Tip Sheet

The Taliban as a long-term ‘government’ is unrealistic, Mason expert says. Here’s what needs to be done.

Mariam Aburdeineh — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:02:23 +0000

The Taliban as a long-term ‘government’ is unrealistic, Mason expert says. Here’s what needs to be done. Mariam Aburdeineh Wed, 08/25/2021 - 12:02

In This Story

Charles Davidson

Charles Davidson. Photo provided.

The Taliban’s reign in Afghanistan is not feasible long-term, said Charles Davidson, executive director of the Political Leadership Academy at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“The Taliban is a group of warlords…they are not a government, they are not politicians,” Davidson said. “History shows that when warlords fill a political vacuum, it’s only a matter of time until that system breaks down, if they’re not able and willing to allow people who can govern to do their jobs properly.”

Countering the Taliban’s aggressions and achieving a more peaceful outcome will take a multifaceted strategy, he said.

“We have to get people out who we promised we would get out,” Davidson said. “We have to hold to those commitments not only for the safety of our own citizens and the citizens that we worked with in Afghanistan, which is primary, but for the sustainability of our trustworthiness as a nation going forward in foreign policy and diplomatic relations.”

The next step is to promote and protect the safety and security of human rights activists, journalists and others who are likely to be targets of the Taliban-led government, Davidson said, adding protests are likely to increase. “We have to continue to shine a light on their voices so that they’re not lost, and, should they be violently oppressed, that that doesn’t go unnoticed,” he added.

Global awareness could be a gamechanger, he said.

“The reason why the Taliban was able to do what they did the first time around is that no one paid a whole lot of attention,” Davidson said. “We’re accompanying a generation of people who are now educated, who have ideas for their own future—possibilities that were afforded them through keeping oppressive regimes at bay.”

The situation is likely to get much worse before it gets better, Davidson said, which is why the global community needs to support efforts aimed at maintaining their human rights.

“One way the Taliban had other people play into their systems was choosing particular groups to oppress,” he said.

It’s much easier said than done, Davidson said, but if Afghans can stand up for those who are oppressed and work toward a sense of equality rather than playing into systems of hatred and oppression, particularly if they are the ones who benefit, then that is going to slow the systems of power the Taliban is trying to impose.

“The Taliban has made a lot of promises, especially about the economy and women’s rights,” Davidson said. “As they’ve shown, they’re not going to make good on those promises, so we have to make sure we’re making decisions based on what’s best for peace-loving Afghans.”

Charles Davidson is executive director of the Carter School’s Political Leadership Academy and President of the nonprofit ForgottenSong. He earned his PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Mason in 2019, with a focus in Middle East Conflict. Davidson lived in Afghanistan in 2008-09.

For more information, contact Mariam Aburdeineh at 703-993-9518 or maburdei@gmu.edu.

About George Mason

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at www2.gmu.edu.

Topics

Carter School Political Leadership Academy

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Afghanistan

Conflict Resolution

Tip Sheet

How COVID-19 affects the least developed countries (video)

Colleen Rich — Mon, 11 May 2020 17:33:08 +0000

How COVID-19 affects the least developed countries (video) Colleen Rich Mon, 05/11/2020 - 13:33

Alpaslan Özerdem, dean of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, talks about how COVID-19 affects the least developed countries and conflict zones.

Will a second chance at a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire be successful? Mason expert weighs in.

Mariam Aburdeineh — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 10:25:41 +0000

Will a second chance at a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire be successful? Mason expert weighs in. Mariam Aburdeineh Thu, 12/19/2019 - 05:25

Karina Korostelina

The recent agreement between Russian and Ukrainian leaders to implement a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine by the end of 2019 shows greater promise than the peace talks that fell apart in 2015, said Karina Korostelina, a professor in George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.

“In comparison with the previous Ukrainian administration that depicted Russia as an evil enemy and rejected any possibilities of negotiation and compromise, the new president and parliament clearly aim to terminate violence and war,” said Korostelina, whose research examines the impact of chronic violence in Ukraine and resilience practices developed by the nation. “Similarly, the prisoner swap [on Sept. 7] demonstrated the acknowledgement by Russia of the changes in the new Ukrainian approach to the conflict.”

The goal of the Dec. 9 talks in Paris between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was to resolve the more than five years of conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. According to the BBC, more than 13,000 people have died in the fighting.

Though a resolution has been elusive, circumstances could change, Korostelina said. Among those are Zelensky’s election mandate to terminate the violence and create an economically successful Ukraine, the new administration’s strategy to decentralize Ukraine to combat corruption, and Russia’s motivation to resolve the conflict as part of an effort to rejoin the G8 economic group, Korostelina said.

While both parties seem to want to the violence to end, “many significant issues remain unresolved,” Korostelina said. “The peace process is impeded by both the preconditions of Russia and persistent positions of Ukraine toward the conflict.”

Putin did not show a willingness to change the principles of Russia’s foreign policy and, contrary to Ukraine, did not show support for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the separatist-held territories nor for elections to be held in the region under the Steinmeier Formula, Korostelina said.

“The European Union (EU) should find a balance between supporting Ukraine and searching for a renewed relationship with Russia,” Korostelina said, adding that the EU’s pressure on Zelensky to agree to more compromises could lead to increased tensions in Ukraine.

A successful negotiation process would address humanitarian issues, military and trade tensions, and human rights violations in Crimea, Korostelina said. “And the European Union and the United States should support the civic society of Ukraine in promoting inclusive polices.”

Karina Korostelina can be reached at 703-380-8544 or ckoroste@gmu.edu.

For more information, contact Mariam Aburdeineh at 703-993-9518 or maburdei@gmu.edu.

About George Mason

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 38,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility.

California’s ban on school suspensions is a step in the right direction, Mason experts say

Mariam Aburdeineh — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 05:00:00 +0000

California’s ban on school suspensions is a step in the right direction, Mason experts say Mariam Aburdeineh Mon, 10/07/2019 - 01:00

Beidi Dong

California’s recent decision to ban suspensions for elementary and middle school students who willfully defy teachers and administrators is a step in the right direction, George Mason University experts agree. It could also interrupt the well-documented school-to-prison pipeline.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation in September to end suspensions in all California public and charter schools for “willful defiance” in kindergarten through eighth grades. According to Sen. Nancy Skinner, the decision will help keep children in school. Alternative methods of discipline, such as restorative justice, could be applied instead.

“Whenever possible, disciplinary practices in school need to involve inclusionary efforts to re-integrate students into the larger school community, rather than excluding them from the educational and social benefits that will provide them with greater opportunities to succeed and keep them out of trouble,” said Beidi Dong, assistant professor in Mason’s Department of Criminology, Law and Society.

Added Patricia Maulden, a professor in Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution: “Restorative justice brings together all parties impacted or harmed by a behavior or incident, allowing those who caused harm to hear from those who experienced the harm, and to work with them to make things as right as possible. The ethical and moral effects of nonpunitive discipline have positive individual and social impacts.”

Patricia Maulden

Dong, who recently led a study that found school suspensions can have unintended long-term effects on students, agrees.

Some of the negative consequences include economic hardships in adulthood, family tensions such as marital conflicts and ineffective parenting, emotional and behavioral problems, and time in prison, Dong said.

The law, which takes effect July 1, 2020, does not apply to high schools, and the ban for students in grades six through eight will expire after five years.

Maulden believes the law could go further.

The qualifications in the law indicate a reluctance to make a system-wide decision and prevent school systems from challenging historically determined models of discipline, she said.

Though the statistical data on restorative justice in reducing suspensions is in its preliminary phase, anecdotally, many schools and districts report significant reductions, Maulden said.

“Many schools report that the number of suspensions dropped markedly, but that conclusion is not universal,” she said.

Factors that may impact its effectiveness include time, resources, retraining, and re-conceptualizing consequences, all of which are required to implement a restorative justice program, Maulden said.

Despite the challenges, restorative justice programs in U.S. schools continue to grow, Maulden said, increasing options other than arbitrary suspensions that are often racially determined.

It’s a sharp turn to switch from one disciplinary approach to another, Maulden said. But looking further ahead, the possibility of interpersonal collaboration that could prevent negative consequences for students would be worth the investment.

Patricia Maulden can be reached at 703-993-9804 or pmaulden@gmu.edu.

Beidi Dong can be reached at 703-993-3477 or bdong@gmu.edu.

For more information, contact Mariam Aburdeineh at 703-993-9518 or maburdei@gmu.edu.

About George Mason

Trump’s food stamp proposal puts most vulnerable Americans at risk, Mason experts say

Mariam Aburdeineh — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 11:51:50 +0000

Trump’s food stamp proposal puts most vulnerable Americans at risk, Mason experts say Mariam Aburdeineh Thu, 10/03/2019 - 07:51

Frank Shafroth

The Trump Administration’s proposed rule to limit food stamp eligibility could adversely affect millions of Americans, George Mason University experts say.

“The apprehension is that the greatest impact would be on children and the elderly—the most vulnerable Americans,” said Mason professor Frank Shafroth. “Across our country, estimates are that as many as half a million children in 43 states could lose access to these benefits.”

In September, the Trump administration took public comments on a proposed rule that would limit food stamp eligibility for people whose gross income is 130 percent above the federal poverty line—roughly $16,000 for one person—or have more than $2,250 in assets. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the rule will close a loophole that has let higher income people receive unneeded food assistance. At present, there is not a public timetable for when the changes might be implemented, but USDA estimates that 3.6 million people would be impacted.

Locally, in Arlington County, the number of food stamp recipients doubled from 1999 to 2016, said Shafroth, who has volunteered with USDA’s food distribution services in Northern Virginia for nearly three decades.

Karina Korostelina

And according to Karina Korostelina, a professor of conflict analysis and resolution at Mason who has researched resilience in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., the rule would hurt already struggling families.

The most vulnerable population in Washington, D.C., lives just above the poverty line, Korostelina’s research found. These people usually work several jobs and fight difficult circumstances to provide for their families, she said.

“Food stamps help this group to devote some time to their children, supporting their achievements at school, instead of looking for another part-time job,” she said. “They also have higher self-esteem and self-efficacy through increased economic status.”

But that could change if the new rule takes effect, Korostelina said.

“Tightening the guidelines for food stamp eligibility will bring these people back to poverty,” she said.

The consequences could be multiple.

“Depression and the absence of hope reduce the motivation of people to succeed through legal means,” Korostelina said. “They become less interested in education or employment and seek involvement in criminal activities to improve their lives.”

If the proposal were to be implemented, it would adversely impact not just supplemental food benefits, but also school meal eligibility, Shafroth said.

“For kids in Virginia, where, last year, 700,000 Virginians received benefits, such a reduction could have a longer lasting, more pernicious legacy—poor nutrition can adversely impact concentration and learning,” Shafroth added. “It may result in episodes of more violent or aggressive behavior, and increased rates of poor mental or physical health.”

Karina Korostelina can be reached at 703-993-1304 or ckoroste@gmu.edu.

Frank Shafroth can be reached at 703-993-8560 or fshafrot@gmu.edu.

For more information, contact Mariam Aburdeineh at 703-993-9518 or maburdei@gmu.edu.

About George Mason

Mason's Mohammed Cherkaoui explains Qatar's conflict with its neighbors

Damian Cristodero — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 17:12:35 +0000

Mason's Mohammed Cherkaoui explains Qatar's conflict with its neighbors Damian Cristodero Wed, 06/21/2017 - 13:12

Because of the conflict between Qatar and its Persian Gulf neighbors, George Mason University professor Mohammed Cherkaoui has been in demand by media outlets in the United States and abroad. Cherkaoui, a professor of conflict narrative at George Mason’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, has extensively studied and written about Middle Eastern media, politics and society. Here, he explains factors fueling the conflict.

Q. What was the reasoning behind the nine Middle East countries imposing restrictions on Qatar?

Cherkaoui: There have been several anti-Qatar narratives, which showcase a tendency toward dominant groupthink among most Gulf nations in seeking a “unified” approach, vis-à-vis Tehran. Qatar remained skeptical about the purpose of further demonizing Iran.

The latent factor is the pursuit of undermining an underdog country whose public diplomacy—through Al Jazeera, the Brookings Qatar and other institutions—has outperformed that of other Gulf-rich nations. Since 1996, Al Jazeera’s discourse has been critical of certain U.S. foreign policy decisions in the Middle East.

Q. The United States confirmed $12 billion in arms sales to Qatar, weeks after announcing a $110 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Is there an intention we are not aware of?

Cherkaoui: The simple logic is that the Trump administration should not sell arms and F-15s to a country that is supposedly “supporting terrorist organizations.” Trump came back from Riyadh in May with a $400 billion Gulf investment package in the U.S. in addition to the new arms deals. The $12 billion with Qatar has turned out to be a new tool of managing the U.S.-Qatari rift after Trump decided to put his finger on the scale in favor of the Saudi embargo against Qatar.

Q. Trump has said his visit to Saudi Arabia inspired the Qatar action. Could taking credit backfire on him?

Cherkaoui: There have been some chronic differences between Gulf leaders since the so-called Arab Spring in 2011. However, Trump’s visit to Riyadh has been the trigger event of the conflict by solidifying the anti-terror discourse worldwide. It is a matter of judgment whether to call it a Trump factor or a Trump curse. But the F-15 deal with Qatar had been planned earlier.

In short, Trump has experimented with the Gulf nations for his new chapter in international relations: determinism of economic interests in serving his “America First” worldview.

Mohammed Cherkaoui can be reached at 202-486-2838 or mcherkao@gmu.edu.

For more information, contact Buzz McClain at 703-727-0230 or bmcclai2@gmu.edu.

About George Mason

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 35,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility.