PKPB Working Group news - Event reviews and member publications
The Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Working Group have recently held two virtual events, and had member Dr Alexandre Christoyannopoulous of Loughborough University and the Editor-in-Chief publish a new issue of the Journal of Pacifism and Nonviolence. Read on to find out more.
Previous events
The PKPB Working Group held two book launches between April and May this year. The first of these was on 18 April 2024, with Dr Kseniya Oksamytna (City, University of London) who presented her recently published book on 'Advocacy and Change in International Organisations: Communication, Protection, and Reconstruction in UN Peacekeeping'. The book was published by Oxford University Press in 2023 and is the winner of 2024 Chadwick F. Alger Best Book Award, of the International Studies Association. It was nominated by our working group for the BISA Susan Strange Best Book Prize. This was well attended by working group members and other scholars from other universities.
This is a topical and interesting book which provides an innovative conceptual framework of change in international organisations and develops an advocacy-focused framework that specifies strategies of change and conditions for their success. It also provides detailed analysis of the emergence of strategic communications, protection of civilians, and quick impact projects in UN peacekeeping. Kseniya’s presentation created the space for interesting discussions on the relevance and applicability of advocacy framework in diverse contexts and the importance of material resource in decision making on and the implementation of advocacy interventions by the UN. Link to Book
The second book launch was on 2 May, with Dr Tom Buitelaar (Leiden University). Tom’s book, 'Assisting International Justice: Cooperation Between UN Peace Operations and the International Criminal Court in the Democratic Republic of Congo'.
The book reveals the conditions under which UN peacekeepers address impunity in their mission areas. It presents an original single-country case study of assistance provided by the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a plausibility probe of other peace operations in ICC situation countries. Relying on new empirical material, including over 130 interviews of key decision-makers, and comprehensive archival research, this scholarly volume explores how the UN navigates the terrain of conflict mediation and punitive accountability and demonstrates the collaborative but contingent relationship between the UN and the ICC. Tom’s presentation led to interesting discussion over the current relationship between the ICC and Peacekeeping as opposed to ten years ago, the role of ad hoc courts, how PMSC’s are treated by the ICC, and how the ICC functions in relation to global power dynamics and inequalities. Link to Book
As well as being available online, both books will be available to buy at the BISA 2024 Conference.
Publication news
PKPB member, Dr Alexandre Christoyannopoulous of Loughborough University and the Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Pacifism and Nonviolence has published ‘Issue 2:1’ of the journal. Individuals can get free access to the journal’s content until 31 December 2024 via this link: https://brill.com/view/journals/jpn/jpn-overview.xml.