| Author | ECCP |
| Publication | Conflict Prevention Newsletter |
| Year | vol. 2, no. 1 (Januari 1999), pp. 11-13 |
Keywords
early warning ; networkEthnological Monitoring and Early Warning - Networking in the post-Soviet states
Within five years of existence, the Platform member organisation, EAWARN, has become a very effective non-governmental network institution in the states of the former Soviet Union, with a strong reputation locally and internationally. Valery Tishkov, director of EAWARN, explains how this was achieved and what has changed in this period.
Management of conflicts in post-Soviet states, a joint project of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences and Conflict Management Group (CMG), based in Boston, Massachusetts, was started in 1993. Initially, the project had several directions and priorities, including training in conflict resolution for policy-makers and public activists, as well as the work with journalists. Some important steps have been taken in these directions, but gradually the project activities have shifted from Moscow-centered clients towards a wider geographical area and regional/local levels of interest and concern. Equally, the main priority became not proactive conflict prevention and peace making interventions, but based on a high quality expertise monitoring and early warning analysis of conflict prone regions of Russia and other successor states. This strategy, as well as earlier training seminars and other project activities, allowed the building of a network of leading experts in 11 states (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Belorus, Moldova, Ukraine, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan, Russia). In Russia, EAWARN covers all major regions with ethnically mixed populations and complex ethnopolitical situations. The main job of the EAWARN is independent local expertise of ethnopolitical issues exercised by leading scholars and other practitioners (journalists, administrators, human rights activists, etc.) capable of analytical work and the writing of regular reports for the Network. Quality of analysis and regularity were major concerns of the project coordinators. It was a major responsibility of Moscow and the CMG offices of the project to select, educate and instruct participants of the EAWARN. Selecting and recruiting qualified experts was and still is a major problem in the project. Some earlier invited participants failed to meet criteria and standards of independent and competent analysts. Some moved from the region or were promoted to other jobs like the government service, what made them associated members of the EAWARN. Another enduring problem is proper geographical representation. Many efforts have been made to cover all post-Soviet states, especially in areas of ongoing conflicts, like Chechnya, Nagorny Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. War destruction and insecurity made it impossible to establish regular reporting from the war-torn areas. Nevertheless, the EAWARN is the only expertise network which has now direct representation in several conflict areas, such as North Ossetia, Tajikistan, and Chechnya, and which covers other conflict issues from capital cities including Yerevan, Baku, Riga and Kishinev. The EAWARN is reporting on a wide range of problems facing multi-ethnic regions (migration and refugees, socio-economic and political situations, religious and ethnic relations, cultural activities, xenophobia and violence, etc.). Most of local reports are based on observation, sociological surveys, analysis of local media, and official documentation. More analytical studies are used for overview reports on the ethnopolitical situation and the status of conflict in post-Soviet states. The first 1997 annual report has been prepared and it is planned to be distributed through the Russian Ministry of Nationalities or independently by the EAWARN.
Data bank
Some EAWARN participants are active in local politics and conflict resolution matters, providing additional value to their eyewitness reporting. In four years, over 250 reports have been sent into the Network and this information now comprises a rich data bank on ethnicity and conflict which was established at the Moscow office with a specially developed computer program allowing search and easy access by topics and regions. The Moscow and CMG offices took responsibility for adding quality, political neutrality and policy relevance. Basically, this goal has been achieved: for the whole period of its functioning there were no complaints or external criticism concerning the materials produced by the EAWARN. Many experts in the former Sovjet Union area and the West use this information. Policy-makers and government officers expressed their deep interest and support for the project as an useful tool for evaluation and developing policy in the ethnopolitical and conflict issues. Suspicion, and attempts to impose censorship and even to undermine the work of the network by the special services of Russia and in other states, has been basically overcome. Nevertheless, the problem of local control and pressure still exist even up to the closeness of some states (Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan). EAWARN's major mission is to disseminate information and to assure that it reaches relevant clients. This is done through the regular publication of The EAWARN Bulletin, which is now a bimonthly Russian language publication of 300 copies distributed free among Russia's and other countries' leading policy makers, experts, research and analytical centers, diplomatic agencies. There were several English language issues of the Bulletin published and circulated by the CMG among Western experts. The project so far has been unable to organize efficient and easily accessible Internet web sites and to use on-line regime for highlighting information and early warning analysis. Public relations activity has been poor, as well as reporting on the EAWARN conferences, seminars and peace-making initiatives. Both of these areas were not protected by proper resources and personnel. The EAWARN became a network institution which needs constant monitoring itself, and innovations to compete with other sources of information and emerging networks. Three years ago, a major step was undertaken to shift the focus from monitoring to early warning through better structuring and refining analysis on the basis of a set of indicators and measurement of positive/negative dynamics of country and regional situations. Preparation of model descriptions became a serious work of research, and additional efforts which were supported by the UNESCO program Management of Social Transformations (MOST) in 1996 and 1998 for preparing early warning monographs. About 10-12 model descriptions for 3-4 countries and 7-8 regions of Russia were ready by the end of 1998. Published in 300 copies, these books have already become a major source of reference for experts and policy makers and will serve more in future, especially when they become available via the Internet. Indicators seriously helped participants to broaden their views and interests in local analysis and to improve reporting skill.
