The Doug Noll Show
By The Doug Noll Show
To listen to an audio podcast, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to download and subscribe to podcasts.
Podcast Description
Everyone faces conflict . . . at home, at work, in the community, in the world. Call Doug, the LawyerTurned Peacemaker, to transform your fights, disputes, and conflicts into peace. Call Doug on Thursdays from 7-8 pm Pacific at 877-474-3302Listen on wsRadio.com
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
03 US Foreign Policy: Why Development Matters in Foreign Policy-Eric Ham | During the George W. Bush administration, the US government lost faith in diplomacyand development as effective tools of foreign policy. Money therefore started flowing to the military as the neoconservatives believed that military power was more effective than development and foreign aid. The demise of development was exacerbated by the fact that foreign aid does not have a constituency like defense contractors. Ultimately, money flowswhere the campaign contributions originate. Many congressional districts are dependent upon Department of Defense spending and they are more likely to see federal dollars flowing to them rather than overseas. However, foreign aid and development is far away more effective and less expensive than war. The US taxpayer receives a far better investment on every dollar of foreign aid than on a dollar spent with the military. Funding multiple wars is financially unsustainable. War is simply too expensive for the US. Thus, the government should be focusing on a strategic plan for foreign policy that relies on diplomacy and development instead of guns. | 10/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
01 World Peace: Kaddafi is Dead. Now What?Eric Ham | My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show can help us understand the need forclearer thinking in foreign relations. Eric Ham is the founder of the XII Project. He previouslyserved as the Policy Director for the 3D Security Initiative, an academic project of the Center forJustice and Peacebuilding based in Washington, DC. During his tenure at 3D he led the centers Washington office. He oversaw the legislative portfolio and strategically connected the centerwith key policymakers on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue. He examined civilian-military capacity and broader issues surrounding the U.S. government interagency process. He has co-authored several publications including the Joint Experts Statement on Iran and AdvancingPeace Mitigating Crisis, a report that offers a comprehensive blueprint for incorporating peace building into U.S. foreign policy. He also created and led the Israeli-Palestinian CongressionalInitiative. This signature program brings together Members of Congress and their staff in an effort to educate and create awareness of the complexities surrounding the conflict. | 10/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
02 US Politics: Washington Gridlock Is Destroying Good Foreign Policy - Eric Ham | In the current Republican primary debates, the candidates are not discussing foreignpolicy. This is a critical oversight and, unfortunately, it appears that the current roster of Republican candidates, with the exception of Jon Huntsman, do not have a clue about foreign policy. Yet foreign policy affects every American every day. We cannot talk about the dire condition of the US economy without talking about the European financial crisis, the Chinesecurrency problem, or a comprehensive, long term energy policy. Because the world is sointerconnected, what happens overseas has a profound effect on every day American life. Yet the Republican candidates blithely ignore these issues. Likewise, the Republican candidates talk about the federal debt as if it were evil incarnate, but refuse to talk about the cost of the war in Afghanistan as the single largest contributor to that debt. | 10/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
04 US Foreign Policy: De-Funding the US Institute of Peace is Beyond Stupid - Eric Ham | As an example of the pure short-sightedness of the House of Representatives, one need toonly look at the defunding efforts surrounding the US Institute of Peace. The USIP is one of the most effective US agencies in terms of benefits gained for dollars spent. Its annual budgetis less than a weeks worth of military operations in Afghanistan, yet the House Republicans have identified it as an unnecessary expense. What the Republicans, in their ignorance of foreign policy, do not understand is how the USIP prevents war. The USIP saves US tax dollars multiple times over its cost, unlike defense dollars, which return nothing to the US taxpayers.In the Libya war, the US fired 110 cruise missiles at a cost of over $62 million. Of course, the destruction caused by the missiles will have to be rebuilt too. The annual budget for the USIP is about $40 million. For $62 million, the US Institute of Peace could actually grow its missionto prevent armed conflict around the world. However, the equation of war and peace is notclearly understood by the members of Congress, which is part of the dysfunction in the national government. | 10/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
04 Afghanistan: Mineral Resources, Wealth Creation, And The Economy-Lisa Schirch | Lisa tells us that the vast deposits of mineral resources discovered in central Afghanistancould be accursed of the country, rather than a blessing. China is buying up land for mineralrights and will soon be exploiting those rights. China does not have a strong history ofenvironmental sensitivity. Therefore an environmental disaster is about to descend uponAfghanistan. On the bright side, Afghanistan produces a lot of fabulous food. Although theAfghanistan economy is not strong; people do seem to make a living. What is needed aresecondary schools and universities to educate a cadre of civil servants, professionals, and business leaders to build the future Afghanistan. Another reason why the peace process in Afghanistan will take a generation is because these universities must be built, staffed and operated over the next 10 to 15 years to produce a cadre of well educated people Afghanistan will need for its future prosperity and peace. Lisa wonders why the drug trade is growing in the midst of so much military and security presence. Obviously, many people are profiting from the war, including drug dealers and poppy growers. It seems that NATO in general and the US in particular is not interested in stopping the drug trade. This is a serious problem that will have to be solved by the Afghanistan people as part of the peace process. In summary, peace Afghanistan will be a long hard slog. It will require the attention and resources of the international community over a generation. There will be setbacks and successes, but the most important consideration will be engaging all of the Afghanistan people to create peace. | 10/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
02 Afghanistan: The Nature Of The Conflict-Lisa Schirch | Before the first break, I asked Lisa to share her perceptions of the challenges of ethnicdiversity in Afghanistan. Lisa tells us that many people in Afghanistan are afraid of thedominance of the Pashtun people. However, the ethnic divisions are not monolithic. There aredivisions within the Pashtun population and divisions within the Tajik population. The war inAfghanistan is therefore not completely a war against extremists. It is a war around politicalcontrol of the country I ask Lisa about the concept of Pashtunistan. Lisa tells us that people talk about the creation of an independent Pashtunistan, but it is not realistic. A smaller country or autonomous region in a place like south-central Asia would face huge challenges. The real issue is how to blend a central government with local tribal governments. On the one hand, many people want a loose federation. On the other hand, there are many rural tribal people who do want a more liberalized society that provides for education for women. However, most Afghans do not want any imported, westernized culture. As a result of all of these tensions, sustainable peace in Afghanistan will require participation of the entire nation. Most peace processes conducted at the diplomatic level fail because they are rushed and limited. In this case, the peace process in Afghanistan cannot be limited to warring factions, but must be as broadly inclusive of all segments of society as possible. The process will take a long time, but war is worse. | 10/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
