a large crowd holding up two posters showing the head of two men.
As celebrações do combatente da independência Amílcar Cabral serão um momento crítico. | Image: UN Photo via flickr | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Sinal de Alerta para Novos Conflitos: Crescente Polarização Social na Guiné-Bissau

Os protestos da Geração Z mantiveram em suspenso durante semanas os governos do Quénia, da Nigéria, da África do Sul e do Uganda, entre outros. Fora do radar internacional, a Guiné-Bissau tem testemunhado recentemente protestos intergeracionais, após uma alegada tentativa de golpe no final de 2023. Manifestantes acusam o Presidente de ter orquestrado o golpe para dissolver o parlamento por decreto. Muitos na Guiné-Bissau agora contestam a presidência e exigem o cumprimento do calendário eleitoral, e a manutenção das eleições presidencias marcadas para novembro de 2024. Este artigo aproveita os protestos como um momento para ampliar a visão sobre o tópico, oferecendo leituras narrativas e contra-narrativas da tentativa de golpe para contextualizar a atual situação política.

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a large crowd holding up two posters showing the head of two men.
The celebrations of independence fighter Amilcar Cabral in September will be a critical moment. | Image: UN Photo via flickr | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Early Warning for New Trouble? Increasing Social Polarization in Guinea-Bissau

Gen Z protests have kept governments in, among others, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, in suspense for weeks. Off the international radar, Guinea-Bissau has witnessed cross-generational protests lately, following an alleged coup attempt in late 2023. Protestors accuse the President of orchestrating the coup to dissolve parliament by decree. Many in Guinea-Bissau now challenge the presidency and demand adherence to the election schedule, with elections set for November 2024. This blog post takes the protests as a moment to widen the view, offering both narrative and counter-narrative readings of the coup attempt to contextualize the current political situation.

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Big red brick building and pedestrian paths with groups of young people walking
Dhaka University: What began as a peaceful protest turned violent on 15 July. | Photo: Mohammad Tauheed, flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0

Bangladesh Quota Protest – Tip of the Iceberg?

Violent clashes between students and police in Bangladesh have officially claimed more than 300 lives (unofficial figures are much higher). The students are protesting against a controversial quota system that reserves 56% of governmental jobs, leaving only 44% for general merit-based selection. Although the initial mobilisation of the students was about quota reform, the continuation of the protests indicates deep-rooted anger against the Sheikh Hasina government. Even if the protests are called off, which is not the case at the moment, justice for those who lost their lives in the protests will remain elusive.

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Photograph of a landscape with four wind turbines.
The peaceful appearance is misleading: Wind park in La Guajira in northern Colombia. Photo: © Martin Gubsch/PRIF.

Resisting Energy Transition? Understanding Roadblocks in Northern Colombia

La Guajira in northern Colombia has seen a disproportionate number of roadblocks recently, especially connected to wind park construction sites, staged by people demanding that the state implement economic, social, and physical security improvements. This conflict is an example of local impacts of the global energy transition on historically marginalized people. In this Spotlight we argue that La Guajira is a prime case showing how the energy transition is leveraged to indirectly address the state through private companies.

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Menschenmenge auf Platz vor Fachwerkhäusern und Wolkenkratzern
Massenproteste gegen Rechts auf dem Frankfurter Römer und umliegenden Plätzen, 20. Januar 2024 | Foto: KoalaKollektiv via flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0

Aufstehen gegen Rechts – ein langer Weg zu gehen

Die Massenproteste gegen Rechts haben deutlich gemacht: Viele Menschen wollen dem Erstarken der extremen Rechten nicht länger zuschauen. Sie wollen eine demokratische Gesellschaft ohne Wenn und Aber. Dabei dürften die Proteste eher einen lautstarken Anfang als das Ende der Auseinandersetzungen markieren. Denn die Entwicklungen und Krisen, die der extremen Rechten den Nährboden bereiten, bestehen weiterhin. Der zivilgesellschaftliche Aufbruch ist dabei zugleich Angebot und Aufforderung an die Politik, eine andere Mitte zu finden, die sich von den nach Rechts schielenden Narrativen der „Besorgten Bürger“ löst.

