Inside Conflict

In der neuen Folge des ACP-Podcasts „Inside Conflict“ spricht Sophia Stanger, Senior Project Manager und Focal Point für Environmental Peacebuilding am ACP, ausführlich über die Verbindung zwischen Klima und Frieden und identifiziert in diesem Zusammenhang zentrale Programmpunkte der COP30.

Summary of the Workshop Outcomes Bernadette Holzer, Head of International Conference Management, ACP Paneldiscussion: Synthesis and Perspectives for the Future Speakers Christian Strohal, Chairman of the Advisory Board, ACP Ertuğrul Apakan, former Turkish diplomat Nancy Annan, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Peace and Security, Coventry University Moderator: Damita Pressl Closing Remarks Tobias Lang, Director, ACP

Speakers: Mario Drobics, Head of Competence Unit for Cooperative Digital Technologies, AIT Annika Hansen, Deputy Head of Policy, Partnerships & Innovation Team, ZIF Berlin Lina Rukšteliene, Lithuanian Ambassador to Austria Branka Panic, Founder and Executive Director, AI for PEACE Daniel Hikes-Wurm, Senior Advisor for Defence Policy, Directorate General for Defence Policy of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence Moderator: Damita Pressl

Speakers: Heinz Gärtner, Department of Political Science, University of Vienna Alexander Dubowy, political analyst and Eastern Europe / Russia / CIS researcher Georg Häsler, security policy editor, NZZ Ursula Plassnik, former Austrian Foreign Minister Moderator: Damita Pressl

Speakers: Wolfgang Petritsch, President, Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip) Oliver P. Richmond, Professor of International Relations, Peace and Conflict, University of Manchester Farah Bdour, senior advisor at the Palestinian Territories, Egypt and the Levant (IPEL) program, United States Institute of Peace Bettina Muscheidt, former EU Head of Delegation and Ambassador to Yemen, Libya, and Nicaragua Moderator: Irene Giner-Reichl, former Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Vienna, and Austrian Ambassador to China, Mongolia, Brazil and Suriname

Opening Tobias Lang, Director, ACP Welcome Address Norbert Darabos, President, ACP, former Austrian Minister of Defence  Opening Speeches Anja Haider-Wallner, Deputy Governor (Burgenland) Keynote: From Crisis To Peace - Der israelisch-palästinensische Friedensprozess zwischen Scheitern und Fortschritt Yair Hirschfeld, Historian and Key Architect of the Oslo Accords

Mit Beiträgen von Susanne Koller und Martina Hiess

The report presented by ACP Director Moritz Ehrmann and European Voices Editor-in-Chief Thomas Seifert deals with the growing impact of the climate crisis on conflicts, upheavals in international relations and the prerequisites for mediation in the war over Ukraine or in West Africa. Assessments of how technological tools (PeaceTech) can support peace work and of new actors promoting and mediating peace are also summarised in a compact format.

Speakers: Paulina Behluli, Activist, Kosova Open Data Fabiola Hanna, Assistant Professor of Emerging Medi, The New School Fabjan Lashi, Teamleader of SURGE Data Hub at Crisis Bureau, UNDP Sara Petti, International Network Lead, Project and Community Manager, Open Knowledge Foundation Moderator: Nathan Coyle, Senior Project Manager for PeaceTech, ACP

Speakers: Hrair Balian, Advisory Board, ACP Ghassan El Kahlout, Director, Centre for Peace and Humanitarian Studies, Doha Institute Kholood Khair, Director, Confluence Advisory Meredith Preston McGhie, Secretary General, Global Centre for Pluralism Moderator: Anna Hess, Senior Conflict Resolution Advisor, ACP

The outbreak of armed conflicts in many parts of the world – including Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, or Sudan – along with the pandemic and worsening climate crisis have all added to the unpredictability of the global landscape. Abrogation of the last remaining US-Russian arms control treaties and widespread war crimes further contribute to the erosion of the existing international order. The paralysis of the security and mediation tools of international organisations also exacerbates this crisis. The long period of US hegemony in the international system - which brought stability to the geopolitical environment - has correspondingly been replaced by a fragmented world order, with new actors entering the stage and challenging the unipolar political system. Emerging powers play an increasing role in shaping war and peace in the world, as they contribute to a growing rivalry between great powers, while at the same time offering their services for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Speakers: Mustafa Aydin, President, International Relations Council of Turkey Jacob Happymon, Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University(tbc) Luo Yanqi, Assistant Researcher, Xiangshan Forum Moderator: Angela Kane, Advisory Board, ACP

