[Contents]
[USIP Home Page]
Short Takes
Selected Institute Events
The Canadian Airborne Regiment was a highly insulated group, separate not only from civilian
society but in some ways from the rest of the military, Winslow said. Due to their lack of
training for peacekeeping operations, they sometimes responded inappropriately to the general
mores of Somali culture. The tragedy of the boy's death highlights the crucial role of training
in preparing military units for peacekeeping operations.
Peacekeeping Tragedy
An examination into events surrounding the death of a Somali boy who was tortured by
Canadian peacekeepers in March 1993 has revealed that the military unit involved received
inadequate training as peacekeepers and little orientation to Somali culture, says Donna Winslow,
professor of anthropology at the University of Ottawa. Winslow, a researcher for the Canadian
parliament's Commission of Inquiry into the Deployment of Forces to Somalia, discussed some of
the commission's early findings at the Institute July 3.
Small Countries as Peacekeepers
Small and neutral countries have always been important contributors of forces to
peacekeeping operations, says senior fellow Erwin Schmidl, a military historian with the Austrian
Ministry of Defense. He discussed his fellowship project, an overview of peace operations, at a
work-in-progress talk June 26, where he reviewed in particular the composition of forces and the
role of troop contributors. Small countries tend to have greater respect for international
organizations such as the United Nations and their positive role in world politics, Schmidl
noted. Nevertheless, it is the high standards of professionalism many of these countries have
established for their forces rather than their political reputation that makes them so welcome
as troop contributors, he concluded.
African Women Want Peace
African women are increasingly concerned that widespread conflict in many
parts of the continent is destroying the fabric of life, says senior fellow Gwendolyn Mikell,
professor of anthropology at Georgetown University. She discussed her fellowship research on
gender and peacebuilding in Africa at a work-in-progress talk May 31. "Operationalizing women's
conflict resolution capacity involves rejecting the stereotype that public activities--politics,
war, and peace--are men's work," Mikell said. In many pre-colonial African cultures, women had
well-established roles in public affairs, and they are now modernizing by mobilizing their
organizations to address emerging conflict issues.
Preventing Conflict in Northeast Asia
It is critical for Northeast Asian countries to collaborate closely on energy and
environmental issues in the North Pacific to prevent the outbreak of conflict in the region, says
Shinyasu Hoshino, president of the National Institute of Research Advancement in Tokyo. Such a
joint effort also will further positive trends of economic integration and interdependence
among the countries. Hoshino spoke at the Institute June 4. His was the second in a series of
three presentations by participants in the Asia Foundation's Ellsworth Bunker Distinguished
Visitors Program.
© 1996 United States Institute of PeaceNortheast Asia's Security Outlook
A number of recent developments have clouded Northeast Asia's security outlook, says
Sungjoo Han, former foreign minister of the Republic of Korea. Among these are the return of
balance-of-power politics, sensitivity regarding China's future role, uncertainty about the
future of North Korea, and instability in Russia. In spite of these concerns, economic growth,
democratization, and the security role of the United States have been positive factors in
preserving peace and security in Asia, says Han. He discussed security issues in Northeast Asia
at the Institute July 18 as part of the Institute's collaboration with the Asia Foundation to
bring prominent Northeast Asians to Washington. His presentation was the final event in the
Ellsworth Bunker Distinguished Visitors Program.