The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) prides itself on producing cutting-edge, internationally renowned research, which has a significant impact on the key practitioner communities with which it engages. The Institute's work on conflict and security focuses on the following dimensions: theories and practices of cooperation in relation to global security challenges; trust-building and conflict-transformation; multidisciplinary approaches to state-building and post-conflict reconstruction; the conduct and changing character of warfare; the ethical implications of state responses to contemporary security threats. http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/index.aspx?NewsListingOrig_SyndicationType=1 Contensis: http://www.contentmanagement.co.uk http://iccsprojects.blog.com/2013/05/13/the-drones-have-landed/ Mon, 20 May 2013 11:07:00 GMT http://iccsprojects.blog.com/2013/05/13/the-drones-have-landed/ http://iccsprojects.blog.com/ This blog outlines and collates information about the ESRC/MOD supported project relating to the political effects of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on Conflict and Cooperation Within and Between States being undertaken by the Institute of Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) and Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS) at the University of Birmingham Thu, 09 May 2013 09:40:00 GMT http://iccsprojects.blog.com/ http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/trust-building-conflict-transformation/Uprising-Cities-Between-Resilience-and-Resistance/index.aspx Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:12:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/trust-building-conflict-transformation/Uprising-Cities-Between-Resilience-and-Resistance/index.aspx http://www.stefanwolff.com/notebook/drone-warfare-effective-or-counter-productive Professor Stefan Wolff discusses the effectiveness of drone warfare Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:23:00 GMT http://www.stefanwolff.com/notebook/drone-warfare-effective-or-counter-productive http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/Calculation-and-Miscalculation-on-the-Korean-Peninsula.aspx Dr David Hastings Dunn discusses the ongoing North Korean nuclear crisis Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:34:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/Calculation-and-Miscalculation-on-the-Korean-Peninsula.aspx http://leicesterexchanges.com/2013/04/10/north-korea/ Dr. Andrew Futter discusses the ongiong North Korean crisis Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:50:00 GMT http://leicesterexchanges.com/2013/04/10/north-korea/ http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2013/04/ICCS-forge-links-with-the-newly-established-Institute-of-Advanced-Studies-(IAS)-.aspx Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:12:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2013/04/ICCS-forge-links-with-the-newly-established-Institute-of-Advanced-Studies-(IAS)-.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/perspective/libya-two-years-on.aspx Libya: two years onTwo years on from the UN Security Council resolution that authorised NATO's military intervention in Libya, four University of Birmingham experts reflect on where we are now. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 09:17:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/perspective/libya-two-years-on.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2013/03/ICCS-hosts-a-meeting-between-members-of-the-Yemeni-diaspora-and-UK-government-officials.aspx Tuesday the 5th of March saw the University of Birmingham's Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security hosting a meeting between members of the Yemeni diaspora in the UK and a team from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the British Ambassador to Yemen, Nicholas Hopton. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:29:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2013/03/ICCS-hosts-a-meeting-between-members-of-the-Yemeni-diaspora-and-UK-government-officials.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/ICCS-Projects/index.aspx Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:14:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/ICCS-Projects/index.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/courses/postgraduate/taught/govsoc/global-cooperation-security.aspx Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:44:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/courses/postgraduate/taught/govsoc/global-cooperation-security.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/12/Breaking-the-Deadlock-in-the-Iranian-Nuclear-Negotiations---Josh-Baker,-Scott-Lucas-and-Nicholas-J-Wheeler-.aspx Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:34:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/12/Breaking-the-Deadlock-in-the-Iranian-Nuclear-Negotiations---Josh-Baker,-Scott-Lucas-and-Nicholas-J-Wheeler-.aspx Trust building Trust-Building http://www.wiscomp.org/pp-v4-n2/nick%20wheeler.pdf by Nicholas J. WheelerThe challenge of building trust between states that have a history of conflict and acrimony has attracted the attention of scholars in the field of International Relations for several decades. While several models have been offered, constant changes in the international environment reveal their gaps. In this paper, the author explores the challenges that states face in the process of building trusting relationships, given the complexity nuclearization proffers. It presents a critique of the existing models and some preliminary ideas for understanding the process of trust building using a concept he terms as "interpersonal communicative dynamics". Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:22:00 GMT http://www.wiscomp.org/pp-v4-n2/nick%20wheeler.pdf Trust building Trust-Building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/Legal,-Legitimate,-and-Effective-Drone-Warfare-Grand-Illusion-or-Future-Reality.aspx Legal, Legitimate, and Effective Drone Warfare: Grand Illusion or Future Reality? A new article co-authored by Dr. David H. Dunn, Professor Nicholas Wheeler and Professor Stefan Wolff Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:32:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/Legal,-Legitimate,-and-Effective-Drone-Warfare-Grand-Illusion-or-Future-Reality.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/08/State-building-without-a-state-the-European-Unions-role-in-the-Palestinian-Territories-after-the-Oslo-Accords.aspx On Tuesday 15th May, Dr. Dimitris Bouris from the University of Warwick, delivered a presentation to the State-building Security and Development Research Group (SSDRG) entitled 'State-building without a state: the European Union's role in the Palestinian Territories after the Oslo Accords' Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:26:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/08/State-building-without-a-state-the-European-Unions-role-in-the-Palestinian-Territories-after-the-Oslo-Accords.aspx SSDRG http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/08/Theres-still-time-to-negotiate-.aspx Optimism regarding nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States and Germany) and Iran has come and gone, and now the familiar drums of war are beating again. The latest round of negotiations initiated little over three months ago seems to have once again stalled. Doves and hawks alike, from lead European negotiator Catherine Ashton to Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, are announcing that the time for negotiations is short and receding. Crippling economic sanctions are taking their toll on Iran's economy and covert cyber attacks on Iran's nuclear program have forced Iranian Government agencies off the internet. But, still, Iran does not look ready to give into Western demands and suspend its enrichment activities. Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:19:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/08/Theres-still-time-to-negotiate-.aspx Trust building Trust-Building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/Iranian-Nuclear-Negotiations-A-Long-Way-from-Trust.aspx Can trust develop between nuclear rivals? If so, under what circumstances and what would this entail? These are some of the core questions that a research project funded under Research Councils UK's Global Uncertainties Programme is attempting to answer. The realm of international politics is commonly described as one in which trust is rare and often dangerous, due to the high stakes involved if actors mistake potential partners for adversaries, or vice versa. In no instances are the stakes higher than between nuclear rivals. That said, the language of trust is frequently invoked in diplomacy. Moreover, and as some of the project case studies demonstrate, trusting relationships between rival countries can sometimes emerge and can open up new possibilities for co-operation. Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:51:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/Iranian-Nuclear-Negotiations-A-Long-Way-from-Trust.aspx Trust building Trust-Building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/Trust-and-International-Relations-a-Conference-Report.aspx Dani Nedal, Research Fellow at the ICCS, looks at the recent BISA conference panel on 'The Politics of Transformation: Trust, Empathy, and Dialogue' featuring Dr. Nami Head (Glasgow), Professor Nicholas Wheeler (Birmingham), Ms Laura Considine (Aberystwyth), Dr. Vincent Keating (Durham), and Dr. Jan Ruzicka (Aberystwyth). Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:22:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/Trust-and-International-Relations-a-Conference-Report.aspx Trust-Building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/New-ESRC-Seminar-Series-grant-for-NATO-after-Afghanistan.aspx Professor Mark Webber has been awarded a grant under the latest ESRC Seminar Series initiative to hold a series of meetings with practitioners, representatives of civil society and academics in 2012-2014 to explore NATO's reorientation as its mission in Afghanistan winds down. Webber as Principal Investigator will work alongside co-investigators at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Dr Martin Smith and Dr Jennifer Medcalf) and Dr Ellen Hallams (Kings College, London). Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:43:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/New-ESRC-Seminar-Series-grant-for-NATO-after-Afghanistan.aspx International Organisations and Security http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/Empathy-and-International-Relations--A-conference-report-and-short-research-note.aspx Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:43:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/07/Empathy-and-International-Relations--A-conference-report-and-short-research-note.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/06/New-ESRC-follow-on-grant-for-Conflict-Resolution-in-Moldova.aspx Professor Stefan Wolff has won a grant under the ESRC Follow-on Scheme to enable him to continue his mediation support work in the Transnistria conflict in Moldova. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:33:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/06/New-ESRC-follow-on-grant-for-Conflict-Resolution-in-Moldova.aspx Trust building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/06/Workshop-on-The-Origins-of-Argentina-Brazil-Nuclear-Cooperation-A-Critical-Oral-History-.aspx In March 2012, as part of the research on Trust Building in Nuclear Worlds, the researchers on the project conducted, in partnership with the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in Brazil, a Critical Oral History workshop on the origins of Argentina-Brazil nuclear cooperation. Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:54:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/06/Workshop-on-The-Origins-of-Argentina-Brazil-Nuclear-Cooperation-A-Critical-Oral-History-.aspx Trust building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/06/Global-Uncertainties-Leadership-Fellowship-.aspx Professor Tom Sorell has been awarded more than £300k for a three year ESRC Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellowship to begin in October 2012 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:38:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/06/Global-Uncertainties-Leadership-Fellowship-.aspx Security and Ethics http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/trust-building-conflict-transformation/trust-nuclear-worlds/irans-nuclear-programme.aspx On Wednesday 25th April, the University of Birmingham's newly established Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) hosted an afternoon of expert discussion on the security implications of the current crisis over Iran's nuclear programme. Guest Speakers included Sir Richard Dalton, UK ambassador to Iran 2003-2006. Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:50:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/trust-building-conflict-transformation/trust-nuclear-worlds/irans-nuclear-programme.aspx Trust building Trust-Building http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/04/application-birmingham-fellows.aspx Outstanding applicants and future academic leaders are encouraged to apply for a highly prestigious Birmingham Fellowship researching in the field of security at the University of Birmingham. Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:50:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/conflict-cooperation-security/news/2012/04/application-birmingham-fellows.aspx http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/Building-Mutual-Nuclear-Security-with-Iran.aspx Why has a solution to the decade long nuclear stand-off with Iran proved so elusive? Based on ongoing research into the dynamics of nuclear rivalries, and the role of trust in international politics, we argue that the main obstacle to solving the crisis over Iran's nuclear program is that neither side believes that it is possible to reassure the other without this reducing their own security. Recent talks in Istanbul suggest that a new path to mutual security might be opening up, but there are still challenges ahead. Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:49:00 GMT http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/thebirminghambrief/items/Building-Mutual-Nuclear-Security-with-Iran.aspx birmingham brief govsoc ICCS