In 2009, countries have reached perilous new levels of conflict, tension and military spending characterised by nuclear proliferation, ideological warfare and pre-emptive invasions of sovereign nations. As news reports highlight an intensifying competition over natural resources, the international community is faced with a stark choice - to share resources and cooperate, or to continue on the path to further warfare.
The number of people forcibly uprooted by conflict and persecution
worldwide stood at 42 million at the end of 2008 amid a sharp
slowdown in repatriation and more prolonged conflicts resulting in
protracted displacement.
Despite a deepening economic crisis, global military expenditure increased markedly in 2008, rising to some $1.5 trillion. US military spending comprised nearly half of this total, easily outstripping its nearest rival China, according to a report by SIPRI.
Governments often add a veneer of high principle to aggressive military
campaigns. But can the rhetoric of human rights justify wars waged by powerful nations to universalise their political, economic and cultural paradigms? By Costas Douzinas.
Commentators have referred to water as "blue gold", implying that water will be the object of the next resource wars. A peaceful future can only be secured if governments agree to share water resources, argues Tara Lohan.
Since 1990 at least 18 violent conflicts have been fuelled by exploitation and competition over natural resources. The United Nations should integrate strategies of sharing natural resources to ensure post-conflict peace and security, according to a new report by the UNEP.
2008 has seen the security situation in Iraq improve, while Afghanistan and Pakistan still pose challenges. However, with a more internationally engaged US administration, the coming year provides an opportunity and may even be a
positive tipping point towards global stability and emancipation, writes Paul Rogers.
US arms sales have multiplied by three since the beginning of the Bush Administration, and of these sales more than half were either to undemocratic governments or regimes that engaged in major human rights abuse, according to a new report by The New America Foundation.