Competence building
The EAWARN project has resulted in competence building on national and regional levels and in development of non-governmental organizations in the form of independent research groups and conflict resolution centers. The project activities provided a first generation of conflict experts and governmental workers in the field of management of ethnic relations and crisis. The major result is the transformation of the former 'Moscow office' into the Center of the Study and Management of Conflict as a separate branch of the IEA, combining a group of excellent researchers and assistants for the EAWARN. It has the potential to become a leading expertise and academic center in the field in Russia, which may play the role of the lead agency for the EAWARN. In Vladikavkaz, a new independent Center for Ethnopolitical Studies has been established on a basis of the EAWARN group. Several EAWARN members have promoted important administrative and governmental work. They also have been invited to do consultancy work and participate in peace making operations. In 1998, the EAWARN reached the point of important transformation to strengthen and refine its profile and mode of operation.
New stage
The new goal of the project is to develop and exercise independent international monitoring of ethnic issues and conflicts in transforming post-Soviet societies. This will be based on a network of leading local experts. The purpose of this will be to provide timely and policy oriented analysis available for national and regional governments and for the international community. Major priorities include:
- regular analysis of ethnopolitical situations in 20 republics and administrative regions of Russia with an ethnically complex population and in 10-12 other states of the FSU area;
- policy-oriented studies of ethnic tension and violence for the purpose of assisting a process of conflict management;
- strengthening a network of highly qualified specialists and practitioners dealing with ethnic relations and governance of multi-ethnic communities;
- reporting on urgent issues and ongoing conflicts for a wider political and academic audience in a form of long-term and early warning analysis Main forms of activity:
- regular local reports from the EAWARN localities on a twice-weekly basis on major ongoing events along a set of selective indicators;
- placing improved and selective information on an Internet website and preparing urgent early warning reports for interested actors and experts;
- publication of bi-monthly EAWARN Bulletin for a wide distribution in Russia and other post-Soviet states and placing the texts on a web site;
- annual reports on a Status of Conflict in FSU Area, based on a model of ethnological monitoring;
- annual EAWARN seminars to discuss the dynamics of ethnopolitical situations and to broaden the knowledge and methodological competence of experts;
- maintaining the data bank on ethnicity and conflict Structure of the project: Lead agency - Center for the Study and Management of Conflict at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology (CSMC) assisted by the Conflict Management Group through general supervision, methodological assistance and promotion of information and achievements of the EAWARN for the Western audience. CSMC takes responsibility for organizing coordination, reporting, quality assurance, publications and dissemination of information and research analysis. CSMC takes financial responsibility for distributing and accounting resources of the grant under general supervision of the CMG along approved budget and requirements. CSMC is responsible for the technical and communication part of the project, keeps the Russian website and assists the CMG with the English web site of the project. CSMC, together with CMG, prepares annual EAWARN seminars and an annual report on the status of conflict. Local agents - constituent members of the EAWARN (up to 20) and affiliated members (up to 20), hopefully covering all states and regions and representing the most experienced experts or analytical groups. Local agents are responsible for electronic communication, gathering and assessing information, writing reports, participating in teleconference, doing research for annual reports and for early warning model monographs. They are paid from the grant on monthly and fee basis depending on their contributions and quality of analysis.