Peace & Security

What does it mean to seek peace? What does it mean to seek security? Are both of these ideas attainable goals in the 21st century? And if so, what are the issues that stand in the way of achieving them? And most importantly, what role do students have in creating the peace and security that they and others seek?

The goal of the Peace and Security Program is to answer these questions and more. Our vision is that every young person in the United States exercises their power to bring about a peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world. Our mission is to create an intellectual foundation among students in the United States about peace and security issues, equip those students with the skills and resources to address those issues and mobilize them to act on behalf of creating the kind of peace and security that they and the global population desire.

Our focus is on US engagement, its history and what the role of the United States should be in trying to achieve a more peaceful, healthy, just and sustainable world. We recognize the complexity of the issue, and its relationship and issues, such as foreign assistance, health rights, environmental protection and many others. We intersect with and integrate with work on these issues constantly, recognizing that our ability to connect issues and connect people is the only way that we will ever be able to move forward.

Whether it be trying to avoid a nuclear apocalypse, building bridges of understanding between different peoples, or struggling to end all US wars and occupations, we empower students to realize their power and act on behalf of a better future. We hold as a core value that no unjust action happens within a vacuum and thus what affects one, affects all. Therefore, it is our responsibility as global citizens to correct that injustice by whatever non-violent means we find appropriate.

Luckily, you have an immense opportunity right here to fulfill that responsibility and be a part of the movement to create a more peaceful and secure world. Our future and the future of countless individuals across the globe depend on us, so let’s not waste any time.

Let’s build an agenda for peace!

Find out more about the issues and our work on them:

What you can do

Organize an event on your campus. Bring in a speaker. Organize a debate. Stand up and demand change. Check out our event database for some great ideas to get you started.
Show a movie discussing the issue. Check out our film library for a list of free films you can borrow from AIDemocracy. Films come with discussion guides and free shipping. It couldn’t be any easier!
Request a mini-grant to make your film or event a success. We provide small grants to help pay for materials, food and speakers. Contact us to discuss.
Speak out to the network. Write a blog for our site. Post something on our Facebook Page. Share photos or video with us on YouTube. Share your opinions with other concerned students like you. Here’s how you can submit materials.
Ask for advice and support. Not sure how to get started? Need to talk through ideas for your event? AIDemocracy staff and student leaders are here to help
And more…

The world under binoculars

May 15, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

This April, the family of spy agencies in the USA received a new member agency, which will focus on Iran, North Korea and China. The new Defense Clandestine Service has now increased the number of intelligence agencies in the US to seventeen. The US is attempting to cover all its counterparts. According to the defense secretary, Leon Panetta, the US is attempting to “do global coverage.” The new agency has been designed to assist Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in strategic issues. So far, DIA has been swamped with intelligence gathering in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: CIA, Defense Clandestime Service, DIA, John Kiriakou, Tom Drake

The European Dilemma

May 13, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

According to the European Anti – Poverty Network (EAPN), one in seven persons in the EU faces the risk of poverty. Children and older persons are at even higher risk. One of the causes of neglect towards the situations of these individuals is that many in power associate poverty with developing countries. The problem lies in the European institutional constructions of identity. According to EAPN, poverty is a state of being that violates our human rights. They argue that poverty: “is a direct attack on people's fundamental rights, limits the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: EU, Europe, homelesness, poverty, racism, Roma, Romanies, social exclusion

As Europe fights against recession, social unrest and inequality bloom

May 5, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

In April this year, the International Labor Organization (ILO) warned the EU of annihilating consequences for the labor market of the EU austerity measures. Hatred, insecurity and suicide have increased, while the economy remains in ruins. Unemployment is on the rise globally. According to the ILO estimate, around 202 million people will be unemployed in 2012, which is an increase in 6 million from 2011. More than two thirds of European countries have experienced an increase in unemployment in the last six months. According to Eurostat, “24.772 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: discrimination, EU, Eurostat, ILO, Occupy Wall Street, racism, recession, social unrest

Paving the Yellow BRICS Road to Global Change

April 21, 2012 By Krystle Corpuz Leave a Comment

The first BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) Summit was held in 2009 with the intention of consolidating inter-economic ties between the four countries. The second and third summit brought forth discussions on inclusive growth and renewable energy within the framework of environment and food security. Consequently, in 2010, South Africa was added to the exclusive club – and “BRIC” became “BRICS.” The recent conclusion of the fourth BRICS Summit on March 29, 2012 brought forth a deluge of questions regarding the position of BRICS on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Emerging Nations, Global Security

Depleted uranium: Side effects of nuclear weapons development

April 20, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

Since their use in the Gulf War for the first time, depleted uranium penetrators continue to haunt most areas where the US troops were deployed in the Middle East. However, the threat they pose to people and their connections to nuclear weapons have been overlooked by most politicians and civilians. Depleted uranium (DU) is a lethal weapon. DU is a highly concentrated substance left over from the enrichment process that produces nuclear fuel and bombs. DU bullets were developed in the 1970s with the purpose of destroying top-line Soviet tanks. As a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: depleted uranium, New START, nuclear weapons

A Brief Analysis of Iranian Global Relations Part II: China, India, IAEA

April 20, 2012 By Emily Leave a Comment

In my previous post, I discussed two groups dealing with the Iranian nuclear problem: that which actively supports sanctions and that which objects to them. The issue, however, is not black and white: between the countries that actively support unilateral and multilateral sanctions and those that staunchly condemn them lies a third group of quasi-supporters that privately limit their financial interaction with Iran, despite public condemnations of Western sanctions. China and India (two of the five BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Brazil, China, EU, Government, human rights, India, Iran, nuclear, nuclear weapons, oil, reform, Russia, sanctions, South Africa, trade

A Brief Analysis of Iranian Global Relations Part I: EU, Brazil, Russia, South Africa

April 12, 2012 By Emily Leave a Comment

America’s recent responses to Iran’s nuclear program have stirred debate in the international community. Some condone America’s struggle with the Islamic Republic by supporting sanctions and oil embargoes; others denounce American imperialism and refuse to support sanctions. The European Union countries and, surprisingly, the previously Iran-backing countries of Brazil and South Africa, belong to the first group that condemns Iran’s nuclear program. In an April 6, 2012 Al Arabiya article, “Iran’s Moment of Truth,” Hassan Barari discussed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, economy, EU, Europe, foreign policy, Greece, human rights violations, Iran, Latin America, Mexico, nuclear, oil, Russia, sanctions, security, South Africa, trade

New START without nuclear weapons

April 5, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

On April 8, 2010, President Obama signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), a treaty between the United States and Russia regulating the buildup of nuclear weapons. The treaty entered into force in 2011. New START is a beginning of a new chapter, a “new step,” after the Cold War as the US faces new challenges in foreign affairs. There are benefits to the New START. According to Lindborg, ratification of New START signified a shift in nuclear arms control and an improvement in severely damaged Russian-U.S. relations. The cap was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Cold War, New START, nuclear weapons, Russia

US foreign policy and responses: Sanctions on Iran

April 5, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

On December 31, President Obama imposed sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear weapons program, and since then, responses from other countries have been mixed. BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) have mostly refused to follow the US in public, but meanwhile secretly heed the US calls. Whereas power balance in terms of oil production might change, it is yet to be seen how much of a change this will generate and who will benefit from it. In January, Emily Burlinghaus argued that US sanctions would be influential in influencing Iran’s … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Less, Security Tagged With: Brazil, China, EU, India, Russia, South Africa

Asymmetric warfare, relativity, retaliation and lessons for the future: The Taliban behavior and the future of asymmetric warfare – Part II

March 25, 2012 By Ana Ila Leave a Comment

As mentioned in the previous post, the Taliban soldiers are mistreated. However, their actions provoke retaliation and mistreatment. Though militarily wise, their actions serve as an example of asymmetric warfare, where the weaker violate human rights in order to gain an edge, but are then left with no rights once caught. Taliban actions do not alleviate their problem either. The Taliban use techniques which violate the Geneva Conventions. They use indiscriminate explosions and guns. They also attack civilians in order to gain publicity (Owen & … [Read more...]