7 |
03 Afghanistan: The Challenges Of A Peace Process-Lisa Schirch | I ask Lisa to describe what a peace process might look like in Afghanistan. She says thatless would be more. From her observation, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Turkey are supporting a peace process. Because they are not central to the conflict, they seem to have a more objective detached view of what will be required for sustainable peace. There is no prospect for peace until the United States withdraws its military operations. The Taliban has a long-term view of the situation and realizes that he can out weight the US I ask Lisa about the corruption in government. Lisa says that President Hamid Karzai does not have a lot of room to move. Since he is a Pashtun and most of the governors are Tajiks, he cannot manage the Tajiks effectively. All of the regional and provincial governors were essentially appointed by the United States and have no legitimacy with the people. Even if Karzai were an honest politician, he would be unable to stop the corruption created by the provincial leaders imposed on the people. The war in Afghanistan will not end until the warlords are removed from power. This of course presents the Afghanistan people with the paradox of removing political leaders and replacing them at the same time with leaders who have been legitimately selected by the people. It's one of the reasons the peace process in Afghanistan will take 10 to 20 years. | 10/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
01 Afghanistan: The Confusion in Afghanistan Lisa Schirch | War is easy to start and hard to get out of. Afghanistan is as difficult war to get out of as the US has ever faced. No US president, Democrat or Republican, is going to find an exit strategy that is smooth, fast, or inexpensive. What makes peace in Afghanistan so complex? On this edition of The Doug Noll Show, we will try to answer that question. Lisa Schirch is director of 3P Human Security: Partners for Peace building Policy. 3P connects civil society perspectives on conflict prevention and peace - building to US security policy making. She is also a Research Professor at the Center for Justice and Peace building at Eastern Mennonite University, and Policy Advisor for the Alliance for Peace building. I observe that diplomats and politicians seem to have little knowledge about peace - making. Lisa says that diplomats have little experience or training in mediation. New diplomats are not trained in peacemaking skills, and old diplomats don't know what they don't know. We turn to Afghanistan. Lisa tells us that there are few diplomats in Afghanistan. The conflict in Afghanistan was very complicated before the United States intervened, and the military intervention made things worse. Right now, NATO is confused about what to do about Afghanistan. | 10/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
Segment 1 | -- | 10/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
Segment 4 | -- | 10/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
11 |
Segment 2 | -- | 10/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
12 |
Segment 3 | -- | 10/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
13 |
02 Middle East: Palestine, Israel, and the UN - Dr. Alon Ben-Meir | The Palestinians in the West Bank have made enormous strides in building a civil society, a functioning government that serves the people, and a security apparatus that works closely with Israeli security. However, neither Abbas or Netanyahu have a mandate from their constituencies for true peace. If either makes the necessary concessions for peace, his government will fall, and he will be ousted from power. Thus, the Palestinian bid for membership in the UN is highly symbolic but as a practical matter is meaningless. | 9/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
14 |
03 Middle East: The Real Barriers to Peace Between Israel and Palestine-Dr. Alon Ben-Meir | Hamas objects to the application for membership, and this is precisely Abbass problem.He cannot deliver a commitment from Hamas to abide by the UN Charter and recognize Israels right to exist. There are five fundamental barriers to peace. First, both sides suffer from severe trauma and a historical narrative that supports and burnishes the trauma into myth. For the Israelis, it is the trauma of the Holocaust; for the Palestinians, it is the trauma of the partition. Second, both sides see the land as sacred. Their religious convictions prohibit compromise on issues like the status of Jerusalem. Third, there is deep mistrust between the leaders of both sides. Fourth, Both sides are in self-denial to justify and rationalize objectively brutal behaviors in face of contradictory reality. Fifth, both sides suffer from deep factionalism and division within their own people. There is no unity of vision on either side. Finally, there are no leaders on either side capable, intelligent, pragmatic, and courageous enough to pursue peace instead of conflict. | 9/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
15 |
01 Middle East: Palestinian Bid for Statehood - Dr. Alon Ben-Meir | Last week, Mammoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, submitted thePalestinian Authoritys application for admission to the United Nations to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. In the meantime, the Israeli government has commenced a new settlement construction project in the West Bank with 1,000 homes planned. At least in the media reports,both sides are rejecting US and Quartet efforts to restart serious peace talks. The Palestinians are demanding as a condition of talks that Israel stop settlement construction. Netanyahu refuses to concede to that condition. This is as an important foreign policy issue as there is for us as Americans so I have brought on the one person who can educate us about what is really going on. Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is an expert on Middle East politics and affairs, specializing in peace negotiations and conflict resolution. For the past twenty five years, Dr. Ben-Meir has been directly involved in various negotiations and has operated as a liaison between top Arab and Israeli officials. | 9/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
16 |
04 Middle East: Israel is a US Domestic Political Issue - Dr. Alon Ben-Meir | In the US, Israel has become a dominant political issue driven by evangelical Christian groups who support Israel regardless of the truth on the ground because of Biblical principles and precedents. Thus, Obama faces strong domestic opposition to any kind of political or economic pressure on Israel. Netanyahu has shrewdly calculated the US domestic political situation and has exploited it to his advantage. Thus, he is able to snub the Obama Administration without fear of reprisal. However, this places the US in an untenable position. If it must veto the Palestinian application for admission to the US in the Security Council, its standing in the world will plummet. The veto could easily foment strong anti-Israeli and anti- American sentiments in the Islamic world, thereby strengthening the position of Iran One solution is for the US to introduce its own resolution to the Security Council calling on recognition of the 1967 borders, reaffirming the Oslo Accords, and calling the parties to reconvene at once. Turkey will have to be engaged to deal with Hamas, and the full weight of the Security Council could be brought to bear on Netanyahu and Abbas to conclude a peace agreement along the lines of the proposed two-state solution | 9/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
