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Russia-Ukraine Armed Conflict: Start of the Last Lap?

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Europe, Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, NGOs, Peacebuilding, Refugees, Solidarity, The former Soviet Union, The Search for Peace, Track II, UKRAINE, United States, War Crimes, World Law on February 22, 2025 at 9:45 AM

By René Wadlow

February 24 marks the anniversary of the start of the Russian “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine in 2022 which very quickly became a war with the large loss of life both military and civil, with the displacement of population, and a crackdown on opposition to the war. For three years, the war has continued, lap after lap. Although there were fears that the war might spread to neighboring countries, the fighting has been focused on Ukraine, and more recently on a small part of Russian territory attacked by Ukrainian forces. Can there be a realistic end to the armed conflict in sight?

On February 18, 2025, the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, met and discussed in part ending the armed conflict in Ukraine. They discussed a possible Putin-Trump summit that could be held in Saudi Arabia. Earlier, U.S. Army General Mark Milley had said, “There has to be a mutual recognition that military victory is probably, in the true sense of the word, not achievable through military means, and therefore, when there is an opportunity to negotiate, when peace can be achieved, seize it.”

However, the conflict is not one only between the USA and the Russian Federation; it also involves directly Ukraine. The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has stressed strongly that the Ukraine government leadership wants to play a key role in any negotiations. Certain European countries such as France, Germany, Poland and Turkey have been involved in different ways in the conflict as well as in proposing possible avenues of negotiation to bring the conflict to an end. The bargaining process could be lengthy, but also it could be short as there is “handwriting on the wall.”

One key aspect concerns the fate of four Ukrainian areas “annexed” by Russia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia largely controlled by Russian troops. President Putin has said, “These regions had been incorporated by the will of the people into the Russian Federation. This matter is closed forever and is no longer a matter of discussion.” However, the status of Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics is at the core of what President Zelenskyy wants discussed.

(C) Homoatrox

“Made in War” is the mark of origin stamped upon nearly all States. Their size, their shape, their ethnic makeup is the result of wars. There are virtually no frontiers today that are not the results of wars: world wars, colonial struggles, annexations by victors, wars against indigenous populations. States were not created by reasonable negotiations based on ethnic or geographic characteristics. If frontiers can be modified only by the victors in wars, then there must be new imaginative transnational forms of cooperation. What is needed are not new frontiers but new states of mind.

From April 5 to 7, 2023, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, was in China and urged that China could play a key role in bringing peace to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Xi Jinping had made a very general 12-point peace plan to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict – an indication that China is willing to play a peace-making role. China is probably the only country with the ability to influence Russian policymakers in a peaceful direction.

However, there are long historic and strategic aspects to the current armed conflict. Security crises are deeply influenced both by a sense of history and current perceptions. Thus, the Association of World Citizens (AWC) encourages the development of a renewed security architecture as was envisaged by the Helsinki Final Act and the creation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). There will be much to do to re-create an environment of trust and confidence that has been weakened by this conflict. Nongovernmental Organizations should play an active and positive role.

(C) Bernard J. Henry/AWC

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

Congo: Dangerous Disintegration

In Africa, Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, United Nations, World Law on February 2, 2025 at 8:00 AM

By René Wadlow

On January 26, 2025, we published an article “Goma: Cry of the Imburi” on the possible attack on Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The forces of the M23 (short for Movement of March 23) militia and some three to four thousand regular military of Rwanda were advancing toward Goma. Two days later, on January 28, Goma fell to M23. There were one million inhabitants in Goma and another million living in nearby camps as refugees. They had fled from violence in the neighboring area.

There are a multitude of armed militias, each with their own interests which they advance violently. One grouping of militias, known as the Wazalendo, a term for “patriots” in Swahili, is opposed to M23 but is not part of the regular Democratic Republic military. There has been a great amount of sexual and gender-based violence.

