Latest News Events

Democracy and the Diffusion of Ideas Event

July 7 2011 Event

The University of Essex and the IDCR are pleased to announce an event on Democracy and the Diffusion of Ideas through New Technologies.

Chaired by Professor Todd Landman, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (IDCR) at the University of Essex, speakers will include:

• Diane Coyle, OBE, Enlightenment Economics

• Laura Walker Hudson, FrontlineSMS

• Jonathan Crook, Cyberalpha

• Samuel Carlisle, Sukey

Further details and information for booking a place can be found here:

http://democracyseminar.eventbrite.com/

IDCR launches new resource on the Arab Revolutions

Real time information on the Arab Revolutions

Working in partnership with Cyberalpha, a technology company focusing on the collection and visualisation of data and information on key dimensions of governance and human rights, the IDCR has sponsored the creation of an information portal on the Middle East and North African Protests. The portal contains a series of general and country level ‘widgets’ that gather and present information feeds from a variety of different sources on developments in the region.

For more information, please CLICK HERE.

MA/MSc in Conflict Resolution Launched!

The Department of Government launches the new Masters in Conflict Resolution

The evolving field of conflict resolution is of increasing importance in the world today. As we watch the increasing desire for democracy, and the conflict that arises as a result, the importance of professional intervention is patently clear.

Understanding the underlying causes of conflict, finding a resolution and maintaining peaceful communities is at the heart of this exciting area of study, and the world clearly needs trained professionals who can work across different political and cultural contexts.

The new Masters in Conflict Resolution is a stimulating interdisciplinary course that provides an overview of international conflict resolution and allows students to explore key methods of conflict management, such as:

• Mediation
• Negotiation
• Collaborative problem solving
• Peace keeping operations

Offered by the top department for political science research in the UK,* students are taught and work alongside people at the forefront of the field of conflict resolution.

The masters also offers the possibility of undertaking an internship in the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, which provides students the opportunity to gain experience working on projects with national and international partners engaged in a variety of activities relating to democracy and conflict resolution.

The MA/MSc is recruiting now for 2011 entry.

Full details of the course can be found on the University of Essex Course Finder, which includes information on how to apply.

Questions about the course or to find out about the course in more detail, please contact the Course Director, Ismene Gizelis.

*In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Department of Governmentat the University of Essex was ranked as the top department for politics and international relations in the UK. The Department is internationally known for its theory-driven empirical research and students in the Department have the opportunity to acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills that are relevant and applicable to solving complex problems in the world today.

Budget debated at business breakfast

The University of Essex teamed up with Colchester2020 on 6^th May to give regional businesses the chance to delve into the detail of the 2011 Budget.

The Growth, Fairness and Stability – Unpicking the 2011 Budget event saw academics and business representatives debate how the Budget will impact on businesses and the community and how fair and sustainable is growth at a time of increasing global conflict and economic uncertainty.

Professor Todd Landman from University’s Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution highlighted the impact of international events such as the ‘Arab Spring’ on domestic politics and the economy. Professor Landman said: “…..there is clear link between the events in the MENA region and the price of oil owing to uncertainty in the international commodity markets, as well as a direct link between the UK’s military engagement in Libya and the 8% budget cuts in defence spending as a result of the October 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review…’

IDCR to take part in Fundamental Rights Symposium

‘Using indicators to measure fundamental rights in the EU’

The Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union, established in 2007 as an advisory board for the European Union on all matters relating to the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, is hosting its Second Symposium 12-13 May 2011 in Vienna on the use of data and indicators to monitor human rights in EU Member States.

IDCR Director Professor Todd Landman will participate in a panel that reviews the use of human rights indicators, with a particular focus on civil and political rights. The theme of the symposium fits with the ongoing work of the IDCR in the area of developing new methods for monitoring, measuring and analysing human rights.

Through its work on the political economy of human rights and its development of a human rights events reporting ‘portal’ with partner organisation Cyberalpha, the IDCR is harnessing the power of new technologies and media solutions to map and monitor human rights developments around the world.

For more details on the FRA Symposium, please CLICK HERE.

Lecture event: Toward a Manifesto for Integrity Education

Toward a Manifesto for Integrity Education

Fredrik Galtung

Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Tiri

Monday 16th May 2011

1.15 pm until 2.30 pm

Room 5A.325

Fredrik Galtung is the Chief Executive of Tiri, an NGO created in 2003 to raise awareness about corruption and to work to reduce corruption by the application of practical knowledge and skills. Tiri works with governments, business, and civil society to find practical solutions to making integrity work. Tiri is currently active in more than 40 countries on six continents. Tiri is supported by a number of leading foundations, governments (e.g. Canada, Great Britain, Norway) and international governmental organisations.

Fredrik Galtung is considered to be one of the foremost experts on measurements and metrics pertaining to corruption, fraud and organizational integrity. His expertise in this matter and strategic corruption control has been sought by the UN Secretariat, the World Bank, the Offices of the Presidents Nicaragua, Mexico, Benin, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, the Philippines as well as by specialised anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups, academics and development organisations.

This is an event sponsored by the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution.

