Homepage Highlights

Ending the Agony: Seven Moves to Stabilize Afghanistan

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:23:13 +0000

One thing that is immediately clear about Chris Alexander, Canada’s former ambassador to Afghanistan and former deputy special representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan, is how much he loves the country. His February 10 talk, “Ending the Agony: Seven Moves to Stabilize Afghanistan,” was the second of two recent talks on Afghanistan presented by CIGI.

As we scramble to help Haiti, we see the seeds of a new unity in the Americas

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:47:49 +0000

It is impossible not to be moved by the desperate scenes of death and destruction in Haiti. That such devastation should befall a country that has known nothing but hardship for decades tests the faith of even the truest of believers. And yet, out of the ashes, a phoenix may rise. For it is human nature to rally, come together and confront adversity. And as the nations of the western hemisphere scramble to provide aid and figure out how to co-operate in the reconstruction, the seeds of a new western unity may be planted.

A Nobel Prize for Political Science

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:46:26 +0000

The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Economics to Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson surprised many, and not just because Ms Ostrom is the first woman honoured with it. Observers are taken aback because Ms Ostrom is not an economist. She received a Ph.D in Political Science at UCLA, has taught for many years in the Political Science Department at Indiana University and was president of the American Political Science Association (APSA), one of the highest honours conferred by the profession.

The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:27:55 +0000

“If we listen to the voices of poor people, we will hear about the abuse and insecurity that keeps them poor,” said Irene Khan, Amnesty International’s first female secretary general, speaking before a packed audience at CIGI on November 2. Her lecture is part of CIGI’s Premier Lecture series.

Rethinking the Offshore: Antigua's Internet Gambling Challenge

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:07:13 +0000

On Friday, August 7, 2009, Dr. Andrew F. Cooper, distinguished fellow and CIGI’s associate director, presented his current research on the ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute between Antigua and the United States over Internet gambling as part of the CIGI Research Lunch seminar series. Having grown out of Dr.

Afghan Battle Cry: Never Surrender

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:10:09 +0000

A five-day visit to Afghanistan left me profoundly pessimistic over the accomplishments to date, measured against the scale of international blood and treasure expended, yet convinced of the importance of not losing Afghanistan to the other side.

Kabul defined the pessimism: After more than seven years of massive security operations, travel in the capital city was permitted only in armoured cars while wearing bulletproof vests.

Security Sector Reform in Haiti

Fri, 08 May 2009 18:41:03 +0000

The Global and Human Security program has published its first Security Sector Reform Monitor, a quarterly publication that tracks trends in security sector reform. The inaugural edition focuses on Haiti: it provides context on how the country’s political situation has impacted Haitian security and justice. It also provides an overview of judicial, penitentiary and police reform.

The Future of Security Sector Reform

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:45:39 +0000

From May 4-8, CIGI and Governance Village will host an e-Conference on The Future of Security Sector Reform. The goal of the e-Conference is to evaluate the evolution of the security sector reform process, with specific regard to successes, failures, challenges and future direction.