Center on International Cooperation

Peacebuilding as Statebuilding

Peacebuilding as Statebuilding : The International Response to Fragile States. This program focuses on the political, economic, and security challenges of building effective states in the aftermath of conflict. It also provides strategic planning support to field missions in countries recovering from conflict. It works closely with the UN, regional organizations, international financial institutions and bilateral donors to improve international responses in conflict and post-conflict contexts. Current projects include a Review of UN Rule of Law architecture; research relating to organized crime and state capture; political settlements; reviewing the UN Peacebuilding Commission; and an ongoing study on state fragility.

Lead Researcher: Camino Kavanagh
Project Staff: Megan Gleason
Research/Graduate Assistants: Sam Boaheng

Funders: Government of Norway, Government of the United Kingdom, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Joint Projects: World Development Report, Civilian Capacity

Upcoming Projects: Emerging Powers, Rule of Law, Transnational Organized Crime, Political Settlements, Peacebuilding Architecture

Archived Programs: Reducing State Fragility, Public Finance and Economic Recovery

Inter-regional Dialogue on Organized Crime and State Capture
February 2011

The Center on International Cooperation organized an inter-regional dialogue to assess the links between organized crime and political/state actors. This seminar brought together investigative journalists, politicians, researchers and analysts from West and Southern Africa and Latin America to foster a dialogue between regions struggling to cope with and respond to the growing phenomenon of transnational organized crime and the impact it is having on peacebuilding and statebuilding. The seminar addressed the interdependency of organized criminal groups and political/state actors; how these links have manifest themselves in different circumstances and the incentives driving them; and the impact of these linkages on peace processes and statebuilding and related questions of legitimacy. The seminar also identified examples where political actors have resisted organized criminal infiltration and options for responses beyond strengthening state security. CIC hopes to use the findings of the seminar and further research in this area to influence current debates on transnational organized crime and inform its ongoing work on peacebuilding and statebuilding. The seminar was organized in conjunction with International IDEA, the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy and the Open Society Institute. The seminar was held in Lima, Peru February 9-11.

The summary report of the event is available here.

Video footage of the seminar is available here.

Recent Press:

News Africa

El tiempo.com

Bolivia's La Prensa

Awoko.org

Prensa Libre

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Title	Source	Author	Date
Recent Publications
Shaky Foundations: An Assessment of the UN's Rule of Law Support Agenda	CIC	Camino Kavanagh with Dr. Bruce Jones	November 2011
State-building and Political Change: Options for Palestine 2011	CIC	Elizabeth Sellwood	April 2011
State Capture and Organized Crime or Capture of Organized Crime by the State Meeting Report of the Event	CIC	Camino Kavanagh	February 2011
A Field Based Review of the Peacebuilding Commission in Burundi	CIC	Shepherd FormanGigja Sorensen & Rahul Chandran	February 2010

Archived Publications| 2004 | 2005 | 2008 | 2009|

Media & Events

Shaky Foundations

At a time of growing popular demand for representative politics, the protection of rights, and access to justice, this report by CIC's Camino Kavanagh and Dr. Bruce Jones examines the ability of the United Nations to provide 'rule of law' support to member-states and national reformers.

Read the full report Shaky Foundations: An Assessment of the UN's Rule of Law Support Agenda here.

Civilian Capacity in the Aftermath of Conflict: Independent Report of the Senior Advisory Group

In March 2010 the Secretary-General appointed a Senior Advisory Group to review the civilian capacities provided by the international community in the immediate aftermath of conflict. Bruce Jones, CIC Director, served as a member as well as former CIC Associate Director, Rahul Chandran, who was the Team Leader of the Review. Jean Marie Guéhenno served as chairperson of the distinguished group. The review analyzed how the United Nations and the international community can help to broaden and deepen the pool of civilian experts to support the immediate capacity development needs of countries emerging from conflict, and made concrete recommendations for improvement. The final report proposes a framework called OPEN designed to:

Enable national Ownership
Work in global Partnership
Deliver with Expertise
Be more Nimble in the face of turbulent transitions

The final report of the Review was launched by the UN Secretary-General on on 7 March. Under-Secretary-General Susana Malcorra was designated by the Secretary General to facilitate informed decision-making and coordinated action in follow-up to the report.

Full Report and Key Recommendations

To read more about the Civilian Capacity Review click here.

Inter-regional Dialogue on Organized Crime and State Capture

The summary report of the event is available here.

The event took place February 9-11 in Lima, Peru.

Video footage of the seminar is linked below.

Thematic Discussion One | Framing the Issues: Organized Crime and State Capture or the Capture of Organized Crime by the State?

Thematic discussion Two | Understanding the Issues: The Devil Remains in the Detail

Thematic discussion Three | Building Resilience from Within

Thematic discussion four | Building Resilience from Without: A Case of Wishful Thinking?

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