Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 1, No. 3, March 2010 | pp. 89–96

DOI: 10.46882/2010/GJPCS/000003

Research Article

Water Securitization and Transboundary Dispute Resolution Frameworks in the Jordan River Basin

Tariq Al-Husseini¹, Michal Bar-Asher²

¹Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

²Department of Geography, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract: Transboundary water systems in arid regions frequently act as flashpoints for geopolitical friction. This study analyzes the effectiveness of existing water-sharing mechanisms in the Jordan River Basin amid growing climate-induced hydrologic stress. Integrating hydrological flow modeling with political discourse analysis, we evaluate the allocations established by historical bilateral agreements against actual volumetric extractions recorded from 2000 to 2008. The data reveal a persistent annual deficit of 145 million cubic meters ± 12 million cubic meters between sustainable yield thresholds and actual consumer withdrawals. A statistical correlation analysis confirms that periods of severe drought (standardized precipitation index < -1.5) strongly correlate with an escalation in adversarial diplomatic rhetoric (r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The research demonstrates that rigid volumetric allocations fail to withstand shifting environmental baselines. We argue for a paradigm shift from sovereign water rights to integrated benefit-sharing frameworks, driven by joint desalinization infrastructure and dynamic, data-driven adaptive allocations to mitigate long-term regional instability.

Keywords: water security, transboundary disputes, Jordan River Basin, climate adaptation, hydrologic modeling, environmental diplomacy

Manuscript Timeline: Received December 05, 2009; Revised January 20, 2010; Accepted February 18, 2010; Published March 05, 2010.

Citation: Al-Husseini, T., & Bar-Asher, M. (2010). Water Securitization and Transboundary Dispute Resolution Frameworks in the Jordan River Basin. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 1(3), 89–96. DOI: 10.46882/2010/GJPCS/000003

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 1, No. 2, February 2010 | pp. 81–88

DOI: 10.46882/2010/GJPCS/000002

Research Article

Quantifying the Impact of UN Peacekeeping Personnel Density on Civilian Casualty Reduction

Carlos Mendez¹, Yuki Tanaka²

¹School of International Relations, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA

²Department of Peace Studies, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

Abstract: The capacity of United Nations peacekeeping operations (PKOs) to protect civilians remains a core debate in international security. This quantitative study introduces a personnel density metric—defined as the number of active blue helmets per 100 square kilometers of conflict zone—to assess its direct impact on minimizing civilian casualties. Utilizing a longitudinal dataset encompassing 14 African conflicts from 1995 to 2008, we employ fixed-effects panel regression models to isolate PKO impacts from confounding political variables. The statistical results demonstrate a robust threshold effect: when peacekeeping personnel density exceeds 12.5 troops per 100 square kilometers, civilian fatalities decrease by an average of 42% (p < 0.001). Conversely, low-density missions (fewer than 4.0 troops per 100 square kilometers) show no statistically significant difference in casualty rates compared to unmonitored zones. Analysis also indicates that robust chapter VII mandates enhance troop efficacy by a factor of 1.8 ± 0.3 relative to observer missions. The study concludes that international interventions must meet minimum deployment thresholds to move past symbolic presence and achieve real protection.

Keywords: peacekeeping operations, United Nations, civilian protection, panel regression, personnel density, conflict intervention

Manuscript Timeline: Received November 01, 2009; Revised December 15, 2009; Accepted January 10, 2010; Published February 04, 2010.

Citation: Mendez, C., & Tanaka, Y. (2010). Quantifying the Impact of UN Peacekeeping Personnel Density on Civilian Casualty Reduction. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 1(2), 81–88. DOI: 10.46882/2010/GJPCS/000002

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2010 | pp. 73–80

DOI: 10.46882/2010/GJPCS/000001

Research Article

Evaluating the Efficacy of Community-Led Mediation in Post-Conflict Rural Liberia

John K. Mensah¹, Elena Rostova²

¹Department of Peace Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

²Institute for Conflict Resolution, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract: Community-led mediation frameworks have increasingly been utilized as alternatives to formal state judiciaries in post-conflict environments. This study evaluates the efficacy of local peace committees in rural Liberia ten years after the cessation of civil hostilities. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered from 450 households across three counties using stratified random sampling. Regression analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between local committee engagement and perceived community security (R² = 0.58, p < 0.01). Qualitative data from 32 semi-structured interviews revealed that traditional restorative justice mechanisms enjoy higher local legitimacy than formal courts, largely due to lower costs and shorter resolution times. However, the exclusion of youth and women from elder councils remains a systemic limitation. Quantitatively, disputant satisfaction rates were high at 78% ± 4.2% across 120 observed cases. The findings demonstrate that while informal mediation is highly effective for localized property and familial disputes, it requires structural reforms to guarantee gender inclusivity. The study concludes that integrating traditional dispute resolution systems with statutory legal frameworks provides a sustainable path for grassroots peacebuilding.

Keywords: community mediation, peacebuilding, restorative justice, Liberia, local legitimacy, conflict resolution

Manuscript Timeline: Received September 14, 2009; Revised November 05, 2009; Accepted December 12, 2009; Published January 02, 2010.

Citation: Mensah, J. K., & Rostova, E. (2010). Evaluating the Efficacy of Community-Led Mediation in Post-Conflict Rural Liberia. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 1(1), 73–80. DOI: 10.46882/2010/GJPCS/000001