(c) NPR

Demonstrators linked to President Félix Tshisekedi’s party in power have demonstrated in the capital Kinshasa, some 2,000 miles away, in front of the embassies of France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.A. for having done nothing to prevent Goma from being attacked. The European governments have replied, as did the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, that they deplore the violence and are in solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United Nations (UN) Security Council met in an emergency session and called for a ceasefire, but no follow-up measures were made public. The UN already has peacekeepers in the area (Monusco) with the aim of stabilizing the mineral-rich region. However, there is no peace to keep. The UN troops are called by the local population “the tourists”. They come only to watch what is going on. In reality, the UN forces are national military and police “lent” to the UN by member governments. The military and police come nearly all from developing countries trained in the British way: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Ghana. They have no desire to be killed in armed conflicts which do not concern their country.

DRC President Félix Tshisekedi

There have been African-led efforts at mediation. In 2022, the African Union asked Angola’s President to mediate which led to a short-lived ceasefire in July 2024, but the ceasefire collapsed shortly after. At this stage, the dangerous disintegration of the Democratic Republic of Congo – democratic in name only – is likely to continue as there is not only armed violence but also a constitutional crisis as President Tshisekedi is trying to change the constitution so that he can stay longer in power. The restoration of legitimate authority and effective stabilization may still be in an unknown future.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

President Trump: Act Two

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Democracy, Human Development, Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, International Justice, Middle East & North Africa, Migration, NGOs, Nonviolence, Peacebuilding, Social Rights, Solidarity, Sustainable Development, The Search for Peace, Track II, UKRAINE, United Nations, Women's Rights, World Law on January 21, 2025 at 7:30 PM

By René Wadlow

The January 20, 2025 inauguration of President Donald Trump has brought into sharp focus the turbulent and complex world society in which we live. As peacebuilders and citizens of the world, we face the same challenges as President Trump but with a different style and with far fewer resources at our command. We make plans but then are called to work for conflict resolution in unanticipated ways.

There are four policy challenges which face both President Trump and World Citizens: armed conflicts, currently ongoing and potential, persistent poverty in many areas, the erosion of international law and faith in multinational institutions, particularly the United Nations (UN), and the consequences of climate change.

The ongoing and potential armed conflicts are neither new nor unexpected. The Israeli-Palestinian tensions exist at least since 1936 and increased after the creation of the State of Israel. There may be some possibilities for negotiations in good faith. We must keep an eye open for possible actions.

Tensions with Iran are not new. The Soviet forces in part of Iran was the first conflict with which the UN had to deal in its early days. However, the rule by the Ayatollahs has made matters more complex.

The Russian-Ukrainian war grinds on with a large number of persons killed, wounded, and uprooted. Again, we must look to see if a ceasefire and negotiations are possible.

In Asia, the armed conflict in Myanmar between the military in power and the ethnic militias dates from the creation of the Burmese State at the end of the Second World War. A potential armed conflict between Mainland China and Taiwan dates from 1949 and the Nationalist government’s retreat to Taiwan. The potential armed conflict between the two Korean States dates from 1950 and the start of the Korean War.

The armed conflicts in Africa are no longer in the headlines, but they date from the early 1960s and the breakup of the European Empires: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, the States of the Sahel.

Thus, we all have a poor record of armed conflict prevention and mediation. Armed conflicts should remain at the top of both the governmental and nongovernmental agenda for action.

(C) U.S. Embassy France on Instagram

Persistent Poverty: Despite the UN Decades for Development, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that everyone is entitled to the economic, social, and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and free development of his personality, persistent poverty exists in many parts of the world. One consequence of persistent poverty is migration from poorer to richer areas, both within countries and from poorer to richer States. Migration is a hotly debated issue in many countries, as right-wing nationalist groups make anti-migration their battle cry. Migration is likely to become an even more heated topic of debate as President Trump tries to carry out his proposal for a mass deportation of immigrants from the USA.

Linked to persistent poverty are trade issues and the protectionist trends in many countries. President Trump has proposed higher tariffs for good coming into the USA. This policy may set off tariff wars. Obviously to counter persistent poverty, world development policies must be improved – easier said than done!

