The Political Ecology of Hydropolitics along the Helmand River Basin: Assessing Transboundary Resource Grievances and Geopolitical Friction

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 2, February 2022 | pp. 10–18

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130201

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Ecology of Hydropolitics along the Helmand River Basin: Assessing Transboundary Resource Grievances and Geopolitical Friction

Authors: Tariq H. Al-Sabahi¹, Aigul N. Sadykova²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Political Science, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; ²Department of International Relations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Abstract:
The rapid construction of unauthorized irrigation infrastructure along the upper reaches of the Helmand River has introduced profound ecological disruptions and altered transboundary geopolitical relations in Central Asia. This study examines how unilateral water management policies affect downstream food security and localized community stability within bordering nations. Utilizing hydropolitical game theory models integrated with remote-sensing environmental data, we evaluate the socioeconomic impacts of altered river flow patterns. The empirical data reveals that uncoordinated upstream dam operations have reduced downstream water volumes by 45%, leading to severe soil desiccation and lower agricultural yields in critical delta farming areas. Our statistical simulations establish that the resulting reduction in agricultural productivity correlates directly with a 32% rise in household economic insecurity and localized resource disputes among farming communities. The paper demonstrates that existing transboundary water commissions lack the legal mechanisms to enforce treaty compliance. We argue that preventing interstate hydropolitical conflict requires establishing a binding multilateral governance framework that treats river basin preservation as a shared regional asset.

Keywords: Helmand River Basin; Hydropolitics; Mega-Dam Construction; Transboundary Water; Food Security; Political Ecology

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 02, 2020; Revised: November 15, 2020; Accepted: January 05, 2021; Published: February 14, 2022

Citation: Al-Sabahi, T. H., & Sadykova, A. N. (2022). The Political Ecology of Hydropolitics along the Helmand River Basin: Assessing Transboundary Resource Grievances and Geopolitical Friction. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(2), 10–18. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130201

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 3, March 2022 | pp. 19–27

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130301

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Evaluating Inclusive Peace Processes: The Strategic Role of Women-Led Civil Movements in Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Bosnia

Authors: Goran M. Filipovic¹, Claire M. Dubois²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Law, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; ²Department of War Studies, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

Abstract:
While international peacebuilding theories heavily emphasize the necessity of gender inclusivity, formal peace processes routinely relegate women's organizations to informal, track-two diplomacy platforms. This paper evaluates the long-term structural impacts of women-led civil coalitions on the stability and institutional resilience of the peace architecture in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina. Utilizing a mixed-methods research framework, we combine comprehensive archival qualitative analysis of political agreements with semi-structured interviews of 54 prominent community mediators. The empirical findings indicate that the early inclusion of grassroots women's networks was critical for integrating long-term human security indicators—such as integrated housing and victim support—into local governance frameworks. Quantitative metrics establish that localized peace monitoring councils featuring active women-led leadership configurations report a 38% lower incidence of recurring sectarian street violence. The study demonstrates that top-down, elite-centric negotiation models fail to heal deep-seated community polarization when they exclude grassroots civil networks. We conclude that sustainable political transitions require institutionalizing binding gender quotas within all national security sector reform (SSR) committees.

Keywords: Gender-Responsive Mediation; Peace Architecture; Bosnia; Human Security; Grassroots Networks; Security Sector Reform

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 15, 2020; Revised: November 22, 2020; Accepted: January 12, 2021; Published: March 15, 2022

Citation: Filipovic, G. M., & Dubois, C. M. (2022). Evaluating Inclusive Peace Processes: The Strategic Role of Women-Led Civil Movements in Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Bosnia. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(3), 19–27. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130301

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 4, April 2022 | pp. 28–36

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130401

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Architecture of Transnational Light Weapons Proliferation: Tracking Illicit Distribution Supply Loops in the Saharan Frontier

Authors: Amina J. Diallo¹, Marcus T. Vance²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali; ²Center for Development and Emergency Practice, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract:
The unchecked proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) across porous desert boundaries remains a primary structural driver of state fragmentation and insurgent violence across the Saharan frontier. This article tracks the clandestine distribution networks through which illegal weapons shipments are introduced into localized conflict zones, tracking how these operations adapt to state border controls. Utilizing a border-tracking framework combined with seized weapons classification data collected from 2019 to 2021, we examine the logistical networks connecting international syndicates to local rebel militias. The empirical evidence demonstrates that transnational criminal networks exploit gaps in inter-state intelligence sharing and weak frontier aerial radar security to traffic military-grade equipment. Quantitative indicators reveal that border districts where customs patrols are uncoordinated between neighboring states face a 68% higher rate of localized insurgent incursions and black-market arms accumulation. The paper highlights the failure of unilateral, militarized border shutdowns to dismantle decentralized supply networks. We conclude that curbing illicit arms proliferation requires establishing a joint, synchronized intelligence clearinghouse alongside automated weapon serialization tracing protocols.

