Combatants for Peace’s Post

I will be hosting the fourth webinar covering the topic of power components in the Network States and New Countries ecosystem on Sunday, April 28th. Register and join me, Hugo Mathecowitsch, Sevan Chorluyan, MPH, Ilia Aleksa, and participants from all over the world to discuss this hot topic. #NetworkState #NewCountries

How lucky is Ireland to have a President that can emphatically, empathetically, and eloquently hold to task the ills of our time? No matter what you work at, listen to this speech - it is one for the ages. Make no mistake, he is holding to task the architecture of international coperation and development but he is doing so not in the spirit of retribution but in the spirit of transformation. He is telling us that it is broken but that it can be fixed through a "globalisation from below", if we are brave enough to be honest to ourselves. Some of my favourite snippets: "It is my belief that in Africa, and elsewhere in the heavily populated world, policies must reflect a new beginning in theoretical and policy terms as to how we define concepts such as ‘development’, and indeed ‘globalisation’." "In any ethically based consideration of development in Africa, we must address, too, the role that the Global North has played in its limiting of options for helping the needs of contemporary African nations, in its contribution to suboptimal outcomes in terms of development policy." "There is an absence of authenticity in the reported discourse." "Ideas matter. How they are used matters, and they have a history.......But ideas proved to be bad do not die. They can reappear in policy, often by stealth." "Institutions carry ideological assumptions across borders and generations." "If a United Nations, with its current structure, is unable to prevent war and conflicts, unable to end famine and hunger, unable to manage migration, we must ask ourselves what needs to be done, and we must do it with great urgency, make such changes to the structures and institutions of the UN so as to ensure that such fundamental goals, as were the founding pillars of the United Nations all those years ago, can be delivered." "We are challenged to turn a corner on past failed models, often imposed without consensus and based on flawed assumptions. We are challenged instead to embark on a new beginning, one that is inclusive, life-affirming and celebratory of diversity, one that can work in a variety of settings, including Africa, the continent of the young, upon which so much of our hope for the future rests, one that adequately responds to climate change and the needs of sustainability, one that offers the best prospects for avoiding unnecessary conflict and achieving peace within and between peoples." In achieving a globalisation from below, #diasporaengagement has the power of agency required to make it possible. #Diaspora capital, in all forms, is the greatest asset for Africa and other regions to ensure the "local cultural agency" as identified in this speech drives the global transformations that our President so strongly advocates for. This speaks to the diplomacy of globalisation from below that the President spoke to on another day. Onwards. African Development Bank Group Kingsley Aikins Irish Aid

My essay on how Greece sees the course of European integration - and principally the role of Germany and France. With special thanks to Matthias Waechter and Landry Charrier.

A few insights taken from a lecture of Finish president Alexander Stubb for those who are interested in the current state of affairs in the world, we are living in. In attempt to find order in the world of disorder we as human beings tend to: - overrationalize the past - overdramatize the present - underestimate the future in terms of dynamics we can have: - the world of competition; - the world of conflict; - the world of cooperation. Competition can be good but there is a problem with it. If there are no rules contained it can easily spill over into conflict. This is the world where we are right now. If we have competition and we don't want to spill it over into the conflict we need cooperation. https://lnkd.in/eZiDsFWs

Unbelievably interesting. Magnificent take on SA's current status & future trajectory options 📈 https://lnkd.in/d_i6zvq3

Did you catch us at today's Society for International Development, United States (SID-US) conference? Here's how different Eurasia Foundation team members showed up to make the most of this eventful day!   Thanks for having us, SID-US. Until next year!   (Video description: Seven members of Eurasia Foundation's team walk or run in slow motion through a door at the SID-US conference.)

Hosted by Sarah Teo, Dr #Natalegawa shared his insights accumulated for decades in foreign policy, focusing on #ASEAN Pak Marty repeatedly highlighted the lost diplomatic prowess of ASEAN, which is encapsulated as a convening power, informal diplomacy based on candid and frank leaders-level engagement in a comfortable setting. He further argues that he sees ASEAN from a realist's perspective for the challenges engulfed by constant power injection and dynamics surrounding the region but, in parallel, idealistic as ASEAN is equipped with the capacity to change the dynamic. He points to ASEAN's role as the architect of confidence-building measures, demonstrated when the #ARF was established and the APT was conceived under ASEAN's leadership. For example, according to Natalegawa, the outcome documents of a series of ASEAN meetings are usually prepared 8-9 months prior to the summit for the leaders' adoption. Due to this time-consuming exercise, ASEAN faces challenges of being insufficient as a convening power and not agile enough to be timely on the issues they need to discuss in-depth at the summit due to the volatile geopolitical situation.  Specifically, in the South China Sea paragraphs in the outcome documents, ASEAN has shown its tendency to make itself a third party by inserting 'some countries' instead of sending a unified message since 2015. This is seen as ambivalent as diverse yet inconsistent. Natalegawa argues that ASEAN must transcend its role as a mere 'event organiser' and avoid falling into routine. His insights and experience are very rich, and ASEAN is indeed the product of the experienced thinkers like Natalegawa. But how to theorise such intangible asset deeply ingrained in the regional diplomacy is a very novice yet difficult task. How to fill the details to convince the dialogue partners ASEAN is dealing with as more than a covener? In this connection, #Acharya has endeavoured to theories ASEAN from a non-West angle, and this has gained some recognition in the IR field. Nonetheless, this isn't fully supported in the academia due to its ambiguity. https://lnkd.in/g3WwUnbZ

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): A Multifaceted Regional Alliance **Historical Background and Membership** The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a significant intergovernmental organization that originated from the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996. It was officially established in 2001 with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as its founding members. The SCO has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran, with Belarus joining most recently in 2024. It also engages with observer states and dialogue partners, making it a pivotal entity in Eurasian geopolitics. **Core Objectives** The SCO's primary objectives are to foster mutual trust and neighborly relations among its members, promote effective cooperation in political, trade, economic, and cultural spheres, and maintain regional peace, security, and stability. **Key Achievements** Over the years, the SCO has made significant strides in enhancing regional security and economic development. It has been instrumental in combating the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and has developed a robust framework for economic cooperation among member states. **Economic Initiatives** The SCO's economic agenda includes ambitious projects like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to improve regional connectivity and trade. The Astana Light Rail Project exemplifies infrastructure development, while energy cooperation has seen the advancement of pipeline networks and integrated power grids, bolstering the region's energy security and economic interdependence. **Cultural Exchanges** Cultural exchange programs under the SCO banner have played a crucial role in enhancing mutual understanding and solidarity. These include art festivals, exhibitions, and the promotion of cultural heritage, which have enriched the intercultural dialogue among member states. **Anti-Terrorism Efforts** The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is the SCO's dedicated arm for coordinating anti-terrorism efforts. It facilitates intelligence sharing, joint operations, and the development of unified strategies to combat terrorism, thereby enhancing the collective security of the region. **Global Financial Systems and Blockchain** The SCO is exploring the use of blockchain technology to streamline payments within the organization. This innovation could potentially offer enhanced security, efficiency, and interoperability in financial transactions, impacting global financial systems at large. #intelligencematters

#GlobalArmenianSummit24 We were pleased to welcome Aram Spendjian, President and Co-founder of Lorens NYC, as a speaker at the Global Armenian Summit. Aram contributed to the session titled "#Diaspora as a Bridge: Connecting #Armenian Exports to Global Markets." Watch the full interview with Aram Spendjian to hear his insights on the Diaspora's role in linking Armenian exports to global markets. https://lnkd.in/e2reSQm8

“Fundamental changes in the position of Roma, and others in similar situations, are not only the responsibility of states and political elites; European societies as a whole must mobilize to build a Europe for the 21st century.” This article by our Zeljko Jovanovic in Serbia’s Novi Magazin includes key points from our network’s Roma for Europe 2030 agenda, which makes the case for why Europe needs the Roma and lists actions to be taken for Roma—and all citizens—to live to their full potential. Read the article at the link in the comments. #romaforeurope