The Erosion of International Law and Faith in Multinational Institutions: Armed conflicts and persistent poverty are closely related to the third issue: the receding United States (U.S.) involvement with the UN, the World Bank, the IMF, the World Court and other multinational organizations. Some of the foreign policy authorities appointed by President Trump are overtly critical of the UN and the International Criminal Court. There has already been an Executive Order to halt U.S. funding of the World Health Organization. However, there is no unifying vision of what a new world society would involve. The battle cry of “Make America Great Again”, if repeated by each State for itself, “Make Panama Great Again”, could be a loud concert but not conducive to positive decision making.

The Consequences of Climate Change: The fourth major group of issues concerns the consequences of climate change and the ways to lessen its impact. During the campaign for the presidency, Trump threatened to pull the USA out of the Paris Climate Agreement, and he has now signed an Executive Order doing so. The issue of climate change has been brought to the world agenda by scientists on the one hand, and by Nongovernmental Organizations and popular, often youth-led efforts, on the other hand. It is likely that these vital efforts related to climate change will continue despite climate policy resistance by some in the Trump administration.

President Trump said during his inaugural ceremony that “The Golden Age of America begins now… We stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history.” We will have to watch closely and judge in four years. What is sure for peacebuilders and citizens of the world is that we stand on the verge of four more years of serious challenges. Thus, there is a need for cooperative and courageous action.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

Remaking Contacts to End Violent Conflicts

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Human Rights, Middle East & North Africa, NGOs, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, The Search for Peace, Track II, United Nations, World Law on January 2, 2025 at 8:50 AM

By René Wadlow

Edward Said, the late Palestinian-American scholar (and my Princeton University classmate), said, “Writing is the final resistance that we have against the inhuman practices and injustices that disfigure human history.”

Today, we see inhumanity, injustice, and armed violence in the wider Middle East: the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen with an impact in Iraq, Iran, and Turkey.

In many of these Middle East conflicts, there were no contacts to be cut. The process of creating contacts must start from point zero. Thus, peacebuilders must develop political legitimacy by trying to develop contacts with politically active groups and by bringing in new voices such as feminist constituencies. There is a need to engage conflicting parties – governments, armed groups and militias – so that there can be negotiations in good faith and an end to armed conflicts. The increasingly complex nature of conflicts requires diverse forms and levels of peacebuilding. This complexity makes the remaking of communications difficult. There needs to be flexibility, innovation, and cooperation.

A poster of Edward Said on the West Bank separation wall in Ramallah, Palestine (C) Justin McIntosh

Both formal and informal efforts are needed to create a web of alternative approaches with the ability to seize the initiative when there is an opportunity for action. Our focus here is on informal approaches which can be carried out by Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the Association of World Citizens (AWC).

Social media is a recent form of contact beyond the older face-to-face approach. Social media has become an important mobilizing force. It can drive debates and political change, but it can also be used to divide societies, incite violence and xenophobia. For peacebuilders, social media allows direct access to the general public. Thus, for peacebuilders, they need to learn to use social media creatively.

For NGOs such as the AWC, the first step is an analysis of the nature and the parties in the conflict. Information can be gathered from people already active on the issue such as academics and members of other NGOs. For the wider Middle East conflicts, there are citizens from these countries living in Europe and the U.S.A. as well as persons who visit Middle East countries regularly. It is important to get a wide range of views. For organizations such as the AWC, with consultative status at the United Nations (UN), it is possible to discuss with UN Secretariat members and with diplomats.

Resolving armed conflicts and lowering persistent tensions involves a change in the attitudes that are at the core of the conflict. We work to create possibilities for dialogue and confidence-building so as to increase mutual trust. Remaking contacts is a way of facilitating better communications between leaders holding antagonistic views, thus promoting cross-cultural communications. As we begin 2025 with tensions in the Middle East at a high level, creative action is needed. Join in this vital process.

