FRIDE Peace, Security & Human Rights

The proliferation of the "parallel state"

Ivan Briscoe — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

J.Razuri/AFP/Getty Images

Democracy and modern institutions have spread across the developing world in the past three decades, but the results are not always as expected. In some notorious cases, parts of the state and the judicial system have become accomplices of organised crime and terror groups, generating intense public insecurity, stalling efforts to reduce poverty and causing major headaches for foreign governments seeking to stabilise these violent nations.

Based on a close study of Pakistan and Guatemala, as well as a number of other cases ranging from Fujimori's Peru to contemporary Guinea-Bissau, this Working Paper sets out to define the novel concept of the "parallel state". It explains the emergence of these states in contexts where democracy and open markets have recently been installed, and analyses the ways in which political leaders and the public connect with entrenched criminal groups.

The international community's dilemma is clear: in dealing with these countries, care must be taken not to secure strategic favours at the cost of empowering untouchable institutions.

China and the United Nations peace missions

Xulio Ríos — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

P. Bronstein/Getty Images

China is ever increasing its participation in United Nations peace missions. This decision has not been taken by chance. Quite on the contrary, it bears witness to the significant change in China’s perception of the outside world ever since the end of the isolation of the Maoist period.

The Chinese presence in peace operations in the Middle East, Haiti, East Timor and especially in Africa is having a positive impact globally. However, such a presence not only stems from a well-intentioned and disinterested disposition to contribute to global peace. Rather, it is also conditioned by China’s need to access certain strategic resources, gain political influence and improve its global image.

The responsibility to contribute

Robert Matthews — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

A. Romana/AFP/Getty Images

This comment, which is based on a presentation given by Robert Matthews before the Asembleia da República de Portugal on June 25, focuses on the role of Europe and the responsibility of industrial nations to protect the physical, economic and social well-being of peoples in developing and conflicted areas of the world.

Today, millions suffer the devastation from local wars and violence, and sundry deprivations attack the most basic human, psychological and moral needs. The international system is still a fragile creature to address today’s conflicts; globalization, likewise, is not providing a decent life for hundreds of millions of people.

While Europe promotes a modern, democratic model in general, it has followed all too closely the US example of concentrating on terrorism and national security rather than development. Europe should be featuring its strong suit and applying the classic instruments of soft power to conflict and post-conflict societies. It is also important that its efforts in this regard -- development assistance, disaster relief, security assistance, public diplomacy, educational programs, work with NGOs and dialogue with civil society-- need to be coordinated to be truly effective.

Congo: Searching for the missing peace

Xavier Zeebroek — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

This working paper, by Xavier Zeebroek, explores the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which, since 1999, has been intertwined with the history of the Congolese conflict. The continued strengthening of the mandate of the UN mission has resulted in the slow rise to power of the international community in this country.

Throughout its history, MONUC has been a peace experiment and, as such, a diligent supplier of ‘lessons learned’ for the United Nations Secretariat.

Owing to the extremely complex situation in the country, it has become an all-purpose mission: it seeks to consolidate peace through the organisation of elections and participation in security sector reform and DDR, and it also partakes in state-building, through its endeavours to support a return to the rule of law. Simultaneously, the mission continues with its traditional peace-keeping tasks.

For a more progressive transatlantic agenda

Jean-Paul Marthoz — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

Black clouds are hovering over the last days of the Bush administration. In order to face up to all the crises, from Wall Street to Waziristan, there is an urgent need for a responsible and dedicated engagement of the U.S. and the EU.

The world has to confront a host of issues head-on: climate change, growing inequality, state failure, mass atrocities, transnational criminal networks. This can only be done if both the EU and the U.S. adopt a more progressive agenda. Progressism is in fact the new name for realism.

The enigmas of Iran

Paulo Botta — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

B. Mehri/AFP/Getty Images

On 30 June, FRIDE, in association with the Barcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture (CCCB), organised “The Enigmas of Iran”, an event in which six international experts analysed the current situation in Iran both internally and internationally. Two films were shown on the first day (“Iran, a Revolution Betrayed” and “Gilaneh”) which served as an introduction to the debate on the second day.

In an international context dominated by concern over Iran’s nuclear activity, the seminar addressed the need for in-depth and exhaustive information about the reality of Iran since such knowledge is currently lacking, in part owing to the opacity of the Iranian system, but also to stereotyped views of the country as seen from abroad.

A chance for peace? The Collapse of the"Third Front" in the war against terrorism

Alain Gresh — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

Although pessimism over instability and the threat of terrorism prevails in other parts of the Middle East and Asia, one traditionally-conflict torn country appears to have made remarkable steps towards peace. Following the Doha Accords of May this year, Lebanon has attained, at least temporarily, a stable internal political settlement.

An important consequence of the accords has been the rehabilitation of Syria into the diplomatic dynamic of the region following several years of frosty relations with the United States and France, particularly after the murder of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

Under the aegis of Turkey, Israel and Syria have begun to talk to each other once again - eight years after promising peace negotiations between the countries ground to a halt. Syrian president Bashar al Assad sealed his international rehabilitation with an appearance in Paris at the talks to mark the creation of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Indeed, Assad's recent comments show that the Syrian leader is increasingly concerned by the influence of Islamist radicalism in the region, and believes that only concerted collective action by Arab states, along with economic development, can stop the region's young people from being drawn towards religious extremism.

State crisis and the social pact in Bolivia

Laura Tedesco — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

Bolivian President Evo Morales delivers a press conference next to Bolivian Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera and UNASUR's representative Juan Gabriel Valdéz. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

>Bolivia has not died, but it is in the throes of a violent death. It has been mired in political turbulence for decades. Over the last few weeks, the clash between the government of Evo Morales and those in favour of independence from the provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija, Chuquisaca and Cochabamba has worsened, causing deaths, injuries and disappearances.

The national government has implemented a state of siege in the department of Pando, establishing an atmosphere of tense calm which ended with the arrest of the governor on account of his disregard for the emergency measure.

After a meeting of the Latin American governments within the framework of UNASUR (the Union of South-American Nations), a process of dialogue has begun and may open up opportunities for some degree of optimism.

This commentary offers an analysis of this political situation as part of the process of formation of the Bolivian state and of the establishment of a new social contract.

See the interview in La Razón (Bolivia) with Ivan Briscoe on building a pact in Bolivia. (In spanish)

IBSA: An international actor and partner of the EU?

Susanne Gratius — 2008-10-13T20:03:00+01:00

Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images

Emerging powers and south-south cooperation are beginning to alter the foundations of the international system and to challenge the traditional power structure within multilateral organizations. The recently established dialogue forum between Brazil, India and South Africa (IBSA) is part of this trend towards the establishment of a new global order.

Edited by Susanne Gratius, this Working Paper analyses the prospects and limits of the IBSA dialogue forum between India, Brazil and South Africa and the three countries' relations with the EU.

The three chapters of the Working Paper, written by several authors, concentrate on IBSA's identity, the status of power of India, Brazil and South Africa, their bilateral strategic partnerships with the EU and the advantages for closer relations between IBSA and the EU.