Please address questions to Professor Todd Landman, Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution at [email protected]

Public Lecture on Democracy

IDCR Director Professor Todd Landman will deliver a public lecture entitled

‘Why Democracy is Good for the World’

This event takes place at the Gateway Building at the University of Essex Southend Campus on 13 April.

The Lecture will cover:

• A brief overview of the IDCR
• The ‘Arab Spring’ of 2011
• Definitions of democracy
• Trends in democratization
• Explanations for democracy
• Benefits of democracy

There will be a reception before and time for questions.

Full details for this event can be found by CLICKING HERE.

The lecture slides are now available here:

IDCR-SOUTHEND-13042011-WEB-VERSION

IDCR Director part of ‘gathering of gurus’…

IDCR Director Professor Todd Landman took part in a two-day ‘gathering of gurus’ organised by the Tactical Technology Collective to address questions of using data for evidence-based campaigning among advocacy groups around the world. The event took place in Berlin 4-6 April.

Joined by participants from academia, politics and the non-governmental sector, Professor Landman took part in a series of practical exercises aimed at providing advocacy groups with the rules of thumb in data collection, management, and analysis in support of achieving campaign aims.

Participants included:

• Ethan Roeder from the New Organizing Institute (NOI) in Washington DC and data manager for the 2008 Obama campaign for the US Presidency.
• Friedrich Lindenberg from Liquid Democracy and the Open Knowledge Foundation in Germany
• Helen Darbishire from Access Info in Spain
• Janet Haven from the Open Society Foundation in Hungary
• John Kipchumba from SODNET in Kenya
• Namita Singh PhD Candidate at the Open University from India
• Patrick Pierce Head of the Bruma Programme for the International Centre for Transitional Justice
• Paul Currion, Humanitarian Information Consultant, Montenegro

The discussions were free flowing and addressed a range of key questions about using data for advocacy campaigns, including definition of campaign aims and objectives, identification of data needs, design and implementation of data projects, data management, data and statistical literacy, among other topics.

Any advocacy campaign and particularly those that address human rights and human dignity naturally involve the collection and analysis of data, which provides an evidence base to undestand the nature and extent of a problem and what to do about it.

Whether the topic is quite focused on narrow questions that affect small communities of people or big questions affecting large numbers of people, data can help in so many ways. Having such a gathering of experienced people proved fruitful in generating great ideas for helping advocacy groups. After two days of intense debate and discussion participants then offered their thoughts on film for a new Tactical Tech project.

IDCR participates in Human Rights Workshop

As part of its ongoing activities as a partner in The Westminster Consortium for Parliamentary Strengthening and Democracy (TWC), the IDCR took part in a workshop on Human Rights and the Role of Parliaments on 29 March 2011.

The workshop focused on the work of parliament in overseeing a country’s human rights obligations, its interactions with supranational mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights, and its modes of engagement with civil society.

Delegates, including MPs, came from the six TWC partner countries: Lebanon, Morocco, Mozambique, Uganda, Ukraine and Georgia.

In addition to panel and plenary sessions, the worskhop included observation of the Joint Committee on Human Rights in Parliament, as well as a book launch event at the House of Lords for Human Rights and Parliaments: Handbook for Members and Staff. The handbook is a joint publication of the TWC and the International Bar Association.

IDCR to take part in Mexico conference

The IDCR is taking part in a conference on Mexico on 21-24 March entitled ‘Mexico Today: Economic Prospects and Public Security’ to be held at the London School of Economics

The conference explores the complex inter-relationships between and among economics, politics, state security, human rights, culture and the drug war.

The IDCR is engaged in a project on public security bugeting in comparative perspective and Director Professor Todd Landman will present on Public Security and Human Rights as part of a roundtable session on ‘State Policy on the War on Drugs’ on 22 March in the Wolfson Theatre at LSE from 18:00 to 20:30.

Full details on the conference are available here: MEXICO TODAY

UPDATE:

IDCR Director Professor Todd Landman took part in two days of sessions of the Mexico Today event hosted by the London School of Economics. On 21 March, the Minister of Finance Mr. Ernesto Cordero presented a range of macro-economic indicators showing high levels of growth, low and decreasing levels of inflation and health indiactors on inward investment on infrastructure, education and health. His presentation was followed by an economic rountable. on 22 March, spokesman for National Security Alejandro Poiré presented on the national security policy that has evolved since the beginning of the Calderón Administration in 2006. A frank and open discussion ensued about measures of success and the challenges associated with high levels of violence relating to the fight against organised crime. His session was followed by a roundtable on public security during which Professor Landman gave a presentation on public security and human rights. For more information on this event, please CLICK HERE

The IDCR is actively engaged in work on public security budeting and works with the Secretary for Public Security, which comprises many staff members who are graduates of the University of Essex. The IDCR also hosts the Grup Mexico, a research and outreach organisation based at the University of Essex for all students and staff from Mexico or with interest in working on Mexico. For more information, please CLICK HERE.

On 8-10 July, the University of Essex will host a conference of Mexican students based in the UK whose studies are funded by CONACYT, one of the main Mexican funding bodies for research students studying in the UK.