Towards Pathways for Peacebuilding and Development to Reduce Violent Extremism

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Notes

1 The PoA’s recommendations fall into seven broad areas. Using the paragraph and sub-paragraph numbers from the UN PoA (A/70/674, pp. 14–20) as reference, these are: (49a–g) dialogue and conflict prevention; (50a–k) strengthening good governance, human rights and the rule of law; (51a–g) engaging communities; (52a–f) empowering youth; (53a–e) gender equality and empowering women; (54a–f) education, skill development and employment facilitation; and (55a–f) strategic communications, the internet and social media.

2 Though the Millennium Declaration acknowledged the importance of peace for development, peace was not a goal in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The adoption of SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions goes some way toward promoting peace as an end in itself.

3 The research reviewed in the evaluation of these theories considered state use of force and its influence on VEOs in Israel, Northern Ireland, Bolivia, Vietnam, Chechnya and Iraq, as well as the state capacity literature on policing, border management, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. START’s analysis emphasised the importance of context specificity with regard to the VEO’s objectives, relationship with states, organisational structure and ideological affiliation (religious, political).

4 The Global Terrorism Index finds that ‘92 per cent of all terrorist attacks between 1989 and 2014 occurred in countries where political violence by the government was widespread’ (Institute for Economics & Peace 2015).

5 In 2014, the five countries most affected by terrorism were: Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria (Institute for Economics & Peace 2015).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jiayi Zhou

JIAYI ZHOU is a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Katherine A. Sullivan

KATHERINE A. SULLIVAN is Programme Coordinator, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Gary J. Milante

DR GARY J. MILANTE is Director of Studies, Peace and Development, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.