Peace-Keeping and Peace-Building

IPT

International Civilian

Peace-keeping and Peace-building

Training Program

Peace Center Burg Schlaining

1999/2000 Courses

Sponsored by the Republic of Austria

PEACE CENTER BURG SCHLAINING

The Peace Center Burg Schlaining, consisting of the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR) and the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU), is situated in the medieval town of Stadtschlaining/Austria.

The ASPR was founded in September 1982 as an independent, non-profit and non-partisan organization. The ASPR aims to contribute to the promotion of peace and peaceful conflict resolution and to the dissemination of practical ideas for peace, including its developmental and environmental aspects. In order to carry out these tasks, the ASPR conducts and evaluates research in line with its objectives, engages in training and education in peace relevant subjects, conducts scientific courses, and operates a peace library. It also publishes several periodicals (Dialog, Friedensforum, Friedensbericht) dealing with peace issues. Several major conferences are organized each year, including a summer academy and a yearly international meeting of peace researchers on ”The State of Peace.” For these and other efforts the ASPR was awarded UN ”Peace Messenger” status in 1987 and the UNESCO ”Prize for Peace Education” in 1995.

To further help advance its goals, ASPR instituted the European University Center for Peace Studies (EPU) in 1988. The EPU is an international, non-governmental organization with UNESCO status operating as a non-profit organization. Its members include universities, national UNESCO commissions and peace research institutes which support and promote the EPU in its efforts to provide a broad framework for international teaching and research activity. The EPU offers one term certificate courses, as well as a Master’s program in Peace and Conflict Studies.

In cooperation with its sister institute EPU, the ASPR provides the infrastructure, staff support, and expertise for IPT.

METHODOLOGY OF THE PROGRAM

The methodology that forms the design of the program is based on information, interaction, reflection, and integration. Information is given about conditions and functions of civilian engagement in conflict regions as well as about organizations involved in conflict transformation efforts. Special emphasis is placed on information about UN and OSCE bodies and their relations to other governmental and non-governmental actors. For information, lecturers primarily use the case study approach and focus especially on recent peace-keeping and peace-building activities. In exercises, such as case analysis of conflict escalation and de-escalation, and through interactive simulations, role-plays, etc., participants practise conflict analysis skills and gain experimental knowledge of various concepts. Role-plays and simulation exercises aim at improving the communication skills and thus promote intercultural understanding. In order to integrate skills and information evaluations of the program take place at the end of each week. Basic information about organizations and organizational structures relevant to peace-building and peace-keeping operations will be available respectively recommended in advance to help the participants prepare for the lectures.

THE ORGANIZATIONAL BASIS OF THE PROGRAM

In late 1992 the Austrian government agreed to support the effort of ASPR and EPU to provide the infrastructure, staff support, and expertise for IPT.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

The newly emerging conflict situation after the ”cold war” is characterized by a growing number of intra-state conflicts with world wide repercussions. This development has led to an increasing challenge for the conflict resolution capabilities of international organizations, such as the UN, the OSCE, the EU, and of various NGOs. There is a growing need for civilian experts who are well prepared for peace-building activities like mediation, human rights protection and promotion, post-conflict reconstruction, etc., in deeply divided societies with protracted conflicts.

THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE PROGRAM

The basic idea of the program is that regardless to which field operation civilian personnel will be seconded to, all civilians who are interested in participating in peace-keeping and peace-building activities should receive general preparation and function specific preparation. Such trained personnel will then form a pool of civilian experts to be seconded to specific field operations according to their special knowledge and skills.

The design of the training program is oriented to four fundamental areas: the character of the conflicts the participants are to be trained for; the main functions the participants may fulfill during an operation; the organizations participants may be working for; and the personal needs, consciousness, and experiences of the participants.

The program aims at a transnational, transprofessional and transorganizational perspective. Faculty is drawn from an international group of resource persons familiar with UN, OSCE, EU and NGO activities in the realm of peace-keeping and peace-building. Apart from Austria, participants come from many other countries with special emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, and particular conflict regions. The language of instruction is English.