17 |
03 Peace Skills: Learning to Listen with Your Eyes - Michelle Lederman. | I ask Michelle about communication generally. She and I agree that most peopledo not do communication well. The problem is that we have never learned how to listen.Michelle reframes Mesrabians famous study (we only gain 7 percent of our information in a communication from the words spoken) to advise us to listen with our eyes, not our ears. We share ideas on how to learn to listen deeply. I ask Michelle what advise she has for introverts. She tells us that introverts have it the easiest, and explains why. | 9/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
18 |
02 Peace Skills: The Laws of Likeability - Michelle Lederman. | Michelle tells us that relationship networking is simply making friends. She hasidentified 11 principles or laws of likeability. The first and foundational principle is the law of authenticity. Michelle says that the most important relationship is your relationship with yourself. Authenticity is who you areyour honest reactions and your natural energy. When you are comfortable being authentic, you can naturally share yourself with others. When they sense the true you, you begin to form the basis of an authenticate relationship. I ask Michelle about the fear of vulnerability. Many people are afraid to be authentic because they are afraid that they could be exploited. Michelle tells us that vulnerability leads to credibility. The key to authenticity in building relationships is self-disclosure, not from an ego perspective, but from a place of honesty and self-deprecation. | 9/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
19 |
01 Peace Skills: Being a Likeable Person - Michelle Lederman. | One of the essential skills of peacemaking is effective communication. And, the firstthing that goes out the door in conflict is effective communication. Thats why when Michelle Ledermans book The 11 Laws of Likability came to my attention, I thought that she could share some of her communication secrets with us on the show.Michelle is the founder of Executive Essentials, a training company that providescommunications, leadership, and team-building programs, as well as executive coaching services. Michelle spent ten years in finance, beginning her career as a certified public accountant in Arthur Andersen's audit practice, later joining Primedia as a mergers & acquisitions analyst. Her experience ranges from venture capital to hedge funds and includes positions as a financial strategist with Deloitte Consulting, a hedge fund investment adviser for HypoVereins Bank, and a director of communications at Investor Analytics, an alternative asset risk management firm. | 9/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
20 |
04 Peace Skills: The Law of Emotional Energy - Michelle Lederman. | We start the segment talking about how to end conversations. Michelle says that the best way is to give your conversational partner cues that the conversation is over. In the same manner,be aware of cues that you might be receiving that your conversational partner may be ending the conversation as well. Two excellent techniques in group settings are to ask Shall we mingle? and to invite someone else into the conversation.I ask Michelle what the second most important law of likeability might be. She tells us that it is the law of energy. The law of energy is about your emotional state, what your mood is and what your immediate emotional state is. If you exude positive emotional energy, that is what will be reflected back to you. If you are negative, depressed, or unhappy, that is the emotional energy that will be reflected back to you as well. Michelle tells us to be conscious of our emotional energy before we enter social environments. Likewise, we must be conscious of the energy of the people we are meeting. | 9/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
21 |
01 Peacemakers: The Journey of a Peacemaker Shaman-James ODea | Peacemakers come in all different types from the very granular and practical to theesoteric. Most of us who do peace work professionally are grounded in a deeper spiritual practice, and most peacemakers and mediators dont talk much about their personal spiritual journeys. On this edition of The Doug Noll Show, we will walk with a shaman, a visionary, and a peacemaker. This hour will enrich us all with the higher calling of peace as we have a conversation with James ODea. James is Co- Director of The Social Healing Project and has conducted healing and reconciliation dialogues for the past twelve years. He is a member of the faculty of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and its past President. He was Executive Director of The Seva Foundation and the Washington Office Director of Amnesty International. He lectures widely and offers ongoing intensive trainings and sacred activist retreats. He is a member of the Advisory Board of The Peace Alliance. His book Creative Stress: A Path For Evolving Souls Living Through Personal and Planetary Upheaval has been called the medicine for our times. | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
22 |
02 Peacemaking: Deep Listening-James ODea. | James tells us that the root causes of conflict seem to be based on the entanglement of the victim and the perpetrator. Perpetrators are usually deeply wounded and their only escape from the pains of their psychological injuries is violence and inflicting pain on others. The cycle of wounding is therefore sustained through generations. To break the cycle, we must separate the actor from the act. I talk about the redemptive nature of peace as I have witnessed in my Prison of Peace project. James and I talk about deep listening as the first step in breaking the cycle of violence. James describes the limbic field of resonance that arises when one person deeply listens to another. | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
23 |
03 Peacemaking: The Barriers to Peace-James ODea | I ask James to talk about the book he is currently writing: Cultivating Peace: The Art, Science, and Practice of Peacebuilding. James says that this book describes the reframing of the peace movement on the planet. Instead of protesting war, the new peace movement is about developing a culture of peace. One of the greatest barriers to this culture of peace is the deep cynicism of so-called realists. James says that the cynics are hiding their own wounds when they scoff at the notion of a culture of peace.I mention that another service of the peacemaker is to bring hope to conflict. Cynics live in despair and have given up hope for peace. Their cynicism protects them from the hurt of disappointment and disillusionment. | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
24 |
04 Society and Law: Prisons and Lawyers as Agents of Change-James ODea | I ask James about his work with rehabilitation in prisons. James tells us he is developing an assessment tool to measure the progress of transformation within prisons. He measures attitudinal shifts of inmates to create an empirical record of change. We shift to the discussion of lawyers as change agents. James tells us that he is working with very small groups of lawyers in group intensives. These lawyers have confronted the cynicism of the legal system and seeking ways to make it more holistic. We both observe how many lawyers seem to be exhibiting symptoms similar to post traumatic stress disorder caused bythe chronic stress of working in a structure that is not aimed towards building healthy, humane relationships between humans.We conclude our conversation as James observes that the level of consciousness on the planet appears to be rising. Although much work remains, James is optimistic that enough people are working for change towards peace that we will see significant shifts in our lifetime. | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
25 |
