Advisory - Peace After War: Building Peace from Cambodia to Afghanistan

OTTAWA, Feb. 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Building 'sustainable peace' within societies ravaged by war and violence has been a striking feature of the post-Cold War era. International security and development expert Mats Berdal will be in Ottawa on February 16 to deliver a lecture at Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). In his presentation, Berdal will draw from his recent book Building Peace After War to explore the record of such interventions, from Cambodia in the early 1990s to ongoing efforts in Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He will look particularly at the nature of the modern peacebuilding environment and will ask searching questions about the role of military force in support of peacebuilding, the vital importance of legitimacy to any intervention, and the degree to which "post-conflict peacebuilding" is likely to remain a growth industry.

    
    Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
    Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
    Where: IDRC, 150 Kent (corner of Albert), 8th Floor
    

Berdal is Professor of Security and Development in the Department of War Studies at King's College London. Since 2006 he has also been a Visiting Professor at the Norwegian Defence University College in Oslo, Norway. Berdal is also a Consulting Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, where he was Director of Studies between 2000 and 2003. In addition to Building Peace After War, his recent publications include United Nations Interventionism 1991-2004, co-edited with Spyros Economides.

The event is open to the media. French and English simultaneous interpretation is available. Spaces are limited and journalists are encouraged to register by calling Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé at 613-696-2343. For more information, visit www.idrc.ca/events.

About IDRC

For 40 years, Canada's International Development Research Centre has been supporting research in developing countries to promote growth and development. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most. www.idrc.ca

For further information: Isabelle Bourgeault-Tassé, [phone], [email protected]