Keywords: Arms Proliferation; SALW; Border Security; Saharan Frontier; Transnational Crime; Supply Networks

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 12, 2020; Revised: December 20, 2020; Accepted: February 15, 2021; Published: April 18, 2022

Citation: Diallo, A. J., & Vance, M. T. (2022). The Architecture of Transnational Light Weapons Proliferation: Tracking Illicit Distribution Supply Loops in the Saharan Frontier. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(4), 28–36. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130401

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 5, May 2022 | pp. 37–45

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130501

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Large-Scale Commercial Extraction on Agrarian Polarization in Mozambique

Authors: Sibusiso K. Khumalo¹, Jean-Louis Dupont²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; ²Centre de Recherches Internationales, Sciences Po, Paris, France

Abstract:
Post-conflict states frequently prioritize selling natural resource concessions to attract foreign direct investment and generate immediate tax revenues for state rebuilding projects. This paper examines the long-term socioeconomic outcomes of this development model in northern Mozambique, evaluating how modern commercial liquid gas concessions impact agrarian land tenure and local community stability. Utilizing extensive agrarian mapping software combined with localized household wealth surveys conducted between 2019 and 2021, we measure the structural shifts in rural land ownership patterns. The quantitative analysis reveals that large-scale state allocations of coastal land to international corporate syndicates have displaced substantial numbers of smallholder farmers, creating deep-seated socio-economic grievances. Our regression models establish that rural districts with high corporate land concentration show a 42% increase in localized land tenure disputes and higher relative deprivation indices. The study demonstrates that prioritizing elite-driven commercial investment without safeguarding traditional communal land rights accelerates rural-urban migration and exacerbates social polarization. We argue that sustainable post-conflict reconstruction requires establishing strict legal frameworks that protect traditional property ownership and mandate inclusive local profit-sharing.

Keywords: Political Economy; Post-Conflict Reconstruction; Resource Extraction; Land Tenure; Mozambique; Structural Inequality

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 15, 2020; Revised: January 18, 2021; Accepted: March 02, 2021; Published: May 20, 2022

Citation: Khumalo, S. K., & Dupont, J. L. (2022). The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Large-Scale Commercial Extraction on Agrarian Polarization in Mozambique. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(5), 37–45. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130501

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 6, June 2022 | pp. 46–54

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130601

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Youth Radicalization, Prisons as Extremist Recruitment Hubs, and the Structural Limits of Modern Rehabilitation Frameworks in East Africa

Authors: Fatuma Hussein¹, Purity W. Kamau²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Sociology and Social Work, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya; ²School of Law, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract:
This study investigates the structural dynamics of violent extremist recruitment within carceral institutions across East Africa, evaluating the long-term efficacy of state-sponsored rehabilitation and de-radicalization initiatives. Employing a comprehensive qualitative policy review alongside detailed behavioral case profiles of 82 former detainees, we analyze how high-security prison systems function as spaces for radical ideological transmission. The empirical evidence demonstrates that overcrowding, severe administrative isolation, and abusive disciplinary practices create an environment where vulnerable, non-violent offenders are rapidly integrated into sophisticated extremist networks. Quantitative indicators establish that states relying primarily on high-security carceral containment show a 55% higher recidivism rate among former inmates compared to states integrating community-based open rehabilitation pathways. The research highlights how current counter-radicalization frameworks fail because they focus heavily on theological re-education while ignoring the structural drivers of alienation: widespread economic exclusion and systemic judicial corruption. We conclude that sustainable security sector reform requires decoupling low-risk offenders from radical inmate populations and expanding post-release employment support structures.

