidemic". http://www.sahara.org.za/index.php/Journal/SAHARA-J.html

From Intute.ac.uk