My colleagues Constantin Ruhe, Lisa Groß and I have a new article out in the Journal of Refugee Studies! I won't post a PDF because it's open access, so anyone can download if for free. We dig into the question about why GDP per capita has not generally been a good predictor of new refugees. … Continue reading The Asylum Hump: Why Country Income Level Predicts New Asylum Seekers, But Not New Refugees
Conflict
Food Security and Conflict: New article in World Development!
After a year's worth of revising, and the hard work of our intrepid guest editors Tilman Brück and Marco d'Errico, Wolfgang Stojetz's and my contribution to World Development's upcoming special issue on food security and conflict is online! Here's a link to the World Development site, and here's a link to a pirate-grade ungated version. … Continue reading Food Security and Conflict: New article in World Development!
Mobile Phones and Conflict Prevention: A recent interview
I was recently interviewed on my experience with, and research on, how mobile phones support conflict prevention as part of the launch of George Washington University's Media and Peacebuilding Project. Along with my interview, they interviewed some really excellent people from across the research and practice spaces. I'm really excited to see what comes out … Continue reading Mobile Phones and Conflict Prevention: A recent interview
New Publication! “PeaceTech: The Liminal Spaces of Digital Technology in Peacebuilding”
I'm excited to share a new collection of essays published in International Studies Perspectives that I produced with Pamina Firchow, Roger Mac Ginty, and Atalia Omer. Our essays cover a range of issues in using technology for peacebuilding and stabilization, and add to the growing body of work being done on how digital technology is … Continue reading New Publication! “PeaceTech: The Liminal Spaces of Digital Technology in Peacebuilding”
The Challenge of Conflict Data
The last two posts I wrote focused on the social and political structures that drive data collection and availability. In these posts I was primarily talking about statistics in wealthy countries, as well as developing countries that aren't affected by conflict or violence. When it comes to countries that are beset by widespread conflict and violence, … Continue reading The Challenge of Conflict Data
After Paris, Now What?
Like many people I've been following the events in Paris with shock and sadness. I've watched the narratives evolve out of the tragedy, and a few resonate with me. Western leaders have seemed incapable of any kind of creative response to ISIL and the wider risks they pose. I responded on Twitter to an article … Continue reading After Paris, Now What?
Upcoming events!
Unfortunately the last few months have been fairly low output in terms of blog posts. This can be credited to resettling after returning from Samoa, getting back to work with the tech community in D.C, and of course getting a dissertation written. I have had the chance to get myself on a few panels this … Continue reading Upcoming events!
The talk I gave at USAID Sept. 4
For those who were curious about what I discussed with USAID's Office on Conflict Management and Mitigation on September 4, wonder no more. TechChange's video guru got me on camera to record the presentation - hopefully it's useful (or leads to some good arguments at least).
TC-109: Technology for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding
I'll be teaching a course for TechChange on ICTs and peacebuilding next month. I'm really excited to be facilitating it, and I was really thrilled to see the final cut of the course introduction video we produced today: Hopefully you'll join us, it's going to be a lot of fun and some awesome guests will … Continue reading TC-109: Technology for Conflict Management and Peacebuilding
When Radio Goes Bad: RF communications and the increased violence in South Sudan
I was reading an update about the increasing ethnic violence in South Sudan forwarded to me by a colleague, and noted the fact that radio is being used to organize and encourage violence in South Sudan. For those who have studied or read about the genocide in Rwanda, radio was one of the key mediums employed by … Continue reading When Radio Goes Bad: RF communications and the increased violence in South Sudan
Charles P. Martin-Shields 