Search Climate Insights Directory
1,466 documents from Institute for Security Studies
untitled
The provided text consists solely of biographical information for the authors of a report, including researchers from the Institute for Security Studies, Zambian government and military officials, and representatives from the Bank of Zambia and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
REFUGEES AND LOCALS: AN INCOMPATIBLE PAIR?
The document discusses the psychological and social challenges refugees face, the policy approach of Zambia in integrating refugees with local populations, and the implementation of a peace and conflict resolution training programme. It argues that sustainable repatriation depends on healing 'invisible wounds' and equipping refugees with human relationship skills to prevent conflict upon returning to war-ravaged homelands.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Land tenure, land reform and conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa: Towards a research agenda
The report examines how insecure land access and the manipulation of land rights contribute to poverty and violent conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the tension between customary and statutory tenure systems and warns that land is often used as a 'resource of conflict' by elites to consolidate power and enforce ethnic divisions. The authors argue for the importance of local governance and field-based empirical research in developing effective land policies and reconciliation efforts.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Discussion Notes
The notes detail the necessity of strengthening the Ituri Interim Administration (IIA) and addressing the 'justice vacuum' through the International Criminal Court to prevent impunity for war crimes. In the Kivus, the success of the DDRRR process is hindered by MONUC's non-political approach toward FDLR leaders to maintain relations with Rwanda. Operationally, MONUC faces severe resource constraints, logistical challenges due to ruined infrastructure, and the need for additional troops to effectively enforce the arms embargo and provide security in remote forest regions.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Inside the ‘crystal ball’: Understanding the evolution of military in Botswana and the challenges ahead
The research paper analyzes the development of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), arguing that the state was initially born without war-making capacity due to a preference for peace and fear of military coups. The BDF was eventually created in 1977 as a reactive response to regional instability and incursions by the Rhodesian government. The authors assess the BDF's professionalism, its challenges regarding the recruitment of women and the impact of HIV/AIDS, and the effectiveness of executive and parliamentary oversight. It concludes that while the BDF is professional and well-integrated into regional peacekeeping, it faces future challenges related to shrinking national resources and the need for a formal national security strategy.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
The Congolese National Army In search of an identity
The document provides a historical analysis of the military forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, beginning with the Force Publique under King Léopold II and continuing through the Zairian Armed Forces (FAZ) under President Mobutu. It details the systemic politicisation, tribalisation, and de-professionalisation of the army during the Mobutu era, which led to a breakdown in civil-military relations. The text further examines the conflicts involving the AFDL and the 'First African World War,' culminating in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue and the subsequent efforts to integrate government and rebel forces into a restructured, apolitical national army under the 2003 constitution.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
African military spending: Defence versus development?
The document examines the 'guns versus butter' debate, concluding that while African military spending is low by global standards, its economic impact is generally slightly negative and varies based on a country's political stability and economic resources. It argues that security conditions drive spending and that conflict-reduction efforts are more effective for development than simple appeals to reduce military budgets.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Mono 118.indd
The research identifies a cycle of instability in the Mano River Basin driven by extreme poverty, porous borders, and the failure to effectively reintegrate ex-combatants. It highlights how natural resources like diamonds and timber are leveraged by warlords and terror networks to fund conflict, and how the lack of economic opportunities for youth makes them susceptible to recruitment as mercenaries. The document argues that sustainable peace requires coordinated sub-regional efforts in disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR), alongside the economic empowerment of youth and the regulation of the extractive industries to prevent corporate security forces from becoming new militias.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Africa's Futures
Africa is experiencing rapid population growth and urbanisation, with a projected population of over 1.8 billion by 2035. While the continent shows a positive overall trend, growth is heterogeneous and often outpaced by population increases, leading to a projected rise in the number of people living in extreme poverty. The report highlights a 'demographic dividend' that remains delayed due to high fertility rates, and notes that while global democratic trends are declining, popular support for democracy in Africa remains strong despite fragile foundations. Security is shifting from large-scale interstate conflicts toward more complex, lower-fatality violence, including urban riots and terrorism. Economic growth is hindered by a lack of structural transformation and a significant infrastructure deficit, particularly in basic services like water and sanitation, which the report argues are more critical for poverty reduction than traditional trade infrastructure.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
The International Criminal Court
The document serves as a teaching module on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the domestic prosecution of international crimes. It details the ICC's evolution, its four primary organs, and the complex jurisdictional triggers and admissibility requirements, specifically the principle of complementarity. It further analyzes the tension between the ICC's mandate and state immunities, particularly regarding the Rome Statute's Articles 27 and 98. Finally, it compares how South Africa, Botswana, and Malawi incorporate international crimes into their national laws, highlighting South Africa's more comprehensive implementing legislation compared to the limited Geneva Conventions Acts in Botswana and Malawi.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Guide
