Reexamining the Effect of Refugees on Civil Conflict: A Global Subnational Analysis

A large literature suggests that the presence of refugees is associated with greater risk of conflict. We argue that the positive effects of hosting refugees on local conditions have been overlooked. Using global data from 1990 to 2018 on locations of refugee communities and civil conflict at the subnational level, we find no evidence that hosting refugees increases the likelihood of new conflict, prolongs existing conflict, or raises the number of violent events or casualties. Furthermore, we explore conditions where provinces are likely to experience substantively large decreases in conflict risk due to increased development. Analysis examining nighttime lights as a measure of development, coupled with expert interviews, support our claim. To address the possibility of selection bias, we use placebo tests and matching. Our research challenges assertions that refugees are security risks. Instead, we show that in many cases, hosting refugees can encourage local development and even conflict reduction.

IMPROVING THE LEVEL OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IN COMPANIES DUE TO THE CONFLICT REDUCTION

The article is devoted to substantiating the need to reduce the level of conflict in modern companies to ensure an effective organizational culture. The essence of conflict as a social phenomenon is analyzed. The main preconditions for conflicts in companies are considered. The relationship between the level of conflict in the company and the level of its organizational culture has been studied. Theoretical generalization of methods for reducing the level of conflict is carried out. The role of the leader in reducing the level of conflict in the company is substantiated and the list of necessary actions and skills of the leader in this process is offered. Based on the above methodology, the level of conflict of the researched small company is determined and the type of its organizational culture is clarified. The main negative points that are present in the organizational culture of the company are highlighted. A list of measures to reduce the level of conflict is proposed. A forecast on the results of the implementation of the developed program to reduce the level of conflict in the studied company is performed.

Communication and Political Conflict Resolution of the Prosperous Justice Party in Handling the Case of Fahri Hamzah

This study aims to determine the conflict resolution carried out by the Prosperous Justice Party in handling Fahri Hamzah’s case. This study uses organizational control theory. This study uses a qualitative methodology with literature review studies. Based on orgatizational control theory, PKS uses the method of domination:suppressive violence. PKS decision to dismiss Fahri Hamzah is a method of domination or suppression. Organizational Control Theory is a theory that regulates the ways of communication that are able to control employess. Organizational control is carried out in four ways: First, simple control or the uses of power that is on going and open. Second, technical control or use of technology tools. Third, bureaucracy, which is the use of organizational procedures and formal rules, as described by Weber. Employees are provided with a guidebook that include policies to follow, memos, repost reviews, meeting reviews and performance reviews which are used to convey other expectations. Fourth, concertive control. There are several methods used in conflict resolution: First, conflict stimulation methods, conflict reduction and conflict resolution. Second, the conflict reduction method is used to reduse the hostility caused by conflict. Third, conflict resolution methods, which are carried out through domination or supression, compromise, and integrarive problem solving. This study uses a qualitative methodology with a literature review study. Based on orgnizational control theory, PKS uses the method of domination or suppresive ciolence. The PKS decision to dismiss Fahri Hamzah is a method of domination or suppression.

Descriptive Representation and Conflict Reduction: Evidence from India's Maoist Rebellion

Can greater inclusion in democracy for historically disadvantaged groups reduce rebel violence? Democracy building is a common tool of modern counterinsurgencies, despite so far limited evidence about whether and how duringconflict institutional reforms mitigate violence. We evaluate whether quotas for Scheduled Tribes in local councils reduced rebel violence in two Maoist insurgencyaffected Indian states, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. We employ a geographic regression discontinuity design to study the effects of identical quotas in the two states, finding that reservations reduced Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh, but yield a precisely estimated null effect in neighboring Jharkhand. Based on qualitative evidence from Chhattisgarh, we argue that quotas reduce violence when they bring local elected officials closer to state security forces, providing a windfall of valuable information to counterinsurgents. Our study shows how institutional engineering can alter the political economy of information provision, which in turn can shape the trajectory of a conflict.

