Scielo RSS http://www.scielo.org.co/rss.php?pid=2011-032420090001&lang=es vol. num. 3 lang. es http://www.scielo.org.co/img/en/fbpelogp.gif http://www.scielo.org.co http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100002&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es The interventions of the international community in so-called failed states raise the question about the legitimacy of these actions in a world, in which the concept of state sovereignty is thought to have a particular importance. This paper examines the issue from a perspective of peacebuilding interventions and explains how nationalism, regionalism and globalism can foster or hinder the interventions. Then, the paper examines some institutional developments related to the issue, which have been made possible by introducing the concept of the responsibility to protect as one of the key concerns of the international community's activities. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100003&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es The idea that democracy fosters peaceful relationships among the nations is as old as at least the Kantian concept of perpetual peace, but in the twentieth century several new theories have been coined out in order to explain the behavior of democratic states towards other democracies and towards non-democratic states. These theories have been based on two interpretative models: structural/institutional and cultural/normative. This paper examines various versions of the democratic peace concept and places a particular attention at the explanatory power of the interpretative models and the role attached to the liberal values. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100004&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Language is one of the main features that allow us to differentiate one ethnic group from another. However, the relationship of ethnic groups towards their languages is not invariable and the examination of particular cases reflects a wide array of nuances. Given this ambivalence of the subject, this paper seeks to examine which properties can be assumed as necessary in order to establish a link between a language and an ethnic group. By referring to some case studies, the author demonstrates how the link between language and group's identity has been maintained sometimes more strongly by a shared perception than by an effective use of the language in question. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100005&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es The protection of the family and the nation has always been the key discourse used to motivate people to go to war. However, this logic has been questioned and more families have been concerned with a possibility that their relatives may become war victims, in particular, as it is happened in the case with the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. Hence, the previous idea of the soldier as a hero that protects his family has being loosing the ground. There are families, which decided to join the efforts in order to protect the soldiers from the military decisions made by the State. This paper explores the initial positions that families had regarding the traditional heroic discourse and the reasons behind the current criticisms and opposition to the official rhetoric. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100006&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Since the last decade of the twentieth century, the concept of human security has been gaining ground as an alternative to the classical idea of state security, in order to draw a greater attention to the obligation of states to guarantee the respect for human rights within each state's jurisdiction. However, following the attacks on 11 September 2001, the notion of state security has increased its political influence one again. Yet, this does not imply that the political significance of the concept of human security has disappeared completely. This paper examines the significance of two concepts and places a particular emphasis on the importance of the concept of human security for analyzing the current developments in Colombia. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100007&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Traditionally, the Colombian conflict has been dealt with using the classical definition of security, which has favored military solutions over the humanitarian aspects of the conflict. This paper seeks to explore, from a critical perspective, how the mainstream security paradigms have failed to offer an unbiased framework suitable of taking into account a wide array of factors surrounding a complex phenomenon of the situation in Colombia. Along the same lines, the paper promotes the use of a human security approach as the way of avoiding the turning of poverty and underdevelopment into the security threats. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100008&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es The dynamics of cooperation between the European Union and Colombia in the realm of international cooperation can be characterized by the change from that of the ''anarchy'' caused by the uncertainty of the preferences of the cooperation policy-makers, to the one, which leads to the establishment of a regulatory framework in the cooperation policy. This process reflects the conflict between the Colombian State and non governmental organizations in the issue of defining the focus of security as a central element of peace process in Colombia. The key pillar of the European support of the peace process in Colombia is the equilibrium of the power relations between horizontal and vertical alliances that each of the involved actors manage to build. The tension between two groups - the State and NGOsis like a zero sum game, since the benefits obtained by one actor are not enjoyed by the other, in particular with regard to the support of the human security proposal, which is the case examined in this paper. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100009&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es Following the coups d'états in the Fiji and Solomon Islands in 2000, the Pacific Islands Forum has been constantly promoting multilateral initiatives in order to mediate and prevent further conflicts in the region. These efforts included the support of ''good governance'' practices. However, because of their alien character, good governance initiatives have not been exempted from tensions with the traditional practices of governance. This paper explains the ethnic character of the conflicts in the Pacific Islands, placing a particular emphasis on the gradual adoption by the Forum's Members of the above-mentioned alien concepts and on the criticism made by some prominent activists -native to the region- with regard to the concepts. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100010&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es The toppling of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has created great challenges to civilian organizations that seek to facilitate the process of post-conflict reconstruction and the establishment of a democratic state in this country. One of the main issues is the insecurity that still impacts many provinces and prevents the work of humanitarian or development organizations. In order to confront this problem, the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have been created. The teams are composed by civilian and military personnel and seek to advance projects beneficial to the Afghan population in regions, in which conventional civilian organizations still cannot operate. This paper presents a critical analysis of the work of PRTs, explains the reasons why they have been created, the criticisms that have been made by civilian organizations and the challenges they have to overcome if they are to be an effective tool in fostering Afghanistan's development. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100011&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es This paper summarizes the main findings of a research project that deals with five cases of best practices to overcome the conflict in Valle del Cauca. The terms of references for this project have been provided by the Bank of Best Practices to Overcome the Conflict established and maintained by the United Nations Development Program. The cases examined included the returning of the displaced persons to the places of their permanent residence, the fomenting of peace culture and the strengthening of local community, the regional TV channel efforts to disseminate relevant information, peace education for former rebels, and the promoting of legal agricultural activities in the coffee-producing area. Besides providing an overview of the main features of all of the cases, this report presents a summary of the socio-political and historical context in which these five experiences occur and reflects the lessons and recommendations that can be derived from a comparative analysis of the cases. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100012&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es This paper summarizes the main findings of a research project that deals with five cases of best practices to overcome the conflict in Valle del Cauca. The terms of references for this project have been provided by the Bank of Best Practices to Overcome the Conflict established and maintained by the United Nations Development Program. The cases examined included the returning of the displaced persons to the places of their permanent residence, the fomenting of peace culture and the strengthening of local community, the regional TV channel efforts to disseminate relevant information, peace education for former rebels, and the promoting of legal agricultural activities in the coffee-producing area. Besides providing an overview of the main features of all of the cases, this report presents a summary of the socio-political and historical context in which these five experiences occur and reflects the lessons and recommendations that can be derived from a comparative analysis of the cases. http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2011-03242009000100013&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es This paper summarizes the main findings of a research project that deals with five cases of best practices to overcome the conflict in Valle del Cauca. The terms of references for this project have been provided by the Bank of Best Practices to Overcome the Conflict established and maintained by the United Nations Development Program. The cases examined included the returning of the displaced persons to the places of their permanent residence, the fomenting of peace culture and the strengthening of local community, the regional TV channel efforts to disseminate relevant information, peace education for former rebels, and the promoting of legal agricultural activities in the coffee-producing area. Besides providing an overview of the main features of all of the cases, this report presents a summary of the socio-political and historical context in which these five experiences occur and reflects the lessons and recommendations that can be derived from a comparative analysis of the cases.