Search Climate Insights Directory

This study evaluates the role of traditional and enlightened women's movements in managing electoral crises in Nigeria and Kenya, contrasting informal traditional methods—such as sex strikes and the display of bare breasts by elderly women—against formal, gendered peace processes in African transitional democracies.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues that while illegal mining is a pervasive aspect of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it is a manifestation rather than a root cause. The author contends that focusing solely on regulating the mining sector—through measures like the DRC's 2010-2011 mining ban or the US Dodd-Frank Act—without addressing underlying issues of governance, land, and ethnicity is insufficient for achieving sustainable peace.

A report by the Institute for Security Studies exploring the emergence of violent extremism in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique, based on fieldwork in four districts.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the current and potential role of the UN Security Council in conflict prevention, providing policy recommendations and analyzing the influence of Global South countries and new UN leadership.

This research paper argues that current humanitarian military interventions in Africa are inadequate because they rely on outdated Cold War peacekeeping doctrines. The author calls for a new 'humanitarian security intervention' doctrine that allows for a higher remit in the use of force to prioritize the restoration of security over simple humanitarian assistance.

This research paper by Collette Schulz-Herzenberg of the Institute for Security Studies examines whether elections in South Africa serve as an effective accountability mechanism by analyzing voter behavior, perceptions of political parties, and cognitive mobilization.

This report, the second volume of a monograph edited by Peter Gastrow for the Institute for Security Studies, examines the penetration of organised crime into state and business structures across Southern Africa. It specifically provides detailed country studies on Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa, illustrating how criminal networks exploit weak governance and economic instability to create a regional market for illicit goods.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the isolation of the Eritrean regime, detailing its strained relations with the international community, conflicts with neighboring states, and the economic impact of international sanctions and restrictions.

This research paper by Dr Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies argues that Africa's high dependency on natural resources creates severe adaptive challenges when facing the combined pressures of climate change and population growth.

This research paper examines the limited impact of international security sector reform (SSR) and stabilisation efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2003, attributing failures to a technical approach that ignored political dynamics and elite incentives.

This research paper examines the international debate and various forums regarding the banning of anti-personnel landmines (APMs), specifically focusing on the tension between security and humanitarian perspectives and the role of the Ottawa Process.

This monograph examines the evolving relationship between the African Union (AU) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), focusing on the transition from early support to current tensions highlighted by the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Peace and Security Council Report No 29 provides analyses on several security challenges across Africa, including the credibility of presidential elections in Liberia, ongoing conflict in Sudan, the expansion of AQIM, political instability in Burundi, and the coordination between the African Peace and Security Architecture (ASPA) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the stalemate in Zimbabwe's constitution-drafting process under the Global Political Agreement (GPA), the role of SADC mediation led by South African President Jacob Zuma, and the potential political scenarios surrounding the expected June 2013 elections.

This research paper by Andre Standing examines the nature of organised crime, arguing that the term has become a muddled analytical concept in mainstream discourse. The author proposes replacing the concepts of 'organised crime' and 'white-collar crime' with the notion of 'illicit enterprise' to shift the analytical focus from criminal groups to specific commodity and service economies.

This seminar report from the Institute for Security Studies outlines the objectives of a gathering of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers aimed at critically reflecting on post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts, specifically addressing the gap between top-down strategies and local interests.

Peace and Security Council Report No 26 provides analysis on political instability and security challenges in Libya, Egypt, Guinea, and Malawi, alongside a retrospective on the African Union's response to drought in the Horn of Africa.

This research paper examines the potential for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute peacekeepers for serious crimes committed in Africa, concluding that the ICC's role will likely be limited due to jurisdictional constraints and the principle of complementarity.

This monograph, edited by Cheryl Hendricks and published by the Institute for Security Studies, presents a collection of think pieces from a December 2005 workshop in Cape Town. It examines the transition from a state-centric security paradigm to a human security approach in Southern Africa, analyzing the conceptual challenges, the role of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and the persistent gap between policy frameworks and the actual lived experiences of citizens.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies regarding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee meeting in New York from 4 to 15 May 2009, focusing on the treaty's pillars and the strategic interests of African states leading up to the 2010 Review Conference.