Diversity within Mission Leadership

This chapter explores the issue of diversity within mission’s leadership: between the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and the Force Commanders (FC). It asks how this affects operational performances. In three case studies, UNIFIL II, MINUSMA and MINUSCA, the chapter finds the presence of communication and coordination problems, mainly related to personalities rather than diversity. Occasionally, the problem was a lack of experience of leadership. Another issue that emerges is the difficulty of SRSGs to act as the principal in relation to security issues. Yet, with learning and expert advisors these dimensions can easily be overcome. The chapter then introduces new data on SRSGs and FCs for all the operations in the post-Cold War period. The quantitative analysis shows a negative correlation between diversity within a mission’s leadership and the level of civilian victimization and battle deaths. As such, diversity seems to have beneficial conflict reduction effects.

How and When Amnesty during Conflict Affects Conflict Termination

In the difficult process of ending civil wars, granting amnesty during conflict is seen as a useful option, with an underpinning assumption that trading justice for peace is effective. However, is the case? This article tries to bring some clarity to when and how amnesty given during conflict has an impact. Amnesty should have different effects on diverse conflict endings: negotiated settlement, rebel victory, government victory, or conflict reduction. The article also disaggregates amnesties to test direct impacts as an incentive or through reducing the commitment problem, and indirect effects that give military advantage to the government. Using a cross-national data set of amnesties in dyadic conflicts from 1975 to 2011, the research finds that amnesty’s strongest effect is, surprisingly, not as an incentive but rather to reduce commitment problems. It can lead to negotiated settlements but also to government military advantage. The results have implications for negotiations and conflict resolution.

Parochialism, social norms, and discrimination against immigrants

Ingroup bias and outgroup prejudice are pervasive features of human behavior, motivating various forms of discrimination and conflict. In an era of increased cross-border migration, these tendencies exacerbate intergroup conflict between native populations and immigrant groups, raising the question of how conflict can be overcome. We address this question through a large-scale field intervention conducted in 28 cities across three German states, designed to measure assistance provided to immigrants during everyday social interactions. This randomized trial found that cultural integration signaled through shared social norms mitigates—but does not eliminate—bias against immigrants driven by perceptions of religious differences. Our results suggest that eliminating or suppressing ascriptive (e.g., ethnic) differences is not a necessary path to conflict reduction in multicultural societies; rather, achieving a shared understanding of civic behavior can form the basis of cooperation.

Niche partitioning on Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and human in space and resources in Riau, Indonesia

Sukmantoro YW, Alikodra HS, Kartono AP, Efransjah. 2019. Niche partitioning on Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and human in space and resources in Riau, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 1362-1373. Research on elephant and human niches at Balai Raja and Tesso Nilo have been done for 6 years (2012-2017). The study was conducted by recording the distribution of elephants and communities. The distribution of elephants was identified through an installed GPS Collar in 3 groups of elephants (Butet, Angelina and Desma) since 2012. In 2016, data collection of resources was done through OLI 8+ Landsat imagery and records from the field. From the results of the study, elephants (Desma, Angelina and Butet groups) and humans have significantly different niches in space, but in terms of resources, all three elephant groups are almost the same to use them. In the context of niche partitioning of resources, Desma group used more thenatural forest, swamp and wasteland areas than the communities. InTesso Nilo, elephants groups used more open land than the communities.The overlapping between elephant and human creates human-elephant conflicts. For this reason, strengthening the niche partitioning strategy in space and resources can be a solution to conflict reduction. In addition, if elephants with humans are forced to live in the same space and resources, they develop strategies of neutralism or coexistence. For the community, converting plant commodities in the direction of an elephant's dislike (still of economic value) can reduce losses for the community and create a non-disturbing relationship between elephant and human. Examples of what the community has done are cassava cultivation and timber industry concession strategy in planting Acacia which is relatively not detrimental to the company even though the plant is damaged by an elephant.