02 War Zones: Recruiting and Training International Peacekeepers-Bob Rail. | Bob tells us that he was part of the team that travelled to countries recruiting internationalpeacekeepers from national police forces. The UN sets age requirements, physical fitnessrequirements, and basic policing skills. Bob observed a wide variation in policing skills, largelydependent on the ability of a country to invest in proper police training. In some countries, thefailure rate was high; in others, it was modest.When officers arrive in country on assignment, there is always mass confusion in trainingand standards. What amazed Bob was how quickly teams formed and overcame the confusionwith tolerance and solidarity.We talk about the nature of hatred. Bob tells some stories that illustrate how deep thehatred is in some countries. From birth, children are indoctrinated in hate and vengeance, whichperpetuates the cycle for generations on end. | 8/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
26 |
03 War Zones: Maintaining Your Humanity in the Face of Horrible Atrocity-Bob Rail. | I ask Bob how he and his colleagues maintained their humanity and balance in the faceof the atrocity of war zones. Bob says it was very difficult. The new Normal was pretty weird.The one thing Bob could not handle was the abuse of children. He tells us a shocking story ofhow parents must guard a childs grave until they are certain the body is decomposing to preventit from being dug up and paraded by enemies.In war zones, everything is compressed. There is no ambiguity; everything is black andwhite. Emotions are intense, primal, and compressed. | 8/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
27 |
01 War Zones: Being a Peacekeeper in Dangerous Places-Bob Rail. | What is it like living as a member of a peacekeeping force? How do you surviveinternational war zones as a member of the UN security force?My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show has spent many years as a securityand police officer on duty with the United Nations. Bob Rail is a former Chicago police officerwho became involved in international security operations back in the 1990s in Sarajevo and thebreakup of Yugoslavia. He has served as a peacekeeper for the UN around the world, includingtours of duty in Iraq, Indonesia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and just about every other war zone you canimagine. His latest book, Surviving the International War Zone, tells the stories of what its likeliving in a foreign land where most everyone is armed and no one much likes anyone else. | 8/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
28 |
04 Terrorism: The Nature of Real Torture-Bob Rail. | I ask Bob about torture. Bob says that torture will always be with us. When people areunder sufficient provocation, they will do anything to protect themselves and their families. Hetells us that all Special Forces troops are subjected to waterboarding as part of their training sothat they can understand what it is. He says that may be torture, but real torture is when onepartisan captures an enemy, ties him to a tree with barbed wire, and pulls out teeth with pliersone at time. Bob briefly describes some of the effects of torture he saw in Iraq.Finally, we turn to Bobs book, Surviving the International War Zone. He tells us howthe book came about. The contributors were all colleagues with him in various countries. Eachwas asked to provide stories of his emotional experiences, good and bad. | 8/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
29 |
03 Reconciling Sunnis and Shia in Iraq: Iraqs Challenges of No Electricity, No Water, Plenty of Corruption - Luke Wilcox | Among the most frustrating effects of the war and U.S. occupation are the lack of electricity, which comes and goes every couple of hours, and the lack of clean water. The American contractors and military, and the Iraqi government have not yet been able to restore basic services. The problem is partly due to insurgent efforts to blow infrastructure like power plants and power lines up and partly due to the incredibly deep and broad corruption that prevents projects from being completed. Vast amounts of the $81 billion US reconstruction dollars have been siphoned off to American and Iraqi individuals. Luke tells us that the graft in the Iraqi government is beyond comprehension.While Luke did not encounter any violence or danger, he learned that the Iraqi security forces, while getting stronger, still suffer from corruption and graft. The sectarian violence is not natural to Iraq, however. The people in southern Iraq believe and hope that after the American military leaves Iraq, Iraqis will be able to rebuild their country their way. | 8/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
30 |
02 Reconciling Sunnis and Shia in Iraq: Sunni & Shia: Reactions to an American Peacebuilder - Luke Wilcox | Luke says that he went to Iraq as a different kind of American. He was an unarmed guest seeking to build respectful relationships between people. He was not interested in contracts or military efforts to suppress violence; he was interested in learning about the people of Iraq.During June and July 2011, Luke lived in Najaf, with his host Sami Rasouli. Luke was introduced to many Iraqis who dont fit the category, Iraqi (as it has been defined in America). They were invariably generous, welcoming, and kindperhaps better descriptors for the category of Iraqibut they were also diverse. Luke learned that Iraqis like Americans, but dont care for American politics or the American occupation of Iraq. They are waiting for the occupation to end in December 2011. | 8/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
31 |
04 Reconciling Sunnis and Shia in Iraq: Feminists under the Veils - Luke Wilcox | In southern Iraq, which is mostly populated by the more conservative Shia people, women veil themselves in the traditional abayah. Luke initially thought that modern women might find this oppressive. To his surprise, wearing the abayah was not experienced as oppressive, and Iraqi women bristled at the idea that they did not have rights or a voice in the affairs of the country. Luke tells us that he was surprised that feminists existed under the veil.Generally, Luke found that women were respected, well-educated, and participating members of civil society. While southern Iraq had grown more conservative, the widespread oppression of women, as experienced in Afghanistan, was simply nonexistent.To learn more about Luke Wilcox and the Iraqi American Reconciliation Project, visit the website at | 8/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
32 |
01 Reconciling Sunnis and Shia in Iraq: One Young Americans Journey of Reconciliation - Luke Wilcox | Iraq has been squeezed from the headlines by the on-going problems in the economy and the fascination with the Republicans vying to challenge President Obama. The fact that the media has lost interest in Iraq does not mean that the country is peaceful and unnewsworthy. Iraq continues to struggle with ethnic, tribal, and religious divisions. Reconciling these groups continues to be a daunting task.My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show has just returned from a journey of reconciliation in Iraq. Luke Wilcox is the Development and Communications Director of the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP). He spent 5 weeks in Iraq in June - July of 2011 working as an unarmed American with his host, Sami Rasouli, and the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. Luke was a Katherine Davis Fellow for Peace in 2010 and graduated from Boston University with an M.A. in International Relations. His colleague, Kathy McKay, is Executive Director and a co-founder of the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project. | 8/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
33 |
04 China: Chinas Interest is in Protecting and Securing Energy - Daniel Wagner | The US must apply more common sense and humility in its foreign relations. Instead of protecting the power, position, and privilege of various heads of state, US foreign relations should be focusing on how to help the average person live a better life.We turn to China. China has become adept at meeting its own political and economic interests through direct foreign investment. The Chinese are actively pursuing stable energy resources and are developing a navy to protect its own petroleum shipping interests. | 8/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
34 |
01 World Risks: Understanding the Nature of Country Risks - Daniel Wagner | This weeks news has been dominated by the wild gyrations of the sock market and to a lesser extent the crash of a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan that killed over 30 Seal Team members, including some involved in the Osama bin Laden raid. The media is not paying attention to the more pressing issues of war and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan is suffering from a low grade civil war, has nuclear weapons, and is implacably opposed to India. South Asia is a dangerous place and is therefore of great interest to me as a mediator and peacemaker.My guest is Daniel Wagner, Managing Director of Country Risk Solutions, a political risk consulting firm based in Connecticut. Daniel is an authority on political risk insurance and analysis. He has written hundreds of articles on risk management and current affairs, His forthcoming book, Managing County Risk, will be published in early 2012.Daniel explains that the business of political risk insurance is about assessing the risks of making investments and doing business in foreign countries. Essentially, he analyzes the political, economic, physical, and cultural environment in a country to determine what risks an investment might face. | 8/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
35 |
02 India-Pakistan: Pakistan is a Failed State - Daniel Wagner | Daniel tells us that India and Pakistan are like two patients that are allergic to each other. The animosity not held just by extremists, but by a broad spectrum of the populations of both countries. Ironically, they all want the same thing for their children-peace and prosperity. They just dont know how to get there.The US has supported Pakistan because of Pakistans geo-political importance. However, the corruption is hugely problematic. Very little of the billions of dollars given to Pakistan are used for intended purposes. The Pakistani military is adept at negotiating with the US and playing both sides against the middle. For all intents, however, Pakistan is a failed state. It is unable to provide basic services to its population, instead choosing to spend the bulk of its budget and aid on military spending. | 8/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
36 |
03 Pakistan: Corruption Endemic in Pakistan - Daniel Wagner | Pakistan could be labeled the most dangerous nation in the world. The average Pakistani spends 50% of its disposable income on food, which in other countries, would lead to protests and civil resistance. In Pakistan, the people have been conditioned to accept their economic situation as normal. However, there are deep ethnic divides within the country, no rule of law, a limited civil society, and an economy dominated by the military. The Pakistani military sees itself in a world of existential threat and therefore is willing to use any means necessary to preserve and protect its power and privilege. The US is therefore in the unenviable position of working with an untrustworthy country that does not share aligned interests.While past relations between the US and India has in the past been cool, relations are warming as US-Pakistani relations deteriorate. The upshot in these relations is that the likelihood of a stable Afghanistan is very low. | 8/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
37 |
03 War and Violence: Nonviolent Resistance Works Well Against Repressive, Brutal Regimes - Erica Chenoweth | Erica tells us that there are several conditions that appear to be present in successful nonviolent civil resistance campaigns. First, there must be a high number of participants. That number must be in the thousands. Her research search shows that nonviolent civil resistance attracts more participants than violent resistance. Second, over time, there must be defections by the security force such that the police and military refused orders to repress the population. Finally, the organization of the nonviolent campaign must include tactical diversity, switching from concentration to dispersion and back to concentration.Interestingly, the research shows that outside financial support or foreign aid does not affect the success or failure of nonviolent civil resistance campaigns. Moral support, however, does help.Doug asks Erica about leadership and organization of nonviolent civil resistance campaigns. Erica talks about Peter Ackerman's work in which he argues for a three pronged approach: unity, nonviolent discipline, and planning. There must be a unified vision crosscutting the population, there must be a commitment to nonviolent resistance that is disciplined, and there must be extensive planning in the same style as a military campaign.Nonviolent civil resistance campaigns to not succeed because they are nonviolent, they succeed because they coerce erosion of support. | 8/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
38 |
04 Arab Spring: The Success and Failure of Nonviolent Resistance in the Middle East - Erica Chenoweth | Doug and Erica reviewed the Arab spring of 2011 in the context of her research findings. Erica tells us that Tunisia is a classic example of a successful nonviolent campaign. It was mobilized in a few weeks, the security forces refused to repress the population, and eventually Ben Azis power was so eroded that he was forced to step down. Prospects seem good for secular Islamic democracy in Tunisia, however economic development will be critical. Erica points out that whenever a country reaches a gross to mastic product of $11,500 US per person, democracy has never failed. Thus, raising Tunisia standard of living will be essential to promoting a pro-Democratic regime.Egypt was similar to Tunisia. In Egypt's case, the organizers had learned from protests occurring in 2008. There were many resources available to the Egyptians about the prosecution of nonviolent civil resistance campaigns, and they used them. Leaflets were handed out at protest showing escape routes, giving instructions on how to respond to police brutality, and providing information about the movement. The prospects for democracy in Egypt are not so clear, although Erica is hopeful. Part of the problem is that the military wants to control and rule the country, but not government. The military controls much of the economic activity in the country and does not want to give up that wealth. In addition, the military fears the Islamic movements and is leery of a pro-democracy movement that it cannot control.To learn more about Ericas work, go to | 8/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
39 |
02 War and Violence: Nonviolent Resistance Highly Effective as a Strategic Tool for Regime Change - Erica Chenoweth | Erica distinguishes between nonviolence and nonviolent civil resistance. Nonviolent civil resistance is the process of prosecuting a conflict through nonviolent means. Nonviolence refers to moral position that violence in any form is wrong. Nonviolent civil resistance is not a moral position and many civil resisters are not pacifists. In fact, most nonviolent campaigns are highly coercive. Doug points out that Gandhi's satyagraha campaign in India was anything but peaceful. Erica agrees and points out that when cooperation of a population is withdrawn from the regime, the sources of that regimes power are eroded.Autocrats find nonviolent civil resistance to be very scary because they do not know how to respond to it. Since violence is the specialty of an oppressive regime, responding to violence is easy to understand and deal with. Nonviolent campaigns are based on a broad spectrum of tactics, including tactics of concentration and dispersion. Tactics of concentration include protests, marches, and sit-ins. Tactics of dispersion include strikes, boycotts, and stay-at-homes. The secret to nonviolent civil resistance is to mix up the tactics so that the regime cannot formulate an effective counter strategy. | 8/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
40 |
01 War and Violence: Nonviolence Resistance Produces Superior Results - Erica Chenoweth | As most people know the so-called Arab Spring has led to some interesting and very different results across the Middle East. Tunisia and Egypt successfully engaged in nonviolent action to overthrow their regimes. Libya is now in a stalemated civil war between rebels and Moammar Kaddafi. Syria is violently responding to nonviolent protests and over 2000 have been claimed to be killed in the city of Hama. Bahrain enlisted the aid of Saudi Arabia to put down protests. So why the difference? Why is it that nonviolent action worked in some countries, but not in others? And why is violence not working in places like Syria and Bahrain to either change the regime or stabilize and strengthen the regimes?My guest is Dr. Erica Chenoweth, assistant professor of Government at Wesleyan University and director of Wesleyans Program on Terrorism and Insurgency Research, which she established in 2008. Ericas latest book, Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict, has just been published by Columbia University Press. Erica has studied and compared the nature of nonviolent action to violence and war and has developed some surprising and powerful conclusions. We will talk about her work and those conclusions on this edition of The Doug Noll Show.Erica gives us three take-aways from her research on the effectiveness of nonviolent civil resistance. First, nonviolent civil resistance works twice as well as violent resistance. Second nonviolent civil resistance works where you think it wouldn't, especially against brutal and repressive regimes. Finally, when nonviolent civil resistance has existed, countries are more likely to be performed towards democracy. This research shows that power based on guns is quite vulnerable. Surprisingly, conflict security studies scholars have been completely blind to the power of nonviolent civil resistance is a strategic force in regime change. | 8/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
41 |
02 Afghanistan: Humanitarian Disaster in Afghanistan-Shannon Scriber | Oxfam has been working in Afghanistan through partners since 1961 and began direct operations in 1991. It was one of the few NGOs allowed into the country by the Taliban. Since the 1990s, Oxfam has had direct operations in the north and central regions of Afghanistan and works through partners in the Pasthun dominated south. It focuses on local capacity management capacity building so that villages and communities can utilize the aid that comes their way. Oxfam works in all sectors of Afghanistan providing services as needed and requested by local communities. The poverty in Afghanistan is staggering. The life expectancy is 45 years, 1 out of 5 children do not live to the age of five, almost 40% of the people earn less than $1 per day, and maternal mortality is extremely high. Only 48% of the people have safe drinking water. | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
42 |
03 Afghanistan: Violence, Corruption Hurting Afghan People-Shannon Scribner | The poverty is compounded by the continuing violence. There are many groups with many motives which the media calls the Taliban. In fact, there is no over-arching Taliban, but the word is used to describe drug dealers, warlords, Pashtun nationalists, Islamic extremists, and criminal gangs. These groups are embedded in their communities and use violence to resolve disputes, threaten and intimidate the people, and generally make life miserable. The likelihood of continued military action stopping this security problem is very low. The US military emphasis has been on creating an Afghan security force composed of police and a national militia. The goal is to have 350,000 people in service by 2013. The problem is how to pay for this force as the cost will exceed the governments budget. Up until recently, the US military has focused on quantity rather than quality. As a result of inadequate or nonexistent training, the Afghan security forces have caused as much humanitarian and human rights abuses as they have prevented. Finally, personnel are being trained in community-based policing, human rights laws, and due process. | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
43 |
01 Afghanistan: The Work of Oxfam-Shannon Scribner | On this edition of the Doug Noll Show, we go back to Afghanistan. As the Republican House of Representatives continues to deadlock America on the debt ceiling and deficit reduction, the war continues on. And, it continues to devastate civilians as it costs us billions of dollars per month. The humanitarian side of the equation rarely makes the mainstream press, so Doug brings on a voice with expertise and experience in Afghanistan.Shannon Scribner has been with Oxfam America since 2003 and is currently leading the humanitarian policy team in Washington, DC. She has worked on Oxfams humanitarian responses in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries.Oxfam started as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief in Oxford, England during World War II. Today, there are 15 affiliates working in 98 countries. OxfamUS is dedicated to advocacy as well as humanitarian work. Shannon and Doug talk about the poor priorities of the US Congress as they debate a debt ceiling limit when drought and famine in the Horn of Africa is creating a humanitarian crisis affecting millions of people. | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
44 |
04 Afghanistan: Some Bright Spots and Successes-Shannon Scribner | While Afghanistans prospects for peace, security, and economic development are bleak, there are some bright spots. Huge strides have been made in education as over 6.7 million children are enrolled in school. Girls are being educated at historically high rates and want more. Afghanistan needs secondary schools, more primary school classrooms, more teachers, more materials and supplies to keep this momentum.Women have been trained as midwives, which is having an effect on infant and maternal mortality. Women are participating in civil society at the local, regional, and national level. They are sitting on jirgas and participating in shuras. The challenge will be to maintain the growth of the status of women in Afghanistan society as the US withdraws and other forces attempt to whip Afghanistan back to a medieval existence. | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
45 |
02 Negotiation: When to Negotiate with Evil -- Robert Mnookin | I ask Bob when one should consider negotiating with evil. He tells us that he rejects the idea that we should either never or always negotiate with evil. It is always a contextual decision. That is not to say that negotiating with evil requires moral relativism. The theme of Bargaining with the Devil is how to deal with the challenge of thinking straight about the costs and benefits of negotiating with evil. I go through Bobs decision making framework: Identify your interests and the interests of evil, consider what alternatives to negotiation exist, determine the range of potential negotiated outcomes, calculate the hidden costs in choosing to negotiate, and if the alternative is force, determine whether force is legitimately and morally justified.We end the segment by considering a negotiation with Moammar Gaddafi. Bob posed the question to a foreign minister of a European ally: Assume Gaddafi, his family, and his cohorts could be induced to leave Libya with a billion dollars. Would you agree? | 7/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
46 |
01 Negotiation: Defining Evil -- Robert Mnookin | One of the most perplexing problems in conflict is dealing with evil. And, of course, that raises an even more perplexing problemhow do we define evil. After all, one persons terrorist is another persons freedom fighter. Some would say do not negotiate with evil. Others would say negotiate if you must. Like many problems in life, deciding when to bargain with the devil is a complex question with no pat moral, ethical, or practical answer.My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show has studied this question and his latest book gives us guidance. Robert Mnookin is a leading expert in the field of conflict resolution, and has applied his interdisciplinary approach to negotiation and conflict resolution to a remarkable range of problems; both public and private. Bob is the Samuel Williston Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School and the Director of the Harvard Negotiation Project.He tells us he became interested in negotiation as an undergraduate studying economics under Thomas Schelling. After law school and a stint in private practice, he entered academia and became interested in how the legal system provides a backdrop for negotiation. One of his early articles, Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law, started to explore how negotiation as a strategic interaction was influenced by the possibility of trial.We turn to the subject of evil. Bob says that evil, for his purposes, is the intentional imposition of grievous harm on another human being without justification. | 7/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
47 |
03 Negotiation: Should We Negotiate with Gaddafi? -- Robert Mnookin | Bob tells us that deciding whether to negotiate with Gaddafi is a complex problem. We talk about the policy of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court that expressly rejects immunity or amnesty from prosecution for peace as being in the interests of justice. The proponents of the ICC have concluded that a categorical denial of immunity to evil humans is better than ending a prolonged war. We walk through the calculus of Libya, looking at the war as a tribal civil war, and wonder if Gaddafis exit would change anything. The worst outcome would be for Gaddafi to receive immunity, a large amount of retained wealth, and have Libya disintegrate into a failed state because tribal factions could not form a civil society.We talk a little about justice. One of the tensions in negotiating with evil is the idea that justice may be sacrificed. Humans have a need to feel justice, which leads them to vengeance instead of negotiation. Bargaining with the Devil provides a framework for looking at that question. However, there are no easy answers. Fundamentally, people demonize each other when they are adverse to each other. The current debt ceiling negotiations illustrate how the negotiators are being demonized by each other. In addition, the debt ceiling negotiations demonstrate the cost of negotiation with evil as constituencies abandon their negotiators. The feeling of being sold out permeates the problem of bargaining with the devil. | 7/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
48 |
04 Negotiation: Getting Evil People to the Table -- Robert Mnookin | I ask Bob how one can induce an evil person to negotiate in the first place. The trick, he says, is to find out what the underlying interests of the evil person might be and appeal to them. He gives the example of Rudolph Kasztner, a Jew who negotiated with Eichmann for the ultimate release of 1,700 Jews in Nazi Hungary. Kasztner led Eichmann to believe that world Jewry would provide 10,000 trucks to Germany to be used on the eastern front if Eichmann would release hundreds of thousands of Jews out of Germany and central Europe. Kasznter had no way of delivering on this promise, but induced Eichmann to release 1,700 Jews as a sign of good faith. Kasztner paid deeply for his negotiation. In the 1950s he was accused of being a Nazi collaborator. He was sued for defamation in Israel. The trial court, completely misunderstanding what Kasztner had accomplished, issued a devastating opinion against him. The decision was eventually overturned, but Kasztners reputation was ruined.Part of the problem is that human mythology sees the Hero as Warrior. The peacemaker is not always a hero and therefore does not claim the mantle of the Warrior. People sometimes have difficulty with this and therefore blame the negotiator.We talk about deceit and treachery in negotiation. Certainly, Bob tells us, we should expect deceit and treachery from evil people during negotiations. Whether we are deceitful is a more difficult question. | 7/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
49 |
04 Restorative Justice in New Zealand-A Conversation With Judge Fred McElrea Part 4 | Because of the success with juvenile offenders, New Zealand has started allowing adult offenders to participate in a conferencing process. The New Zealand parliament required judges to give heavy deference to plans coming out of the victim-offender conferences. Not surprisingly, the same positive results in reduced re-offending, dramatically higher restitution and reparation payments, and much improved community safety occurred. As a result, in a period of significant government cutbacks, the New Zealand Minister of Finance has decreed that restorative justice processes will receive budgetary increases in recognition of their cost-effectiveness. | 7/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
50 |
03 Restorative Justice in New Zealand-A Conversation With Judge Fred McElrea Part 3 | New Zealand prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers are thoroughly committed to the conferencing process. The challenge they face is that restorative justice requires a completely different ethos than the retributive system. Because lawyers are trained in adversarial ideology-the idea that the courtroom is a battleground-learning to participate in a collaborative process is a new and challenging concept. The New Zealand process has demonstrated significant benefits over the trial system. Re-offending has dropped by 20 percent for those young offenders participating in a conference. Restitution and reparation payments have skyrocketed. The communities feel and are measurably safer. | 7/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
51 |
02 Restorative Justice in New Zealand-A Conversation With Judge Fred McElrea Part 2 | The power of the conference lies in storytelling. As the offender listens, the victims explain how the crime affected them. The offender sees the human side of the consequences of the offense. This invariably leads to remorse and an apology to the victims. When this occurs, the victims experience a change of heart. They move from vengeance to constructive problem-solving and willingly participate in a plan on how to make things right for everyone.Half of the cases are diverted to conferences before they even make it to court. The balance of the cases go to conferences after there has been a plea or adjudication of guilt. In the vast number of cases, the victim, the offender, and the offenders family come to agreement on what should be done. When the plan is presented to the court, the judge must give the plan due consideration in developing a final order. | 7/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
52 |
01 Restorative Justice in New Zealand-A Conversation With Judge Fred McElrea Part 1 | In 1989, New Zealand embarked on a grand experiment in dealing with crime and juvenile offenders. Instead of putting young offenders in prison, New Zealand passed a law that required them to meet with their family and extended family to make things right with the victim and the community. The victims were always invited and were given the opportunity to tell their story and participate in the decision making. An amazing thing happened. Juvenile incarceration rates dropped by 80 percent in two years, and the New Zealand model of restorative justice proved itself to the world. Twenty years later, restorative justice in New Zealand thrives. And here to tell us about it is a New Zealand judge who is an active international advocate for restorative justice.The Honorable Fred McElrea has been a District Court judge in New Zealand since 1988, serving 20 years until his retirement in 2008. Since 1993, with the support of successive Chief District Court Judges, he has been closely involved in the development of restorative justice procedures for adults, which led to the inclusion of such procedures in New Zealands Sentencing Act 2002. | 7/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
