Panel Discussions - Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Peace Operations and Organized Crime

The International Peace Institute on April 15th launched a Special Issue of the journal International Peacekeeping, edited by James Cockayne, IPI Senior Associate, and Adam Lupel, IPI Editor. "Peace Operations and Organized Crime," the subject of both the Special Issue and the launch event, were considered in a policy-forum setting by contributors to the issue James Cockayne, Alix Boucher, and Phil Williams, and discussant Ann-Marie Orler, United Nations Deputy Police Adviser.

Peace operations, in venues as diverse as Afghanistan, the Balkans, Haiti, Iraq, and West Africa, have struggled with protection rackets and corruption, as well as trafficking in a wide range of licit and illicit commodities: guns, drugs, oil, cars, diamonds, timber and human beings. Such operations are increasingly on the front line in the international community's fight against organized crime, and this policy forum, which was followed by a lively question-and-answer session, touched on a variety of issues arising in the growing nexus of peace operations and organized crime.

The event was chaired by Peter Gastrow, IPI Senior Fellow, whose research and background focus on organized-crime issues. For information about how to access the issue (International Peacekeeping 16, no. 1, February 2009), visit www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/13533312.asp or check with your university or institutional librarian.

Chair
Mr. Peter Gastrow,
Senior Fellow, International Peace Institute

Speakers
Mr. James Cockayne,
Senior Associate, International Peace Institute

Ms. Alix J. Boucher,
Research Analyst, Future of Peace Operations Program, Stimson Center

Dr. Phil Williams,
Visiting Research Professor, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College

Discussant
Ms. Ann-Marie Orler,
Deputy Police Adviser, United Nations