In 2015 the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a very ambitious ... more In 2015 the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a very ambitious agenda, with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets. Among them were goals and targets that directly touched upon peacebuilding, through the promotion of peaceful societies, the reduction of violence, and access to justice. As the SDGs were being adopted and nations began to implement them in 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General proposed the UN Plan of Action (PoA) to Prevent Violent Extremism with 48 recommendations for national actors in seven priority areas. This briefing provides an overview of the overlapping elements of the two agendas for the development practitioner tasked with delivering the SDGs and the UN PoA. It concludes with political considerations for implementation, security and development overlaps, and the importance of monitoring reforms if development interventions are intended to contribute to peace and a reduction in violent extremism.
Chinese actors have been actively engaged in agriculture in the Russian Far East since border lib... more Chinese actors have been actively engaged in agriculture in the Russian Far East since border liberalisation, from agriculture labourers, independent farmers with small- and medium-sized plots, to capital-rich agribusinesses that cultivate farmland on a much larger scale. With the use of wage labour and other capitalised production inputs, the occurrence of economic differentiation among producers and strong profit-seeking drivers, this stands in contrast to the situation within China itself – where institutional and structural constraints still limit the development of full-blown capitalist agriculture. This article presents the first case study of this phenomenon, in comparative perspective.
SIPRI, together with the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), present one of the most... more SIPRI, together with the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), present one of the most comprehensive reports on the Afghan private sector to date. Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the report is the product of a one-year field and desk research study of the status of the private sector in Afghanistan and its connection to issues of development and security.
The new report illustrates that the Afghan private sector has thus far failed to fulfil its potential as an engine of economic growth or an instrument of social inclusion. While there is a prospect of tapping this potential, the country’s economy is currently mostly deadlocked. A host of factors have undermined efforts by the Afghan Government and the international community to create a more conducive environment for the formal private sector. This is acutely evident in the many remaining obstacles to socioeconomic progress and to development of the private sector in particular.
To break the deadlock, bold economic reforms and new government partnership modalities with the private sector and the international community are needed. The report offers a comprehensive review of the Afghan private sector and concrete recommendations to the Afghan Government, national stakeholders and the international community on how to facilitate a more inclusive, productive and competitive Afghan private sector.
Since the liberalization of the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese peasants, migrants, and investors hav... more Since the liberalization of the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese peasants, migrants, and investors have been actively engaged in agriculture in the Russian Far East (RFE). These range from agricultural laborers contracted by labor-exporting firms, to farmers who have set up their own small and medium-sized farms. In the last decade and a half, Chinese presence on Russian rural land has expanded to include agribusinesses and capital-rich investors that have seized on profit-making opportunities, and who cultivate Russia’s comparatively cheap and abundant arable land on a much larger scale. With the use of wage labor and other capitalized factor inputs, the occurrence of economic differentiation among producers, and strongly commercial drivers, Chinese agriculture in the RFE stands in stark contrast to agriculture in China itself, where institutional and structural constraints still limit the development of full-blown capitalist agriculture. This paper presents a journalistic view of Chinese agrarian capitalism as it exists in the RFE, with a focus on Chinese actors and social relations of production. It lays groundwork for more extensive research of Chinese agriculture in Russia, which in academic and policy circles has not yet been studied as its own separate topic.
The primacy of the state may be nowhere more pronounced than where terrestrial political borders ... more The primacy of the state may be nowhere more pronounced than where terrestrial political borders have no relevance. Conflict may not be inevitable, but the lack of an updated framework to guide responsible state behavior in outer space needs to be addressed.
This article concerns the Soviet military's use of soldiers of Afghan ethnicities (Uzbek, Tajik, ... more This article concerns the Soviet military's use of soldiers of Afghan ethnicities (Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen, and others) during its war in Afghanistan, both as spetsnaz and more generally in the 40th army. Special Forces Detachment 154 and Special Forces Detachment 177, the first and second ‘Muslim Battalions,’ would play important roles not only during the palace takeover in December 1979 but also during the 1983 cease-fire in Panjshir. This article challenges earlier views that Soviet Muslims and Central Asians were unreliable soldiers who colluded with mujahedin, and points to a more balanced perspective of their role in Afghanistan.
In 2015 the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a very ambitious ... more In 2015 the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a very ambitious agenda, with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets. Among them were goals and targets that directly touched upon peacebuilding, through the promotion of peaceful societies, the reduction of violence, and access to justice. As the SDGs were being adopted and nations began to implement them in 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General proposed the UN Plan of Action (PoA) to Prevent Violent Extremism with 48 recommendations for national actors in seven priority areas. This briefing provides an overview of the overlapping elements of the two agendas for the development practitioner tasked with delivering the SDGs and the UN PoA. It concludes with political considerations for implementation, security and development overlaps, and the importance of monitoring reforms if development interventions are intended to contribute to peace and a reduction in violent extremism.
Chinese actors have been actively engaged in agriculture in the Russian Far East since border lib... more Chinese actors have been actively engaged in agriculture in the Russian Far East since border liberalisation, from agriculture labourers, independent farmers with small- and medium-sized plots, to capital-rich agribusinesses that cultivate farmland on a much larger scale. With the use of wage labour and other capitalised production inputs, the occurrence of economic differentiation among producers and strong profit-seeking drivers, this stands in contrast to the situation within China itself – where institutional and structural constraints still limit the development of full-blown capitalist agriculture. This article presents the first case study of this phenomenon, in comparative perspective.
