RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Diana Villiers Negroponte, November 12, 2009, The Brookings Institution
In recent months, Colombia has experienced increased isolation from its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere, due to border and military disputes, refusals to cooperate on economic and political fronts and disenchantment with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Diana Negroponte examines the reasons for this isolation, and possible remedies the Obama administration may apply. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 28, 2009, Fundación Real Instituto Elcano
Increased insecurity in Afghanistan and the sense that the counterinsurgency is not being won have left many looking for comparisons that can shape future policy. Vanda Felbab-Brown examines similarities between the counternarcotics and counterinsurgency efforts in Colombia to draw conclusions on how to reverse recent trends in Afghanistan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 01, 2009, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs
In testimony before the House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Vanda-Felbab Brown discussed illicit economies, organized crime, and their impact on U.S. and global security. Felbab-Brown concluded by offering recommendations for counternarcotics strategies as well as other measures local and foreign governments can take to address the issues. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mauricio Cárdenas and Kevin Casas-Zamora, September 15, 2009, The Brookings Institution
A new agreement between the United States and Colombia will give the U.S. military access to seven existing facilities in order to carry out counternarcotics and counterinsurgency operations. Mauricio Cardenas and Kevin Casas-Zamora examine concerns among countries in Latin America regarding this move and argue that it is time to have meaningful conversation on a problem that affects the whole hemisphere. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Walter Kälin, August 03, 2009, United Nations General Assembly
Internal displacement continues to be one of the world's major humanitarian and human rights challenges and many internally displaced persons (IDPs) experience serious violations of their human rights. In his annual report to the UN General Assembly, Walter Kälin argues that it is important to translate the increasing recognition of the human rights dimension of internal displacement at the international and regional levels into effective action at the national and local levels of government. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
July 21, 2009, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement
In most societies, citizens have more interaction with municipal authorities than with national government officials. The same is true in Colombia. However, policies that address displacement are often developed by the national government and left to the municipal authorities to implement. In this report, the Brookings-Bern Project presents the issues discussed at a workshop for municipal authorities in how to better respond to the needs of Colombia's IDPs. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris, June 27, 2009, TESEV Conference on Internal Displacement in Turkey: Government Responses
To date, over twenty countries, including Turkey, have already adopted policies or legislation specifically addressing internal displacement—many of which are based on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement—and other countries are in the process of doing so. In this statement, Elizabeth Ferris puts the issue of law and policy development into the broader framework of national responsibility and gives an overview of the ways in which governments have addressed internal displacement in their laws and policies, including in the search for durable solutions. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
June 05, 2009, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement
2008 marked the tenth anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement—an occasion both to commemorate efforts over the past decade to uphold the human rights of IDPs and to remind ourselves that much remains to be done. In this report, the Project presents its work from 2008 and discusses the challenges that lie ahead. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bilal Y. Saab and Alexandra W. Taylor, May 22, 2009, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism
Bilal Saab and Alexandra Taylor analyze how terrorist groups and armed insurgents in Colombia regularly exploit illicit markets to launder money, traffic illegal goods, and purchase arms. The authors find that group goals, the political environment, and membership strongly influence the types of criminal activities a given armed group undertakes. They conclude that membership and political agenda of sub-state armed groups not only distinguishes them from criminal groups, but also shapes their criminal behavior. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, April 17, 2009, United States Agency for International Development
Vanda Felbab-Brown and several other authors produced a report evaluating Plan Columbia for review by the United States Agency for Development. The study provides an assessment of the success of counternarcotics strategies to date and offers recommendations for the U.S. government to strengthen future efforts. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, April 06, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
On April 6, the Brookings Institution hosted former President of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso and former President of Colombia César Gaviria for the U.S. release of the report “Drugs and Democracy: Toward a Paradigm Shift” by the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy. As co-presidents of the Commission, Presidents Cardoso and Gaviria presented findings of the report and discussed its recommendations for reducing harm caused by illegal narcotics to people, societies and public institutions. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris, April 06, 2009, Forced Migration Review #32
The advances in laws related to IDPs have not addressed the relationship between internal displacement and peacebuilding in Colombia. Elizabeth Ferris explores the issue. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Washington, DC
On April 1, Brookings hosted a panel discussion on the upcoming Summit of the Americas and the recently released book, The Obama Administration and the Americas: Agenda for Change (Brookings Institution Press, 2009), edited by Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Abraham F. Lowenthal, Brookings Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of Foreign Policy Theodore J. Piccone and University of Oxford Fellow Laurence Whitehead. Read More
BOOK
Abraham F. Lowenthal, Ted Piccone, Laurence Whitehead and Foreword by Strobe Talbott, April 01, 2009
The Obama administration inherits a daunting set of domestic and international policy challenges. The Obama Administration and the Americas, however, argues that the new administration should focus early and strategically on Latin America. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, March 09, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Drug-related violence and the breakdown in security in Mexico have escalated to extraordinary levels over the past two years. Vanda Felbab-Brown examines this growing threat to civil society in Mexico, the spillover of crime into the U.S., how the situation compares to similar struggles in Colombia, and offers recommendations for a new strategy in the region. Read More