53 |
02 Convergence-Bringing Dialogue to Challenging Policy Issues, with Rob Fersh - Part ll | Convergence is the result of the work of many people, including former members of Congress, philanthropists, and faith communities, all of whom have an interest in developing civil dialogue to solve challenging policy issues.Convergence is working in three areas of interest: US-Pakistan Leaders Forum, Nutrition, Food Production, Processing, and Distribution, and Health, and Education. The Pakistan Leaders Forum is conducting 6 meetings over 3 years in Pakistan and the US. It is linking members of civil society of each country to discuss and develop action plans on issues involving agriculture, energy, health, and education. | 7/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
54 |
04 Convergence-Bringing Dialogue to Challenging Policy Issues, with Rob Fersh - Part lV | Convergence works through a small staff that reflects the diversity of its work. Outside facilitators with deep process expertise are brought in to run the dialogues. Doug asks how Convergence is funded. Dave says that funding is challenging. Generally, projects attract funding and some participants are able to fund projects. Convergence has encountered some skepticism, especially from people committed to strong ideologies. It is overcoming these barriers through process success, creating hope for a better future, and carefully selecting issues for dialogue.People can learn more about Convergence by visiting its website at | 7/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
55 |
03 Convergence-Bringing Dialogue to Challenging Policy Issues, with Rob Fersh - Part lll | The Nutrition and Health project is looking at the rising levels of obesity and associated health costs. The project is in the assessment phase as interviews and research is conducted to outline issues. The common wisdom is that people in the food sector are talking past each other. There seems no coordinated thinking linking food production, regulation, agricultural subsidies, processing and distribution chains, and consumers. As a result, the public is receiving mixed messages about health and food. In essence, the problem seems to be one of developing food literacy to change behaviors.Doug talks about the complexity of the problem, using nutrient density as an example. Rob talks about the general process, which includes conflict mapping, identifying interests, problem-solving, and generating accountability. | 7/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
56 |
01 Convergence-Bringing Dialogue to Challenging Policy Issues, with Rob Fersh - Part l | Some of the most intractable problems domestically and internationally escalate because people simply do not talk to each other. In deeper conflicts, getting the parties to the table is 90 percent of the work. But how do you go about designing and implementing a process that leads from dialogue and understanding to actionable results? One answer is found in a two year old non-profit organization called Convergence.Rob Fersh is the president and founder of Convergence, a non-profit organization founded in 2009 to promote consensus solutions to policy issues of domestic and international importance. Rob has served as the United States country director for Search for Common Ground, an international conflict resolution organization. While at SFCG, he directed national policy consensus projects on health care coverage for the uninsured and U.S.-Muslim relations. Rob has held a variety of positions in government and in the private sector and his passion is in establishing dialogues and conversations between unlikely parties, who together can change the world. | 7/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
57 |
04 Social Entrepreneurs: The Work of Peace and Conflict Planning Canada-Dr. Sarah Meharg | Sarahs organization PCPCanada, www.pcpcanada.com, is social entrepreneurialism designed to bridge the gap between the military and the NGOs by bringing order to chaos. An essential part of any reconstruction effort is to create jobs on the ground for the people living in country so that they may rise out of the poverty created by the destruction of war. | 6/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
58 |
01 War: The Cost of Post-War Reconstruction is Many Times the Cost of the War-Dr. Sarah Mehard | The war in Libya is costing the US over $100 million per month. As the cruise missles and bombs rain down on Khaddafis regime, they are destroying schools, roads, electrical grids, water distribution, and cultural centers. The entire landscape of Libya is being changed forever in the name of regime change. Yet no one is talking about the social and economic cost of reconstruction.My guest is Dr. Sarah Jane Meharg is president of Peace & Conflict Planners Canada and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada. She is Canadas leading post-conflict reconstruction expert and specializes in the research and implementation of advanced technologies for reconstruction initiatives. Dr. Meharg focuses on economic acceleration in regions experiencing economic transitions, including post-conflict and post-disaster environments such as Afghanistan, Haiti and the Balkans. Sarah tells us that the lessons learned in the reconstruction of Europe and Japan after World War Two have largely been forgotten. Most importantly, we have forgotten that war destroys places having great cultural, symbolic, and spiritual meaning. Thus, the process of post-conflict reconstruction is in large part a reconstruction of social identities. | 6/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
59 |
03 Peacebuilding: Planning Reconstruction is Complex-Dr. Sarah Meharg | Sarah advocates the use of Effects-Based Approaches to Outcomes as a planning philosophy in post-conflict reconstruction planning. She believes that reconstruction planning is a complex, difficult job that requires broad collaboration and coordination. EBAO processes help stakeholders look at all of the interconnected processes that must occur for effective reconstruction. Sarah points out that under current practices, dozens of NGOs may descend upon a war-torn country. Since they do not even use the same common software platforms, there is often utter confusion and wasteful duplication of efforts. At a minimum, NGOs should be using a common software platform to share data and allow for better coordination of efforts. | 6/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
60 |
02 War and Identity: Indenticide is the Intentional Targeting and Destruction of Cultural Places-Dr. Sarah Meharg | Sarah has coined the word identicide to describe the intentional destruction of places that have deep symbolic meaning to the people. In most of the 21st century wars, opponents have systematically and intentionally targeted cultural, political, and spiritual architecture that gives places within a country special meaning. Identicide is a way of destroying the morale of people by destroying the familiar landmarks that give places meaning. The problem is compounded during reconstruction because NGOs and government benefactors feel constrained by political correctness to not get into the middle of cultural conflicts around what and how these deeply symbolic places should be rebuilt. Imagine the British and the Europeans becoming involved in the design controversies around the reconstruction of Ground Zero? As a result, a power vacuum occurs and political extremists rush in to advance their causes. The ensuing conflicts are often more deeply caustic and enduring than the wars that brought them on. | 6/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 60 Episodes |
- Free
- Category: Society & Culture
- Language: English
- © Copyright (c) #DateFormat(now(),"yyyy")# wsRadio.com. All rights reserved.