As the severity of the climate and environmental crisis escalates, new challenges for peace and security are emerging. Weather extremes, disasters, and the depletion of resources are not only exacerbating existing threats but also giving rise to conflicts centered around narratives of the climate crisis and the pathways to mitigate its effects. In response to these pressing realities, the nexus between climate, the environment, peace, and security has garnered increased attention in international frameworks and policies. However, the crucial question remains: are these frameworks effectively translated into action? How do communities, particularly those most affected by climate change and conflict, experience the implementation of these policies? Which challenges, innovative solutions and needs for change emerge in connecting peacebuilding with climate justice? And what can international organizations, civil society and policy makers do (better) to transform conflicts whilst also building a socially and environmentally just future? Speakers: Aisha Al-Sarihi, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House Mamadou Bodian, UCAD, Sahel Research Group Alexandra Fong, Chief for Policy and Guidance, United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) Professor Lučka Kajfež Bogataj, University of Ljubljana, Member of the UN Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Moderator: Irene Giner-Reichl, President, Global Forum on Sustainable Energy / Board Member, ACP

Der russische Krieg gegen die Ukraine befindet sich in seinem dritten Jahr. Die Auswirkungen des Krieges haben Europa in große Unsicherheit versetzt und beinträchtigen das Wohlergehen der Menschen in Europa und vielen anderen Teilen der Welt. Nicht zuletzt hat der Angriffskrieg die internationale Ordnung untergraben und stellt die Fähigkeit der traditionellen Akteure zur Vermittlung und Konfliktlösung in Frage. Der Krieg scheint sich inzwischen zu einem Zermürbungskrieg entwickelt zu haben, bei dem die Konfliktparteien in der Regel beginnen, über Verhandlungen als Alternative zur Anwendung von Gewalt nachzudenken. Welche Wege aus diesem Labyrinth des Krieges sind denkbar, was müsste dafür getan werden? Sprecher: Stephanie Fenkart, Direktorin, International Institute for Peace (IIP) Raphael Nägeli, Botschafter, Ständige Vertretung der Schweiz bei der OSZE, den Vereinten Nationen und anderen internationalen Organisationen in Wien Daniela Prugger, freie Korrespondentin für den STANDARD und Ö1 Moderator: Damita Pressl, Journalistin, Neue Zürcher Zeitung

Im Herbst 2023 wurde im Rahmen der ACP Friedenspädagogik ein vom BMEIA gefördertes Projekt anlässlich 30 Jahre Wiener Weltkonferenz, die aufbauend auf der Allgemeinen Erklärung der Menschenrechte von 1948 die Universalität und Unteilbarkeit dieser bekräftigte, durchgeführt. Die Quintessenz der verschiedenen Aktivitäten ist in die aktuelle Podcast-Folge eingeflossen. Ursula Gamauf-Eberhardt, Senior Project Managerin der ACP-Friedenspädagogik diskutierte mit Univ.-Prof. emer. Werner Wintersteiner, einem renommierten Experten, Fragen rund um die Dilemmata im Spannungsfeld von Frieden und Menschenrechte, den Wunsch nach einem „Menschenrecht auf Frieden“, aber auch Möglichkeiten und Herausforderungen von Menschenrechtsbildung. Es wurde Rückschau gehalten auf die Errungenschaften und Stolpersteine der letzten 30 bzw. 75 Jahre. Und ein Ausblick gewagt auf die zentralen und wichtigsten Herausforderungen im Bereich Menschenrechte für die Gegenwart und nahe Zukunft.

Part 3 of Inside South Sudan and Uganda: ACP Director Moritz Ehrmann talks to Edmund Yakani, Executive Director and Co-founder of CEPO, again to Rose Othieno, Executive Director of CECORE, and Jan Pospisil, member of the ACP Advisory Board, about how conflicts can develop and change across borders, in this case the one between South Sudan and Uganda.

Part 2 of Inside South Sudan and Uganda: ACP Director Moritz Ehrmann talks to Edmund Yakani, Executive Director and Co-founder of CEPO, again to Rose Othieno, Executive Director CECORE and Jan Pospisil, member of the ACP Advisory Board, and about how conflicts can develop and change across borders, in this case the one between South Sudan and Uganda.

Part 1 of Inside South Sudan and Uganda: ACP Director Moritz Ehrmann talks to Rose Othieno, Executive Director CECORE, and Jan Pospisil, member of the ACP Advisory Board, about how conflicts can develop and change across borders, in this case the one between South Sudan and Uganda.