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Einzelne Demonstrant:innen auf dem Bonner Ostermarsch 2021
Ostermarsch 2021 in Bonn | Foto: friekoop via flickr | CC BY-NC 2.0

Die Ostermärsche 2023 und der Überfall auf die Ukraine: Nur wenige Aufrufe fordern Russlands Rückzug

Die Ostermärsche schauen auf eine jahrzehntelange Geschichte zurück. Zu ihren Hochzeiten konnten sie Hunderttausende Menschen auf die Straße bringen. Welche Themen und Appelle dabei im Zentrum standen, hing vom jeweiligen Konfliktgeschehen in Europa und der ganzen Welt ab. In diesem Jahr stehen die Aufrufe im Zeichen des russischen Angriffskrieges gegen die Ukraine. Während zahlreiche von ihnen Waffenlieferungen an die Ukraine kritisieren, verlangt nur eine kleine Minderheit den Rückzug der russischen Truppen.

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DR Congo flag in a village.
The protests in the Democratic Republic of Congo demonstrate that regional military initiatives are no panacea for multi-level security challenges. | Photo: Fiston Wasanga/CIFOR-ICRAF via flickr | CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Regional Solutions to Regional Problems? Protests in the DRC Highlight the Challenges of Regional Military Peace Operations

Just three months since the first deployment of military contingents, the East African Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become heavily contested by Congolese activists and parts of the Congolese population. The protests, which took place in Kinshasa, Goma and Bukavu, powerfully demonstrate that regional military initiatives are no panacea for multi-level security challenges but may in fact run the risk of intensify existing challenges and conflict dynamics.

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Lützerath, 10. Januar 2023: Polizei und Klimaaktivist:innen stehen sich gegenüber. | Foto: Lützi Lebt via flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0

Ungehorsamer Klimaprotest: Proteste werden intensiver – eine Radikalisierung in die Gewalt ist nicht in Sicht

Wie mit dem Klimawandel umgehen, das wird aktuell intensiv diskutiert. Die Klimabewegung betont die Notwendigkeit einer globalen, sozialen und ökologischen Transformation, dafür intensiviert sie den Protest auch in Deutschland. Zunehmend stehen Aktionen des zivilen Ungehorsams im Zentrum. Im Raum steht der Vorwurf der Radikalisierung in die Gewalt, aktuell ist dieser allerdings unbegründet: Die Bewegung entfaltet sich auf dem Terrain des Demokratischen, verleiht der legitimierten Forderung nach Einhaltung des 1,5-Grad-Ziels von Paris Nachdruck und skizziert Visionen aus der Krise heraus.

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Image shows barricades using traditional Sarongs as a means of Protest in Myanmar
Traditional sarongs and other “feminine” items have become effective tools in protest. | Photo: Maung Sun via wikimedia commons | CC BY-SA 4.0

Here, There, and Everywhere: Feminist Resistance beyond the “Women, Peace and Security” Agenda in Post-Coup Myanmar

As a landmark in the movement to increase global attention to women’s critical role in participation, protection, prevention, relief and recovery in conflict settings, the UN Security Council’s resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) lend reference power to gender mainstreaming in all issues related to conflict resolution and peace governance – however, they fall short of effectively supporting women’s resistance in Myanmar.

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Ornamental image of eyes and figures with hands in front of their faces
Women's rights act as a connector to unite different groups and social classes fighting for democracy and rule of law. | Image: © Parastou Forouhar

“For this Forced Heaven”: Women’s Rights as the Path to Democracy in Iran

Iran’s streets have been the scene of inspiring portraits created by women and young girls chanting “women, life, freedom” over the past six weeks. Starting as a reaction to the death of 22-year-old Zhina (Mahsa) Amini, who was killed by the so-called “morality police” for wearing her hijab improperly, the protests have now turned into a cross-class, women-led movement for democracy and rule of law. This post looks at the situation of women from a historical perspective after the Islamic revolution and argues that women’s rights are acting as a connector to unite different groups and social classes fighting for democracy and rule of law in the current protests.

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