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The purpose of this article is to present the concept of the ‘Multi-Communal Security Force’ (MCSF) and key considerations for future policy design on the issue in Cyprus. It is developed out of (1) a comparative analysis with other post-conflict societies – South Africa and Lebanon – who successfully shared military power by integrating former antagonist groups. It also builds on the author's reflections from previous (2) empirical research on militarism, masculinity and nationalism in Cyprus, (3) policy work for the Cyprus Ministry of Defense, and (4) for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, as well as from (5) evaluation and assessment of the defence institutions of Cyprus with Transparency International.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Stratis-Andreas Efthymiou

What can Cyprus learn from comparable cases? How have other settlements addressed security challenges, including the need for external guarantees and protection of human security? This paper draws on a range of settlements, but pays particular attention to other conflicts that include a de facto state or have been characterised by significant kin-state/patron-state involvement. Like the Cyprus conflict, these are at the extreme end of the spectrum of territorial solutions, which calls for creative solutions that fudge the issue of sovereignty. The paper finds a lack of examples of robust security guarantees being provided by a patron state, but there are examples of softer guarantees. The paper also considers other forms of guarantees that can supplement, or in some cases replace, external security guarantees. This includes the use of phases, built-in targets and conditions. The paper concludes by considering security within the state’s constituent units, in particular protections for local minorities.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Nina Caspersen

Warbixintaan iyo talooyinka la socdo waxa asal u ah mashruuc aay Berghof Foundation 2015-2016ki ka fulisay Dowlad Goboleedka Hirshabelle. Kaasoo lagu magacaabay “Dhismaha Federaalka ayadoo loo maraayo wadahadalka Dawladaha Hoose”. Hal qeyb oo mashruucaasi ka mid ah waxuu ahaa fulinta shirar lix ah oo kala duwan kuwaasoo muddo lix casho ah socday oo aay ku dhawaad 60 qof ka qeybqaateen. Tani waa warbixin soo koobeyso arimihii ugu muhiimsanaa ee lagu falanqeyay lixdaas shirar oo la xiriira habka Federaalka, doorka aay Dawlad Hoose ku leedahay nidaam Federaal ah iyo sida deg degta ah ee uu Gobolka Hirshabelle ugu baahanyahay xalinta khilaafaadka iyo dib u heshiisiin.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Janel B. Galvanek

This contribution was inspired by Berghof Handbook Dialogue issue no. 11, “Transforming War-related Identities. Individual and Social Approaches to Healing and Dealing with the Past” (Austin/Fischer 2016). It offers an additional perspective on transforming-war related identities in the context of protracted violent conflicts.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Cordula Reimann, Ursula König

Our Annual Report provides information about the projects that we have worked on together with our partners in 2016. A particular light is shed on our support to national dialogues, an approach that has raised interest among conflict parties in countries that are transitioning from an autocratic system to more participatory governance.

• Year2017

This project report with recommendations has been informed by a project that the Berghof Foundation carried out in 2015-2016 in Hirshabelle State in Somalia entitled “Building Federalism through Local Government Dialogue”. One component of this project entailed the implementation of six separate Somali dialogue assemblies – Shirarka – all taking place over six days with approximately 60 participants. This report is a brief summary of the pertinent issues that were discussed at these six assemblies in relation to the federalization process, the role of local government in a federal system, and the urgent need for conflict resolution and reconciliation in Hirshabelle State.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Janel B. Galvanek

This publication assesses ongoing and substantive developments towards rule of law and access to justice within the first ‘post-junta’ period (2010-2015) in Myanmar. The paper finds that while there have been some areas of increased freedoms in the country, the judicial system has largely persisted unaltered, remaining poisoned with impunity and lacking true independence. The failure of the first post-junta government to reform the legal system has left the country morally bankrupt and institutionally insolvent.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Ashley Pritchard

[ملخص مترجم آليًا]

هذا المنشور هو واحد من سبع دراسات حالة ؛ وتشمل الدول الأخرى غواتيمالا ولبنان وليبيا ومالي ونيبال والسودان. تقدم دراسات الحالة توصيات للعمليات الجارية في بلد معين وتفيد نتائج الدليل. الهدف العام للمشروع هو تحسين الحوارات الوطنية وتعزيز قدرات ومساهمات أطراف النزاع وأصحاب المصلحة المحليين والجهات الفاعلة الخارجية من أجل تنفيذها بنجاح.

• Year2017
• Author(s)Rikke Hostrup Haugbølle, Amine Ghali, Hèla Yousfi, Mohamed Limam, Nina Grønlykke Mollerup

Basé sur une série d’études de cas contemporains, ce manuel aspire à contribuer au débat naissant sur le dialogue national, en faisant se rencontrer les pers-pectives et les expertises de diverses régions. Le but du manuel est double : (1) offrir un cadre analytique aux dialogues nationaux et (2) servir d’outil pratique à ceux qui sont engagés dans la mise en œuvre de ces processus. Il traite également du rôle des acteurs extérieurs et des meilleures façons dont ils peuvent soutenir les processus de dialogues nationaux. Il se concentre cependant principalement sur ceux qui sont aux postes de commande quand il s’agit de prendre les décisions sur la conception, la conduite et la mise en œuvre des processus de dialogues nationaux.

• Year2017

Grounded in a series of contemporary case studies, this Handbook aims to contribute to the nascent debate about National Dialogue, bringing together insights and expertise from diverse regions. The purpose of the Handbook is twofold: (1) to offer an analytical framework of National Dialogues and (2) to serve as a practical tool for those engaged in the implementation of these processes. It also addresses the role of external actors and how they can best support National Dialogue processes, but it is focused primarily on those who are in the driver’s seat when it comes to decisions on the design, conduct and implementation of National Dialogue processes.

• Year2017