SIPRI, together with the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), present one of the most... more SIPRI, together with the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), present one of the most comprehensive reports on the Afghan private sector to date. Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the report is the product of a one-year field and desk research study of the status of the private sector in Afghanistan and its connection to issues of development and security.
The new report illustrates that the Afghan private sector has thus far failed to fulfil its potential as an engine of economic growth or an instrument of social inclusion. While there is a prospect of tapping this potential, the country’s economy is currently mostly deadlocked. A host of factors have undermined efforts by the Afghan Government and the international community to create a more conducive environment for the formal private sector. This is acutely evident in the many remaining obstacles to socioeconomic progress and to development of the private sector in particular.
To break the deadlock, bold economic reforms and new government partnership modalities with the private sector and the international community are needed. The report offers a comprehensive review of the Afghan private sector and concrete recommendations to the Afghan Government, national stakeholders and the international community on how to facilitate a more inclusive, productive and competitive Afghan private sector.
Since the liberalization of the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese peasants, migrants, and investors hav... more Since the liberalization of the Sino-Soviet border, Chinese peasants, migrants, and investors have been actively engaged in agriculture in the Russian Far East (RFE). These range from agricultural laborers contracted by labor-exporting firms, to farmers who have set up their own small and medium-sized farms. In the last decade and a half, Chinese presence on Russian rural land has expanded to include agribusinesses and capital-rich investors that have seized on profit-making opportunities, and who cultivate Russia’s comparatively cheap and abundant arable land on a much larger scale. With the use of wage labor and other capitalized factor inputs, the occurrence of economic differentiation among producers, and strongly commercial drivers, Chinese agriculture in the RFE stands in stark contrast to agriculture in China itself, where institutional and structural constraints still limit the development of full-blown capitalist agriculture. This paper presents a journalistic view of Chinese agrarian capitalism as it exists in the RFE, with a focus on Chinese actors and social relations of production. It lays groundwork for more extensive research of Chinese agriculture in Russia, which in academic and policy circles has not yet been studied as its own separate topic.
The primacy of the state may be nowhere more pronounced than where terrestrial political borders ... more The primacy of the state may be nowhere more pronounced than where terrestrial political borders have no relevance. Conflict may not be inevitable, but the lack of an updated framework to guide responsible state behavior in outer space needs to be addressed.
This article concerns the Soviet military's use of soldiers of Afghan ethnicities (Uzbek, Tajik, ... more This article concerns the Soviet military's use of soldiers of Afghan ethnicities (Uzbek, Tajik, Turkmen, and others) during its war in Afghanistan, both as spetsnaz and more generally in the 40th army. Special Forces Detachment 154 and Special Forces Detachment 177, the first and second ‘Muslim Battalions,’ would play important roles not only during the palace takeover in December 1979 but also during the 1983 cease-fire in Panjshir. This article challenges earlier views that Soviet Muslims and Central Asians were unreliable soldiers who colluded with mujahedin, and points to a more balanced perspective of their role in Afghanistan.
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Papers by Jiayi Zhou
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets. Among them were goals and targets that directly touched upon peacebuilding, through the promotion of peaceful societies, the reduction of violence, and access to justice. As the SDGs were
being adopted and nations began to implement them in 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General proposed the UN Plan of Action (PoA) to Prevent Violent Extremism with 48 recommendations for national actors in seven priority areas. This briefing provides an overview of the overlapping elements of the two agendas for the
development practitioner tasked with delivering the SDGs and the UN PoA. It concludes with political considerations for implementation, security and development overlaps, and the importance of monitoring reforms if development interventions are intended to
contribute to peace and a reduction in violent extremism.
The new report illustrates that the Afghan private sector has thus far failed to fulfil its potential as an engine of economic growth or an instrument of social inclusion. While there is a prospect of tapping this potential, the country’s economy is currently mostly deadlocked. A host of factors have undermined efforts by the Afghan Government and the international community to create a more conducive environment for the formal private sector. This is acutely evident in the many remaining obstacles to socioeconomic progress and to development of the private sector in particular.
To break the deadlock, bold economic reforms and new government partnership modalities with the private sector and the international community are needed. The report offers a comprehensive review of the Afghan private sector and concrete recommendations to the Afghan Government, national stakeholders and the international community on how to facilitate a more inclusive, productive and competitive Afghan private sector.
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets. Among them were goals and targets that directly touched upon peacebuilding, through the promotion of peaceful societies, the reduction of violence, and access to justice. As the SDGs were
being adopted and nations began to implement them in 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General proposed the UN Plan of Action (PoA) to Prevent Violent Extremism with 48 recommendations for national actors in seven priority areas. This briefing provides an overview of the overlapping elements of the two agendas for the
development practitioner tasked with delivering the SDGs and the UN PoA. It concludes with political considerations for implementation, security and development overlaps, and the importance of monitoring reforms if development interventions are intended to
contribute to peace and a reduction in violent extremism.
The new report illustrates that the Afghan private sector has thus far failed to fulfil its potential as an engine of economic growth or an instrument of social inclusion. While there is a prospect of tapping this potential, the country’s economy is currently mostly deadlocked. A host of factors have undermined efforts by the Afghan Government and the international community to create a more conducive environment for the formal private sector. This is acutely evident in the many remaining obstacles to socioeconomic progress and to development of the private sector in particular.
To break the deadlock, bold economic reforms and new government partnership modalities with the private sector and the international community are needed. The report offers a comprehensive review of the Afghan private sector and concrete recommendations to the Afghan Government, national stakeholders and the international community on how to facilitate a more inclusive, productive and competitive Afghan private sector.