CFGS Human Security Research Fellows

2003 - Dr. Peter Langille

2002 - Dr. Wayne Nelles

Peter Langille, 2003 CFGS Human Security Research Fellow

Project Title: Fast-Tracking a Complementary Agenda: Enhancing Rapid Deployment Capabilities and Initiating a UN Emergency Service

Project Description
During his term at CFGS, Peter will pursue five related objectives. First, he is directing a project on the multinational Standby High Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG) for UN peace operations and its potential adaptation for protecting civilians. This is a collaborative initiative of the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia and the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria, co-chaired by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy and Dr. Gordon Smith. The project will entail extensive consultations with SHIRBRIG member states, UN officials and the community of interested NGOs and institutes. The first meeting of these parties -- 'Exploring the SHIRBRIG's Potential in Protection Operations'-- has been funded by the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development. This is a policy-oriented initiative to identify further requirements and prompt corresponding reform at the political, strategic, operational and tactical levels. Consideration will also be accorded to the planning of a larger conference on the SHIRBRIG and protection of civilians, attracting additional participants and developing similar partnerships elsewhere.

Second, he is working with several groups to develop a transnational network of non-governmental organizations and academics to support more rapid, reliable and effective UN peace operations. This is a cooperative endeavour to expand on the models and outreach established by the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping (PEP) and the Peace Operations Working Group (POWG).

Third, he is attempting to initiate an annual NGO-academic dialogue with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. If approved, this would provide a forum for disseminating and exchanging reliable information with a broad community of interested parties.

Fourth, he will continue to refine terminology, plans and proposals for the development of a UN Emergency Service. Aside from building a more sophisticated model, he is outlining a cumulative development process and an alternative approach, which may help to 'fast-track' the start-up of a dedicated UN mechanism, designed for diverse operations.

Finally, he plans to research, publish and speak on these issues over the next year.

Bio: Peter Langille
Dr. Langille has an MA in Conflict Analysis from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, a graduate diploma in Peace Research from the University of Oslo and a PhD from the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, England. He is the author of two books, Changing the Guard: Canada's Defence in a World in Transition (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1990), and Bridging the Commitment-Capacity Gap: A Review of Existing Arrangements and Options for Enhancing UN Rapid Deployment (Wayne: Centre for UN Reform Education, 2002). He has also published related articles in International Peacekeeping, Human Security, Peace Magazine, Mondial, Ploughshares Monitor, Policy Options, Multinational Policy Towards Peace, UN Rapid Reaction Capabilities: Requirements and Prospects and Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution. He formerly taught courses in 'Canadian Defence and Foreign Policy', 'Conflict Prevention and Management', 'Advanced International Relations', 'World Politics', 'Contemporary Approaches to Intra-State Conflict' and 'Canada in International Conflict' at the University of Western Ontario, Carlton University, York University, Huron and King's College. Recently, he has focused on initiatives to enhance training, role specialisation and rapid deployment for UN peace operations. He has had practical and professional experience in each area. In 1995, he was on the Core Working Group of the Canadian Government's Study, Towards a United Nations Rapid Reaction Capability(this was a joint study of the DND and DFAIT). As a partner in Common Security Consultants, he co-authored the initial proposals and blueprints recommending the establishment of a dedicated Canadian and Multinational Peacekeeping Training Centre at CFB Cornwallis (The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre). He was a former member of the Canadian Government's Consultative Group on Arms Control and Disarmament and formerly a co-director of the Canadian Peace Research and Education Association. He is on the Board of the World Federalists, Canada, as well as a Director of the Peace Operations Working Group of the Canadian Peacebuilding Consultative Committee. His academic interests include:

• Peace Research
• The Prevention, Management and Transformation of Armed Conflict
• UN Peace Operations
• UN Rapid Deployment Capabilities and development of a UN Emergency Service
• Human Security and Alternative Defence Initiatives
• Canadian Defence, Security and Foreign Policy, and
• World Politics

Contact: plangill@uvic.ca
Tel. 250 472-5178

2002-03 CFGS Human Security Fellow - Wayne Nelles

Project: Education, Multilateralism and Human Security in the Balkans: Reconciling Military Intervention with Aid for Conflict Prevention

Project Description
NATO's humanitarian intervention over the 1999 Kosovo crisis spawned new international dialogue and multilateral programs about alternatives to military action. New approaches to peace-building and reconstruction, some involving education, came after the crisis that have not been well assessed. "Conflict prevention" is now one of five DFAIT human security priorities outlined in Canada's 2000 foreign policy statement, Freedom From Fear, but raises questions about when, how, and if military action is appropriate. The DFAIT-CFGS fellowship explores conceptual issues, empirical trends and policy implications for education's role in avoiding a military response to future conflicts in Kosovo and South East Europe (the Balkans) as well as other regions. The study examines broader implications for Canada's policies and programs for development cooperation. But it mainly focuses on multilateral education and policies and programs, particularly educational or scientific aid, as a conflict prevention and peace-building tool. The analysis includes an assessment of range of issues from textbook and curricula revisions to aid programs. The project also explores broader theoretical, curricular, program and policy implications surrounding relationships between education and human security.

Wayne Nelles, Bio
Wayne Nelles has a Ph.D. in Comparative and International Education. Dr. Nelles has been a Director of several non-governmental and professional organizations, and was appointed Senior Associate at the Sustainable Development Research Institute (SDRI) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1999. He founded SDRI's International Youth Internship Program, manage it from 1996 to 2000 as Program Director, and supervised 80 university graduates on projects in 22 countries. He has worked in Asia-Pacific countries such as China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand but also in Latin America, Africa and East Central Europe. This work has included project monitoring and evaluation in multilateral agencies and with national governments. He has also done commissioned policy work for CIDA and IDRC.

His research has focused on education, youth, sustainability and security issues. He has done commissioned policy work and published articles in: Asian Perspective; BC Historical News; Canadian and International Education, Canadian Journal of Development Studies; Higher Education in Europe; International Journal (of the CIIA); International Journal of Canadian Studies; Learning Quarterly; Our Schools-Our Selves, P.A.G.E. Journal; and the UNESCO Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems. He recently facilitated a small collaborative research project between Mongolia and Canada on "human security." This work, funded by CIDA was published in UBC's Canada-Asia Policy paper series under the title: "Reconciling Human and National Security in Mongolia: A Canadian Perspective."