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

World Citizenship: Under Threat of Nationalist Currents

In Being a World Citizen, Current Events, Human Rights, NGOs, Nonviolence, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, Spirituality, The Search for Peace, United Nations, World Law on December 26, 2024 at 10:57 AM

By René Wadlow

“Always we have to remember that the wide, free sense of equality and kinship which lies at the root of Internationalism is the real goal. Always, we have to press on toward that great and final liberation – the realization of our common humanity, the recognition of the same great soul slumbering under all forms in the hearts of all races – the one guarantee and assurance of the advent of world peace.”

Edward Carpenter, The Healing of Nations, 1914.

As we approach the end of 2024 and make plans for 2025, it is useful to see the challenges which confront us in our conscious commitment to world citizenship. We are all able to envision a better future in which there is global cooperation. Such positive goals require leadership and the active participation of world citizens from around the globe. We need to make a personal commitment to be Earth stewards, protecting the planet for future generations. We need to break down barriers between people in order to reduce suspicions and tensions. Enormous creativity and effort are required to develop a safe and sustainable world society.

While we plan these positive steps, we must not underestimate the strength of the narrow nationalist currents planning to build new walls or enlarge existing walls. One could list the examples in many parts of the world. Narrow nationalists are in power in a number of countries or are waiting on the edges of power.

Thus, as Edward Carpenter wrote as the First World War broke out, we must press on to the realization of our common humanity.

Earth is our common home, Let’s protect it together (C) Bernard J. Henry/AWC

Prof. René Wadlow is President of the Association of World Citizens.

Women’s Peacebuilding for the New Syria

In Being a World Citizen, Conflict Resolution, Current Events, Human Rights, Middle East & North Africa, NGOs, Peacebuilding, Solidarity, Syria, The Search for Peace, United Nations, Women's Rights on December 16, 2024 at 7:00 AM

By René Wadlow

The flight of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 7, 2024 from Damascus to Moscow has opened a radically new period for Syrian politics. There are many different armed militias, ethnic and religious factions working to gain influence in the post-Assad situation. There are also outside powers – Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the USA which have been playing a role for some time and are not likely to fade from the scene overnight.

Women played only a minor direct role in the al-Assad administration and only minor roles in the groups opposing the Assad government, especially once the opposition became militarized mid-2011. Now, we must strive so that women can play a positive and active role in developing the new structures for a new Syria. Excluding women from peacebuilding neglects a rich source of skills, insights and energy. It is important to recognize that women are not a homogeneous group: education, class, ethnic group identity condition how individuals are affected by conflict.

We have seen with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan what can happen when women are not actively structured to play a role before there is a change in government. While not as vocal as the Afghan Taliban, there are most likely men in Syria in Jihadist factions who wish to keep women secluded and powerless.

Thus, women activists need to promote a vision that goes beyond the negotiation table. Negotiations to structure the new government are likely to begin in the next few days. There had been earlier negotiations among Syrian factions held at the United Nations in Geneva in 2014 with few or no women involved. Women face major challenges to engage in formal peace negotiations. Exclusion is often the norm. Therefore, women need to organize quickly now to spearhead Syrian civil society and reconciliation activities.

Read here (C) Uplifting Syrian Women

In the period after mid-2011 when opposition to the al-Assad government became an armed uprising, many Syrians left Syria for neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Turkey but also more widely to other countries in Western Europe. Some of these refugees were whole families with men present. In many cases, it was women with their children. Women had to learn skills in order to earn a living. They also started to get organized in mutual help organizations. These skills can be used today as the refugees return to Syria.

With the departure of al-Assad, the prisons have been opened. Men, often activists and intellectuals, have been liberated. They will want to play a role in helping develop new structures. However, they are related to different opposition factions and may have different view of what should be a future Syria.

We, on the outside and who are not Syrians, can try to support Syrian women involved in peacebuilding initiatives that are inclusive of both women and men. There is a need for relevant and timely support. We must see what avenues are open and how local conditions evolve.

Prof. René Wadlow is the Association of World Citizens.