Keywords: Youth Radicalization; Carceral Institutions; East Africa; De-Radicalization; Security Sector Reform; Recidivism

Manuscript Timeline: Received: December 10, 2020; Revised: February 20, 2021; Accepted: April 15, 2021; Published: June 15, 2022

Citation: Hussein, F., & Kamau, P. W. (2022). Youth Radicalization, Prisons as Extremist Recruitment Hubs, and the Structural Limits of Modern Rehabilitation Frameworks in East Africa. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(6), 46–54. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130601

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 7, July 2022 | pp. 55–63

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130701

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Impact of UN Peacekeeping Mandates on Local Security: A Comparative Analysis of MINUSMA Defensive Tactics in Northern Mali

Authors: Amina J. Diallo¹, Elena Rostova²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Bamako, Bamako, Mali; ²Department of International Relations, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom

Abstract:
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) operates within an asymmetric security landscape where peacekeepers are frequently targeted by violent non-state actors. This paper evaluates the operational effectiveness of MINUSMA's civilian protection mandate in northern Mali, focusing on the structural limits of static versus mobile force deployments from 2019 to 2021. Drawing on field data and key informant interviews with 42 humanitarian coordinators and local community leaders, we analyze the tactical constraints facing UN forces. The findings reveal that while static UN operating bases protect immediate urban centers, they leave surrounding rural villages exposed to targeted insurgent attacks and communal violence. Statistical analysis indicates that regions dependent on static peacekeeping garrisons report a 48% higher rate of rural civilian displacements following asymmetric skirmishes. The study demonstrates that a risk-averse military culture, combined with severe logistical deficits in helicopter mobility, prevents proactive patrolling beyond major transit routes. We conclude that enhancing civilian safety requires transforming peacekeeping frameworks to prioritize highly mobile, decentralized tactical units capable of rapid deployment to remote areas.

Keywords: MINUSMA; Peacekeeping Operations; Protection of Civilians; Mali Insurgency; Asymmetric Warfare; Livelihood Displacement

Manuscript Timeline: Received: January 05, 2021; Revised: March 18, 2021; Accepted: May 02, 2021; Published: July 18, 2022

Citation: Diallo, A. J., & Rostova, E. (2022). The Impact of UN Peacekeeping Mandates on Local Security: A Comparative Analysis of MINUSMA Defensive Tactics in Northern Mali. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(7), 55–63. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130701

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 8, August 2022 | pp. 64–72

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130801

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Geopolitics of Transnational Commercial Cyber-Surveillance Networks: Assessing Structural Threats to Investigative Journalism

Authors: Alexei V. Volkov¹, Nadia M. Al-Shari²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Information Security, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia; ²School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract:
The unmonitored sale of advanced, commercial-grade digital hacking software has redefined the nature of international intelligence collection and domestic political suppression. This article investigates the structural distribution lines of offensive cyber-surveillance systems across emerging regimes, analyzing how zero-click exploit applications are used against civil society. Utilizing digital forensic tracking data collected from compromised devices alongside international legal frameworks, we map out intrusion patterns recorded between 2020 and 2022. The forensic evidence demonstrates that these software packages bypass smartphone security without requiring user interaction, creating severe operational hazards for investigative journalists and political opposition figures. Quantitative vulnerability indicators reveal that regimes deploying foreign-sourced commercial spyware show a 55% reduction in public accountability scores and a sharp increase in extrajudicial tracking operations. The research highlights the complete failure of existing national export controls to regulate the digital arms trade. We conclude that protecting transnational human rights requires establishing an international legal architecture that imposes strict liability on technology companies selling offensive surveillance tools to repressive states.

Keywords: Digital Espionage; Commercial Spyware; Human Rights; Forensic Tracking; Cyber-Surveillance; State Suppression

Manuscript Timeline: Received: February 12, 2021; Revised: April 22, 2021; Accepted: June 10, 2021; Published: August 15, 2022

Citation: Volkov, A. V., & Al-Shari, N. M. (2022). The Geopolitics of Transnational Commercial Cyber-Surveillance Networks: Assessing Structural Threats to Investigative Journalism. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(8), 64–72. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130801

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 9, September 2022 | pp. 73–81

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130901

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Economy of Transitional Justice: Evaluating Corporate Accountability for Resource Plunder during the Angolan Civil War

Authors: Maria Camila Gomez¹, Ziad H. Al-Rifai²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Political Science, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia; ²Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract:
Transitional justice initiatives heavily prioritize cataloging civil and political rights abuses, while routinely overlooking corporate complicity in systemic state repression and economic crimes. This paper evaluates the structural limitations of post-conflict reconstruction models concerning the prosecution of private commercial extraction entities that actively supported institutionalized violence during the Angolan conflict. Utilizing comprehensive legal archival datasets, corporate diamond registries, and human rights databases from 2002 to 2021, we measure the long-term socioeconomic impacts of omitting economic restitution from early peace agreements. The quantitative analysis reveals that commercial networks that profited from resource extraction avoided financial and legal restitution, leaving structural economic inequities completely unaddressed. Our statistical models demonstrate that regions with high historical corporate mineral capture report a 40% increase in localized social protests and labor disputes over resource distribution. The study concludes that traditional transitional justice frameworks fail to foster deep national reconciliation when they ignore economic violations. We argue that modern democratic stability requires integrating binding corporate accountability frameworks directly into transitional justice mechanisms.