FOUNDATION COURSE (Week 1 and 2)*

Introduction:

Introduction to the program

Introduction of participants

Communication and intercultural understanding

Nature and function of peace-keeping and peace-building

Strategies of Various Actors in International Conflict Transformation:

The role of governmental and intergovernmental organizations in civilian peace-keeping and peace-building

The role of NGOs in peace-building

Human Rights Protection:

History and concept of human rights, promotion, fact finding, and monitoring

Project Planning and Project Management:

Identifying needs, setting up a project

Workshop on Conflict Transformation:

Nature and function of conflict, various forms of ”Third Party” Intervention, Conflict Partnership Facilitation

Case Study on a Particular Conflict:

Analysis of the conflict situation

Analysis of the activities and strategies of a UN mission, and various intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental actors involved in the respective area

Excursion to the Austrian Military Academy:

Cooperation with the military, security issues, mine awareness

Communication and Cooperation with CIVPOL:

role of CIVPOL, practical exercises (e.g. radio communication)

Evaluation of the course

FUNCTION-ORIENTED SPECIALIZATION COURSES (Week 3 and 4)

Function-specific specialization courses provide in-depth training in one of the major functions of peace-builders:

Election Observation and Assistance (e.g. concepts and practice of democracy, elections and election observation in various societies)

Empowerment for Political Participation (e.g. democratic institution building, relationship between state and civic initiatives, promotion of personal political engagement)

Human Rights Protection and Promotion (e.g.definition and concept of human rights, cultural differences, fact finding, promotion, monitoring, and technical assistance)

Humanitarian Assistance (e.g. dilemmas and political implications, delivering emergency help - food aid, water and sanitation, health care)

Information Dissemination: (e.g. acquisition and distribution of information in crisis regions, communication among the actors in the field, dealing with political instrumentalization of the media)

Post-conflict Reconstruction (e.g.reconstruction, repatriation, rehabilitation, dealing with trauma and shock, rebuilding civil society)

”Third Party” Intervention (e.g.mediation, facilitation, negotiation, arbitration)

Morning classes 9.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

Afternoon classes 3.00 p.m. – 6.30 p.m.

* Subject to changes.

RESOURCE PERSONS

Alejandro BENDANA, Director, Centro de Estudios Internacionales, Managua, Nicaragua

Arie BLOED, Executive Director, Constitutional and Legislative Policy Institute, Budapest, Hungary

Ivan Z. IAK, President, Croatian Helsinki Committee, Zagreb, Croatia

Gerard FISCHER, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva, Switzerland

Diana FRANCIS, Chair, Co-ordinating Committee for Conflict Resolution Training in Europe, London, UK

Johan GALTUNG, Professor of Peace Studies, Director TRANSCEND, Versonnex, France

Vasu GOUNDEN, Director, African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), Durban, South Africa

Friedrich GLASL, Professor, University of Salzburg, Austria

Günther GREINDL, General, Ministry of Defense, Vienna, Austria

Diane HENDRICK, Consultant in Conflict Resolution, Vienna, Austria

Gerald HESZTERA, Captain, Coordinator, UN Civilian Police, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vienna, Austria

Jan KUBIS, Director, Conflict Prevention Center of the OSCE, Vienna, Austria

John Paul LEDERACH, Director, Conflict Analysis and Transformation Program, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, USA

John McDONALD, Director, Institute for Multitrack Diplomacy, Washington, USA

Manfred NOWAK, Director, Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights, Vienna, Austria

Pat PATFOORT, Director, The Fireflower, Center for Nonviolent Conflict Management, Maldegem Kleit, Belgium

Michael PLATZER, Head, Reconstruction and Development Support Unit DDSMS, United Nations Office in Vienna, Austria

arko PUHOVSKI, Professor, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Dennis SANDOLE, Professor, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, Fairfax, USA

Raymond SHONHOLTZ, President, Partners for Democratic Change, San Francisco, USA

Dudley WEEKS, Director, The Partnership LifeSkills Center, Charlottesville, USA

Andreas ZUMACH, Journalist, Geneva, Switzerland

ADMINISTRATION

Gerald MADER, President of ASPR and EPU

Arno TRUGER, IPT Program Director

Gudrun KRAMER, IPT Program Coordinator

Silvia POLSTER, Secretary

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Prospective participants should use the attached application form and send it with the required accompanying materials as soon as possible. Applicants will be informed of the decision of the admissions board after the application deadline of the respective course they have applied for.