Wie bereitet man Zivilpersonen auf eine Krisensituation vor? Und was gehört zur Ausbildung von zivilem Krisenmanagement-Personal? Diplomat und Experte Philipp Agathonos erzählt worauf es ankommt.

Professor Uli Jäger ist Direktor für „Globales Lernen für Konflikttransformation“ an der Berghofstiftung; und ehem. langjähriger Co-Direktor des Instituts für Friedenspädagogik in Tübingen. Professor Werner Wintersteiner war Gründer und langjähriger Leiter des „Zentrums für Friedensforschung und Friedenspädagogik“ an der Alpe-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt und Mitbegründer des Masterlehrgangs Global Citizenship Education.

Over 10 years have passed since the change of regime in Libya as a consequence of an armed uprising that resulted in the fall of Ghaddafi regime. However, armed conflicts continued at different scales among different parts of the country, tribes, and other societal groups until today. Hopes that a government of National Unity, established March last year with the support of the UN Mission, led by Mr. Abdul Hamid Aldbaiba would lead to elections and sustainable stability proved false when elections planned for December last year simply never took place. This, among many other agendas and accusations, has led the Parliament in Tobruk, to take action by assigning another government to lead the country towards the elections. This government is led by the former Minister of Interior, Mr. Fathi Bashagha. The conflict is again in perfect shape with both governments denying legality of the other.

Challenges Facing the Next Government - Foreign Policy Relations with Iran and the United States, Integration and role in the Arab Mashriq & Role of Iraqi non-state armed actors in regional conflicts

Challenges Facing the Next Government - Domestic Policy The Future of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Socio-Economic Challenges & The Rentier Economy, Reconstruction and Reconciliation, Continued ISIS insurgency & Anti-Corruption

In this episode we’ll be discussing the challenges faced by the next government whatever the final shape it may take: Socio-Economic Challenges & The Rentier Economy, Continued ISIS insurgency, the Future of the Popular Mobilization Forces and Anti-Corruption ...

In this episode we’ll be discussing the political situation in Iraq: the Paradigm of Iraqi Governance - From Unaccountable Coalitions to Majoritarian Government, Presidential elections and rift between the major Kurdish Parties ...

In this third segment, we are going to look at the international dimension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in particular in relation to the new government.

In this second part, we will focus on what this heterogeneous Israeli government would mean for broader peacemaking related questions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the first episode let us turn to probably the most significant recent development, which has been the establishment of a new government in Israel, namely, a coalition government that is probably unlike any other coalition elsewhere in the world, bringing together different sides that would usually be in opposition to each other, as well as bringing an end to Israeli politics dominated by Benjamin Netanyahu.

The last years of Bashir’s reign have been characterised by high inflation, unemployment, and a constant rise of prices of goods of daily life. Regular ‘bread revolts’ weakened the Bashir regime and, finally, were an important trigger point for the protests that brought about its end. However, despite successful negotiations on a debt relief and substantial international economic support for the transitional government, the economic situation remains dire. The socio-economic conditions in all parts of Sudan remain challenging and endanger the success of the political transition.

Since Sudan’s independence on 1 January 1956, the country has seen numerous civil wars, interrupted only for brief relatively peaceful periods. After increasing pressure by Islamist groups, then-President Jaafar Nimeiry introduced Sharia law in the whole country in September 1983, triggering a decade-long civil war in Sudan’s South that ended with the split of South Sudan in 2011. Another region of consistent conflict has been Darfur, where a number of armed organisations have challenged the central power in Khartoum for decades, before a highly violent civil war broke out in 2003. Several peace initiatives have been initiated to establish a peaceful solution to Sudan’s conflicts – the last of which the ‘Juba Peace Process’ after the end of Bashir’s reign, that brought together over a dozen armed groups from the whole country.

After almost 30 years in power, Sudan’s dictator Omar al-Bashir had to step down on 11 April 2019 in the face of powerful street protests that started in December 2018. After Bashir’s ousting, a new transitional government took shape, consisting of military and civilian components. Some major figures of Bashir’s security apparatus, such as Mohammed Hamdan Dagallo aka ‘Hemetti’, the commander of the so-called Rapid Support Forces (RSF), were part of the government, as well as transformative civil figures. Prime minister, Abdallah Hamdok, was to represent the civil revolutionaries at the leading position in the transitional government – a fragile arrangement as recent developments showed.