Peace and Conflict

Factum Perspective: From Ceasefire to Lasting Peace?

Peace and ConflictFebruary 9, 2025111Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dulmi Thimansa After 15 months of relentless conflict between Israel and Palestine, a much-anticipated ceasefire agreement was reached last month. The agreement was announced by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, alongside two US Presidents, Joe Biden and Donald Trump. The ceasefire commenced on January 15, following its approval by…

Factum Perspective: Putting Jimmy Carter in Perspective

History and Culture, Peace and ConflictFebruary 2, 2025126Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aakil Riyaz Jimmy Carter Jr., the 39th President of the US, was born on October 1, 1924. He stands out in American history as the longest-living former president. Carter’s accession to the Oval Office in 1977 came after a decisive victory over Gerald Ford, which marked a rupture in US politics. Carter’s presidency was…

Factum Perspective: Redefining Truth in the Digital Age – Challenges, Consequences, and the Path Forward

Peace and Conflict, Tech CooperationJanuary 19, 2025194Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Darshatha Gamage Philosopher Bertrand Russell, in his seminal work On the Nature of Truth, posed two enduring questions: "In any inquiry into the nature of truth, two questions meet us on the threshold: In what sense, if any, is truth dependent upon mind? Are there many different truths, or is there only the Truth?"…

Factum Perspective: The ICJ climate change case and the politics of climate justice

Climate and environment, International Development, Peace and ConflictJanuary 12, 2025311Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Ramindu Perera In December 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded the oral hearings of a historic case on international obligations of states to combat the climate crisis. The case originated with the request submitted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to provide an advisory opinion clarifying obligations international law imposes on…

Factum Perspective: Superstition and Science in Governance and Global Health

Health and Economic Cooperation, Peace and ConflictJanuary 5, 2025214Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Gerard Dinith Mendis In an age where scientific breakthroughs define the trajectory of human progress, a concerning global trend has emerged: skepticism toward science and the resurgence of superstitious rhetoric in political leadership. Leaders are increasingly leaning on pseudoscience and cultural mysticism, often at the expense of evidence-based policymaking. This shift not only threatens…

Factum Special Perspective: The Fall of a House of Cards – A Global Reckoning in 2024

International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 31, 2024243Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Deshani Samaragunarathna The year 2024 has been one marked by global tumult, with the world seemingly lurching from one crisis to another. From the Ukrainian frontlines to the simmering Middle East, to the escalating conflicts across Africa, and the erosion of liberal democracies in the West, the international system appears on the verge of…

Factum Special Perspective: China’s role in global transformation

Belt Road Initiative and Indo-Pacific Policy, History and Culture, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 24, 2024348Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Vinod Moonesinghe We bear witness to a period of accelerated global transformation, with the rise of the East and the relative decline of the West reshaping the global political and economic landscape, benefitting the Global South. China, whose rapid economic growth and expanding influence play a pivotal role in this new era of global…

Factum Perspective: The Need for an Integrated Border Management System

Peace and Conflict, Regional Geopolitics, UncategorizedDecember 22, 2024210Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Rear Admiral Y. N. Jayarathne (Retd.) The launch of the book Labour Migrants from South Asia: Issues and Concerns (Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks: COSATT), on November 12, 2024, in Colombo, Sri Lanka got me thinking more about the subject, as the discussions during the ceremony highlighted various concerns on the question of…

Factum Special Perspective: Syria and the Dominos of History

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsDecember 11, 2024311Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Kusum Wijetilleke The Golan Heights is a strategically important plateau in the south-west of Syria, just one of the many areas of the Levant that have been contested for several decades. The Sea of Galilee, called Lake Tiberias, in the Golan Heights, feeds the major water sources of the region including the Jordan River;…

Factum Perspective: Trump’s New America

International Development, Peace and ConflictDecember 1, 2024243Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera Donald Trump is the new president of the free world once again. This time around, there has been very little questioning about his ascendancy, despite the magnitude of this popularity in the voting booths. Winning both the electoral college and the popular vote, Trump has ridden a wave of incredible support. There…

Factum Perspective: In Sri Lanka, a new era of governance

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedNovember 24, 2024282Views 2Likes 0Comments

By Dulmi Thimansa On November 14, 2024, Sri Lanka held its first parliamentary elections after a four-year interval. The National People’s Power (NPP), also known as Jathika Jana Balawegaya, emerged as the dominant political force. The party secured 141 seats in parliament along with an additional 18 seats from the national list, for a total…

Factum Perspective: How digital spaces are redefining democracy in the 2024 election

Peace and ConflictNovember 10, 2024380Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Manuja Wijesuriya 2024 is a significant year for global elections, with many countries across different continents holding elections this year. It is said that the 2024 election year was the busiest on record, with nearly half of the global population heading to the polls.[1] There was significant political activity anticipated this year, particularly with…