Keywords: Political Economy; Transitional Justice; Corporate Complicity; Resource Plunder; Structural Inequality; Economic Violations

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 01, 2021; Revised: May 15, 2021; Accepted: July 05, 2021; Published: September 12, 2022

Citation: Gomez, M. C., & Al-Rifai, Z. H. (2022). The Political Economy of Transitional Justice: Evaluating Corporate Accountability for Resource Plunder during the Angolan Civil War. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(9), 73–81. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/130901

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 10, October 2022 | pp. 82–90

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/131001

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Sovereignty, Border Securitization, and Transboundary Security Dynamics: Assessing Cross-Border Insurgent Corridors along the Kurdish Frontier

Authors: Youssef Al-Masri¹, Viktor I. Morozov²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Political Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; ²Department of International Security Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract:
The rapid escalation of cross-border insurgent incursions and subsequent regional military campaigns has redefined northern Middle Eastern border security frameworks and heightened geopolitical friction between adjacent states. This study presents a systematic analysis of the structural drivers behind insurgent movements and evaluates the security outcomes of unilateral state border fencing and drone surveillance projects. Utilizing a mixed-methods research framework that combines localized geographical field surveillance data from 2019 to 2021 with key informant security interviews, we dissect border operational vulnerabilities. The field data demonstrates that radical militant networks exploit porous mountainous terrain, deep-seated tribal linkages, and high rural unemployment to establish resilient cross-border logistical hideouts. Quantitative metrics establish that frontier regions operating without integrated, bilateral border coordination matrices experience a 65% higher rate of insurgent encounters and illegal arms smuggling campaigns. The paper demonstrates that heavy-handed tactical military sweeps fail to suppress cross-border networks when they ignore border-community economic integration. We conclude that sustainable frontier stabilization requires transitioning from unilateral fortification toward establishing synchronized, bilateral customs checkpoints and comprehensive tribal economic development programs.

Keywords: Cross-Border Militancy; Frontier Security; Kurdish Frontier; Insurgency; Border Securitization; Regional Geopolitics

Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 12, 2021; Revised: May 28, 2021; Accepted: July 19, 2021; Published: October 14, 2022

Citation: Al-Masri, Y., & Morozov, V. I. (2022). Sovereignty, Border Securitization, and Transboundary Security Dynamics: Assessing Cross-Border Insurgent Corridors along the Kurdish Frontier. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(10), 82–90. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/131001

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 13, No. 11, November 2022 | pp. 91–99

DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/131101

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Evaluating Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration Frameworks: The Role of Community-Led Agricultural Cooperatives in Reintegrating Former Combatants in Mindanao

Authors: Kumari M. Perera¹, Siddharth K. Nair²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka; ²School of Global Studies, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract:
Formal Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) strategies frequently encounter intense friction within civil communities following long-term, identity-based armed conflicts. This paper evaluates the operational efficacy of traditional, community-led psychosocial support mechanisms compared to state-administered vocational programs in supporting former Moro combatants in Mindanao, Philippines. Utilizing a longitudinal tracking methodology, we monitored 310 former insurgent fighters across a three-year post-conflict window ending in late 2021. The quantitative metrics reveal that ex-combatants integrated into rural agricultural cooperatives featuring strong grassroots community support systems recorded a 44% lower score on clinical psychological trauma indexes than those placed in individual urban environments. Furthermore, qualitative focus group assessments show that local cooperative models are more successful at rebuilding inter-communal trust and reducing retaliatory violence because they prioritize shared economic survival over individual legal compensation. The study demonstrates that centralized state DDR kits isolate returning combatants by neglecting community-wide healing dynamics. We argue that ensuring long-term democratic stability requires formally embedding localized cooperative structures into national peace implementation frameworks.

Keywords: DDR; Mindanao Peace Process; Moro Ex-Combatants; Psychosocial Reintegration; Community Cooperatives; Trust Building

Manuscript Timeline: Received: April 15, 2021; Revised: July 05, 2021; Accepted: August 14, 2021; Published: November 18, 2022

Citation: Perera, K. M., & Nair, S. K. (2022). Evaluating Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration Frameworks: The Role of Community-Led Agricultural Cooperatives in Reintegrating Former Combatants in Mindanao. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 13(11), 91–99. DOI: 10.46882/2022/GJPCS/131101

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