This is just to let you know that Proactive Peace will be moving from WordPress (where you’re reading this) to Substack. All the rest of the content will be the same, and if you’ve subscribed to receive posts by email through WordPress then you should automatically receive posts directly from Sub-stack too. If you’re not … Continue reading We’re moving
Land and Peace: Part two
In part one I talked about some of the land issues that arose in each of the communities that were part of my research. In this second post I want to outline some of the Proactive Peace work that these communities were doing to respond to those issues. To be clear, my research was just … Continue reading Land and Peace: Part two
Land and Peace: Part one
The importance of Land rights for peace was a major theme that came out of my doctoral research. Of course, there is already a general awareness that wars are fought over land (not having enough land, wanting more land, etc). But what my research emphasised was that resolving land issues before there is conflict is … Continue reading Land and Peace: Part one
Untold Stories
I think that there aren't enough stories of peace shared in the media, and the 2021 election in Samoa is a good example of this. This post is one that I had actually meant to publish a few years ago, but for a range of reasons that didn't end up happening. After looking back over … Continue reading Untold Stories
Making Peace Inevitable
So at long last the thesis is finished! The short version is that you can access it for free here and use it in accordance with its Creative Commons license. If you've read some of this blog so far you'll have an idea what the thesis about. I look at what Proactive Peace work currently … Continue reading Making Peace Inevitable
Proactive Peace Profile: Farming for Social Change
Over the course of my PhD, I’ve had the privilege of being able to speak to a wide number of different people around the world about their peace work. One of the groups I’ve focused on is the Farming for Social Change network. They’re a network of smaller programmes in the American Friends Service Committee. … Continue reading Proactive Peace Profile: Farming for Social Change
Teach a man to fish?
Over the course of my ongoing research, I have had the privilege of seeing lots of different Proactive Peace projects in action. One of the key questions I keep asking along the way is: how can we, as a wider community, support this work? Of course, there’s more than one answer to this question, and … Continue reading Teach a man to fish?
Proactive Peace Profile: AfriNov, Turning The Tide
Part of what I am hoping to do with my PhD. research, is to be able to describe what Proactive Peace currently looks like in different parts of the world. Too often it seems that peace work isn’t given much attention until violence has already started. And as important as that kind of peace work … Continue reading Proactive Peace Profile: AfriNov, Turning The Tide
Other writing
Newsroom, August 2022 I wrote this article in August 2022 for NewRoom. Follow the link below and have a look: In an age of ‘megacrises’, prevention may be the only option we have left The World Health Organisation says we are in the midst of a humanitarian 'megacrisis'. We need to prioritise prevention and learn … Continue reading Other writing
In Focus: Resource Scarcity and Unstable Economy
This post is an exploration of another conflict risk-factor 'type'—Resource Scarcity and Unstable Economy. I talk about what conflict risk-factors are here, but just as a quick re-fresh, they're the things which increase a community's vulnerability to violent-conflict. They don’t directly spark violence, but they’re the dry kindling that so easily catches alight. I call … Continue reading In Focus: Resource Scarcity and Unstable Economy