Monthly Archives: January 2012

Transitional Justice, Moral Dilemmas and Global Majority

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CUNY philosophy professor and Global Majority Board Member Michael Buckley, defines transitional justice as not just about criminality but truth telling, reparations, institutional reform and various concepts of  justice.  While providing examples of moral dilemmas and issues in justice, Michael connects political justice to economic justice and to business ethics.

The interview by Policy Pace host Paula LeRoy, is taped during a Global Majority trip in Chile that brought 24 students to study transitional justice with reknown Judge Guzman, MIIS professor Jan Black, and dissidents in the Mapuche Communities.  Michael describes the goals of Global Majority and its commitment to peaceful resolution, education, and promotion of negotiation techniques.

Throughout the interview, the background of Chile’s struggle for justice after the repression of the horrendous Pinochet dictatorship blends theory with practice.

Click here to download audio podcast in MP3 format. Audio will download to your itunes or media player.

 

 

Successes in Youth Micro-finance in Guatemala: Addison Embrey

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Addison Embrey, MIIS graduate student in security and development, shares his experience working in youth finance and community development in a remote area of Guatemala as well as with ex-gang members in Guatemala city. In this interview with host Paula LeRoy of Policy Pace, Addison describes  community development projects, gang issues, political issues, and societal issues experienced today in Guatemala, a country with the second highest homicide rate in Central America.

The interview also includes particulars about the micro finance business, issues of cyclical debt, selection of type of business, and the spread of interest in micro finance in small communities. Waxing philosophical, Addison reminds us that youth are our “tomorrow of today.”  Seeing the predicament of youth his own age, strengthens his commitment to helping improve their lives.

Click here to download audio podcast in MP3 format.

Mismatched Military Mission in the Afghanistan Theater: Lessons Learned? with Terry Tucker

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[middmedia pleroyantaki Commons-MIIS-web_data-middlebury-edu Mismatched+Military+Mission+TT1-PP.mp3 width:400 height:300] 

Dr. Terry Tucker, of the Department of Army Lessons Learned, summarizes his varied experience in counterinsurgency that includes working for the DEA, Saudia Royal Army, and the ISAF training Afghan and Coalition forces until 2010. Paula LeRoy hosts the first in the series of four interviews for Policy Pace with Dr. Tucker about counterinsurgency, military-civilian integration and Afghanistan.

The interview begins with analyzing how the military’s mission was mismatched with the skills set and history of military training (doctrine). Then recognizing the economic and political issues that color the conflict, a recap of the Powell and Bush doctrine requires a revisiting of Westphalia and Geneva Hague’s definitions of war.

The strength of Al-Queda is evaluated in terms of how war was “declared,” the impetus of fear, and the possibility that the US’s aggressive response has led to its own diminishment.  Fifteen minutes into the interview, Dr. Tucker elaborates on several examples of improvements in the use of soft power, cultural and language sensitivity, showing some lessons learned. The final part, considers conflict as a social movement, a theory which forms the basis of present day counterinsurgency tactics.

Click here to download the audio in MP3 format. The entire interview is 46 minutes.Add Media

If you have any comments, suggestions, or interest in being interviewed, please contact us at policypace@live.com

Conservation Landscapes, Saving Species with Landscape Scale “Playgrounds”: Steve Trombulak

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As part of the Sustainability Series, Middlebury Professor, Steve Trombulak fills an hour with scenarios, cutting age research, and a privileged view of the Systematic Conservation Planning being piloted in Vermont and spreading internationally. The first 10 minutes introduces the topic and history of Site-Based Conservation Planning including examples in Yellowstone National Park.

The second section describes the 5 Dominant Reasons why landscape scale conservation is necessary. And the final sections outline strategies to work as an advocate and lessons learned. Although the presentation was given with a powerpoint, Professor Trombulak’s lecture is impressive, interesting and compelling even without the visuals. This presentation was recorded and edited by Paula LeRoy from MIIS Informed Radio show: Policy Pace.

Click here to download the MP3 podcast. It will download to your itunes or mediaplayer.  Enjoy!

Looking Forward and Backward with the Motor Running: President Sunder Ramaswamy of MIIS

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Monterey Institute of International Studies‘ President Dr. Sunder Ramaswamy reflects on what makes MIIS unique, the challenges of innovating while maintaining, channeling funding to accomplish MIIS’ mission, and the advantages and disadvantages of being cutting edge. Paula LeRoy, host of Policy Pace guides this 30 minute interview  that gives an insiders view of President Ramaswamy’s philosophy of education  carried out in his current role.

Click here to download 30 minute pod cast in MP3 format.