CONFLICTS IN AFRICA
The report examines how land tenure insecurity, scarcity, and the tension between customary and statutory legal systems contribute to both the structural and proximate causes of conflict in Africa. It argues that poverty and the loss of livelihoods are central to the conflict-underdevelopment cycle, and that land often serves as a tool for political struggle among elites or a source of ethnic mobilisation. Through case studies of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Angola, the text highlights the risks of 'formalising' land rights without considering local customs and the importance of multi-sectoral, pro-poor land policies in post-conflict reconstruction.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Invisible Stakeholders
The document provides a historical analysis of youth involvement in Mozambique's political change, arguing that young people have often been the 'engine for change' but have also been subject to systemic exploitation and manipulation. It traces the shift from youth seeking economic autonomy through migrant labour during Portuguese colonialism to their role as ideological tools for Frelimo's socialist project after independence. The text highlights the blurred lines between civilian and military roles during the civil war, specifically challenging the narrative that only Renamo used child soldiers by documenting Frelimo's forced recruitment and deceptive schooling programmes. It concludes that while youth were central to the nation's formation, contemporary Mozambican youth feel unheard and marginalized by the current regime.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Invisible Stakeholders
The report examines the role of youth in Angola's 27-year civil war, arguing that they were not merely passive victims but were actively co-opted and politicised by both the MPLA and UNITA. It details the mechanisms of indoctrination, forced recruitment, and the economic drivers—such as the informal diamond trade—that integrated youth into the war's structure. The author highlights the long-term challenge of reintegrating these 'child-adults' into a society marked by deep political polarisation and a lack of socio-economic opportunity.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Invisible Stakeholders
The report examines the marginalisation of youth in Uganda, arguing that the state maintains power by subordinating young people and restricting their political agency. It highlights a disconnect between the 'success story' narrative of the Ugandan state and the reality of high youth unemployment, limited civil rights, and the 'invisibility' of youth in development agendas. The text explores various forms of mobilisation, from state-orchestrated electoral participation and populist movements to the lure of warlordism in Northern Uganda, while noting that skilled youth are often encouraged to emigrate to reduce domestic political opposition.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Combating corruption in the extractive industry in Africa
The document examines how corruption in the oil, gas, and mining sectors in Africa leads to significant wealth loss through illicit financial flows, tax avoidance, and transfer pricing. It identifies a lack of state capacity, bureaucratic discretion, and political will as primary drivers of these failures. While various international and regional initiatives exist, the author argues they are often ineffective due to low administrative capacity and a focus on 'grand' corruption over systemic issues. The paper highlights Botswana as a successful model of natural resource governance and provides twelve recommendations for technical and institutional capacity building to combat corruption.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Elections for sale: Political-party funding – a necessary evil?
The document examines the relationship between political party funding and corruption in Africa, arguing that unregulated private financing and the abuse of state resources lead to state capture and the erosion of democratic legitimacy. Through case studies of South Africa, Ghana, and Burundi, it highlights the gap between formal anti-corruption commitments and actual implementation. The author proposes a comprehensive regulatory framework including public disclosure, expenditure caps, and the potential creation of a national democracy fund to decouple donors from direct political influence.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
The Green Climate Fund and the role of the World Bank
The document examines the establishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) following the 2010 Cancun and 2011 Durban agreements. It critiques the World Bank's historical role in climate finance, citing conflicts of interest, a bias toward mitigation over adaptation, and the promotion of private sector instruments that may marginalise the poorest nations. The author advocates for the GCF to maintain a distinct legal personality, an independent secretariat, and a grant-based approach to adaptation to ensure direct access for developing countries, particularly in Africa.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
The Global "GO-TO THINK TANKS”
The report provides a comprehensive mapping of the global think tank landscape, identifying 5,080 such institutions worldwide. It specifically highlights the 'go-to' think tanks through a selection process involving peer nominations and expert panels, resulting in a list of the top 10 and top 30 think tanks globally (excluding the US), as well as a separate ranking of the top 30 US-based institutions. The document also analyzes the growth and recent decline in the establishment of new think tanks, attributing these trends to factors such as the information revolution, globalization, and changing donor priorities.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
A strategic conflict assessment of Zambia
The report assesses Zambia's stability, noting that while the country has avoided civil war, it faces structural threats from pervasive poverty, neopatrimonial governance, and an imbalance of power between the executive and other state branches. It highlights the risk of political entrepreneurs exploiting ethnic tensions and the potential for social unrest due to economic inequality and a stalled constitutional review process.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
Criminal Justice Norms, politics, institutions, processes and constraints
The document explores the tension between formal 'due process' and substantive justice, arguing that criminal law is often a tool for political and economic power rather than a neutral instrument. It contrasts consensus-functionalist and radical-conflict paradigms of law and evaluates the impact of colonial legacies on the current state of criminal justice in Africa, where corruption and repression remain prevalent.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper