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Monthly Access is the online magazine of ACCESS, the AIIA's network for students and young professionals.

All the views expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the individual writers. The AIIA, while providing a forum for discussion and debate on international issues, does not formulate its own institutional views, and eschews political bias.

The topic for the August issue is The Topic for Issue 29 will be "Refugees: A Political Force in the 21st Century". We welcome submissions of between 400 to 600 words on these topics, or any other issues in international affairs. The deadline for submission for the July Issue is 7 August 2012.

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Editor's Note

By Priya Wakhlu

Welcome to Monthly Access Issue 28. Our topic for this month is Ending Civil Conflict: How to create the conditions for peace. Given the recent developments in the Middle East, this topic is of particular import, as many countries are struggling to establish basic tenets of a civil society. As such we must evaluate what is necessary to create peace; and how the global community can assist countries to reach these goals.

Translating peace accords into peace rewards: The case of Nepal

By Sally Carlton

On 21 November 2006, the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) was signed by the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist. This act brought the Maoists’ decade-long insurgency, initiated in protest over the lack of democratic rights available to the majority of Nepalis, to an end. The CPA as a document contains the theoretical foundations to establish real and sustainable peace for Nepal, yet almost six years after its endorsement policymakers are still struggling to translate its ideals into practice. The failure of the Maoist-led Constituent Assembly to draft a Constitution by the 28 May 2012 deadline, despite four previous deadline extensions, exemplifies Nepal’s difficult transition to peace. The case of Nepal demonstrates that well-intentioned and carefully drafted legislation does not necessarily facilitate the establishment of peace after civil conflict.

Women and Post-Conflict Reconstruction Processes

By Alberto Turkstra

The immediate post-conflict period offers unique opportunities to rebuild a country’s institutions. It also provides an excellent chance to achieve greater gender equality and inclusiveness. Despite women accounting for the highest proportion of those adversely affected by conflict (the majority of refugees and Internally Displaced People are women and children, for instance), women have all too often been sidelined in processes of post-conflict reconstruction.

NATO and the Future of Syria

By Nadia Vittoria

With condemnation of the ongoing violence in Syria growing stronger by the day, it was only a matter of time before someone would lose their patience with Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The gunning down of a Turkish military jet, which had allegedly strayed into Syrian airspace, has set the scene for the latest chapter of the Syrian conflict. This one event has brought with it an entire shift in focus; from one concerned with grave humanitarian contraventions to a diplomatic dispute of international proportions centred upon two neighbours. Syria and Turkey, once allies, are now decisively and vocally at odds, with Ankara openly calling for the removal of the Assad regime.

Challenging the Military Complex

By Sharna De Lacy

Since the end of the Cold War, defence and security institutions have only expanded, become more complex and more globalised. Having come of age during this unprecedented growth, young people are responding by renewing the anti-war and anti-proliferation movement - and bringing their law and human rights degrees with them.

When Conflict Can Improve Peace

By Nicholas Clarke

It is invariably difficult to argue civil conflict could propel a nation to become more peaceful. The outcome could be a more tyrannical regime and even if the final destination was comparatively more peaceful, the journey would involve hardship and unimaginable turmoil. Notwithstanding, there are arguably circumstances where civil conflict is the only remaining option on the table to reach a better peace.