Preference will be given to applications for participation in an immediate sequence of foundation and specialization courses. The participation in a foundation course is a precondition for the participation in a specialization course.

COST OF PARTICIPATION

The cost of participation comes to 6.500,-- ATS per week. The amount covers tuition, educational materials, and full board accommodation in a single room with bath. It does not cover the cost for beverages and laundry. The Austrian government is likely to cover the cost of participation for participants coming from developing and reform states according to OECD criteria. Applicants who would like to apply for such a support have to indicate this in the respective section of the application form and give reasons for that in their application essay. However, there is no possibility to get financial support for travel expenses. Likewise, there is no way to take over the cost of insurance which is required by the Austrian embassies in most African and Asian countries. Especially in these countries visa applications may take several weeks.

Austrian civil servants may ask their respective institution to pay the cost of participation.

1 US $ = approx. 13 Austrian Shillings (Summer 1998)

IPT APPLICATION FORM

Please type or print in block letters

PERSONAL HISTORY:

Family Name (surname): / First Name: / Middle Initial:
Mailing Address:
Telephone: / Fax: / E-mail:
Home Address (if different from mailing address):
Emergency Contact: (Name, Address)
Telephone: / Fax: / E-mail:
Citizenship: / Passport Number: / Date of Birth (day/month/year):

Gender:maleofemaleo

EDUCATION / HIGHEST DEGREE and Name(s) of School(s) / Academic Institution(s):
PRESENT POSITION:
PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:
Special skills and experiences that may be relevant for civilian peace-keeping and peace-building activities:
Have you lived abroad for longer than one month? If so, where and what did you do?

LANGUAGE ABILITY

English: / Read / Excellent o / Good o / Fair o
Write / Excellent o / Good o / Fair o
Understand / Excellent o / Good o / Fair o
Native Language:
Other: / Excellent o / Good o / Fair o
Excellent o / Good o / Fair o

I WISH TO APPLY for one of the following courses planned for 2000:

(Please put a tick next to the course(s) you wish to apply for.)

FOUNDATION COURSE / SPECIALIZATION COURSE / APPLICATION DEADLINE
O / Feb. 6 – Feb. 19, 2000 / O / Feb. 20 – March 4, 2000
on Election Observation and Assistance / Dec. 1, 1999
O / June 4 – June 17, 2000 / O / June 18 – July 1, 2000
on Mediation and Facilitation / March 1, 2000
O / Sept. 3 – Sept. 16, 2000 / O / Sept. 17 – Sept. 30, 2000
on Post-conflict Reconstruction / June 1, 2000

If I am not accepted for my first preference, I would like to apply for:

......

OI would like to apply for financial support because of reasons I have indicated in the

enclosed application essay (financial support for travel expenses is not possible).

My signature confirms that the information above is true and I also confirm in principle my willingness to participate in future civilian peace-keeping and peace-building activities. I declare

that during the course I will not have other commitments.

Signature:Date:

Please, mail your application and all supplementary documentation to:

AUSTRIAN STUDY CENTER FOR

PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION (ASPR)

A-7461 Stadtschlaining / Burg, Austria

Tel.: +43-3355-2498

Fax: +43-3355-2662

E-mail:

Website:

P l e a s e a t t a c h :

1. Curriculum vitae

2. Recent photograph

3. English health certificate indicating current state of health

4. Names, addresses and telephone numbers of two persons whom we may contact as personal references

5. Application essay of 300 words. Please write in English your reasons for applying to this program, your main fields of interests in the program, and how you hope to benefit from the program

6. Photocopy of driving licence