ORG News & Updates

Publication: May 2012

ORG Liddite Conversation: Pakistan on a Precipice?

The ongoing instability and declining security situation in Pakistan was the subject of our latest 'Liddite Conversation'. While not yet on a precipice, Pakistan is facing serious difficulties, which could, if left unaddressed, reach a point of no return in the coming years. The next two electoral cycles are key. For the UK, Pakistan is of far greater strategic concern than Afghanistan. It could become the top UK foreign policy issue from 2014/5. Read more »

Publication: May 2012

ORG in Conversation: Ahmed Rashid on Pakistan (Audio Interview)

Ahmed Rashid, the leading Pakistani commentator, whose latest book "Pakistan on the Brink", has just been published, spoke recently to Oxford Research Group (ORG) about Pakistan's perilous security situation. In a fascinating recorded audio conversation Ahmed Rashid gave us his views on whether Pakistan is now a failed state and whether the country's political elite could make the necessary reforms. Ahmed Rashid also spoke about the U.S. role in Pakistan's crisis and discussed whether China - rather than the US - is now Pakistan's 'reliable partner'? Read more »

Publication: May 2012

Talking Behind Closed Doors: Managing Macedonia's Ethnic Tensions

Ethnic tensions are always close to the surface in Macedonia, as is shown by the angry disturbances following the outcry over the discovery of the bodies of five Macedonian men found shot dead in mysterious circumstances over the Orthodox Easter holiday. It followed a series of incidents, which led to rising tensions between the two main communities. ORG’s Managing Director, Chris Langdon, has worked with the leaders of Macedonia’s parties in Parliament - Macedonian and ethnic Albanian - since 2007.   Read more »

Publication: April 2012

Nigeria: The Generic Context of the Boko Haram Violence

A series of major attacks in Nigeria in April are presumed to be the work of militants from the Boko Haram movement. There is little sign that extensive and rigorous police and army action against Boko Haram has had any effect in curbing the movement. Indeed, it may be stimulating further support, leading in turn to increased international concerns over the longer-term prospects for stability in Africa’s most populous country.  With much written about the movement over the past year, this briefing focuses on the role of economic and political marginalisation in fostering violence. For over a decade, Oxford Research Group has sought to analyse what may be termed “revolts from the margins”, and there may be a sense in which Boko Haram relates to this concept. Read more »

News item: Friday, 27 April 2012

Militarisation and the Challenges for Nuclear Abolition

The successful test of India’s new Agni V long-range missile has illustrated the growing military rivalry between Asia’s two ‘rising powers’, India and China. The missile, which has a range of over 3,000 miles and can carry a 1.5-ton nuclear warhead, could reach major Chinese cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and was dubbed by parts of the Indian press as the “China Killer”. The test demonstrates the extent of the challenge to turn the current upsurge in activity on nuclear abolition into a sustainable and truly global strategy for disarmament.  Read more »

News item: Thursday, 05 April 2012

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ORG is now on Facebook and Twitter. Join us to keep up to date with our work and help us promote the idea of sustainable approaches to security as an alternative to violent conflict! Thanks for your support! Read more »

Publication: April 2012

ORG Comment on Iran: Building the Trust to Talk

The controversy over the Iranian nuclear issue continues unabated, and the risk of conflict appears greater than ever. Talks are due to start on 13 April in Geneva, engaging the Iranians, and the E3+3 – the UK, US, France, Germany, Russia and China. While several proposals have emerged in the course of negotiations between Iran and the member states of the E3+3, a settlement has proved elusive, mainly down to a lack of political will, demonisation, deep distrust and misunderstanding on all sides. ORG is proposing a parallel track of confidence-building measures to support the official negotiations, where trust-building could be a central component of any progress. Read more »

Publication: March 2012

ORG Liddite on Syria: The Answer is Dialogue

“The only solution for Syria is through the negotiation process initiated by Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy for Syria”, said the veteran Guardian foreign correspondent Jonathan Steele, at ORG’s Liddite meeting on 21 March 2012. There seems to be no appetite for intervention among the disaffected unemployed men aged under 30, who appear to make up the majority of the activists. There is also little or no support for the idea of outside states like Qatar or Saudi Arabia arming the Free Syrian Army. It seems that dialogue is the only option remaining. Read more »

Publication: April 2012

What are the Implications of the Financial Crisis for Peace and Security?

What are the Implications of the Financial Crisis for Peace and Security was the question discussed at ORG's last supporters meeting celebrating ORG's 30th anniversary in 2012/13. While overall global wealth has increased, the benefits of this economic growth have not been equally shared. Marginalisation and the rich-poor divide are posing a key and intensifying global security risk. At a time when the world is living beyond defined environmental limits, including resource depletion, it faces the even greater issues of climate change and competition over resources. Can we build economies that are fairer and that will grant more people happiness and well-being as opposed to a currently 'marginalised marjority'? Can we make the changes before it gets worse? Read more »

Publication: March 2012

The Potential for Israeli Military Action against Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

One of the key issues in the current context of the Iran crisis is whether Israel has the military capability to damage Iranian nuclear weapons potential. A number of recent public domain analyses point to considerable difficulties that Israel would have in staging such an attack. But is this actually true? How would the Israeli Military carry out such attack, and is it right that any strikes would only be targeting nuclear facilities? Read more »

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