The ORG Blog

European Military Presence in the Sahel: Searching for Purpose

In January French President announced a new Coalition for the Sahel, to tackle with the security and development challenges in the region. But public debate in some countries about why so many organisations and countries are engaging in the region and what they hope to achieve has been lacking. Read more

European Military Presence in the Sahel: Searching for Purpose

Time for External Oversight of Britain's Special Forces

Many of the most damning accusations against special forces were from their fellow soldiers and not from the external lawyers viewed with suspicion. Read more

UK General Election 2019: Time for a New Approach to Security Partnerships?

This general election is an opportunity for UK political parties to commit to a review of the UK’s approach to security partnerships to ensure that they are consistent with UK strategic objectives to reduce conflict and build peace abroad. Read more

Why Al-Shabaab’s attack on US drone base shouldn’t be ignored

The long-term impacts of western operations exacerbate the very radicalization and violence they claim to be trying to avoid. Read more

‘Stabilization’ and UN Peace Operations

The term 'stabilization' has been frequently used by the UN. But what exactly does the term mean in the UN context and does its use denote a shift in the practice of the UN? Read more

Children and Conflict: An Interview with Katrina Lee-Koo

Katrina Lee-Koo discusses how children both struggle within and shape conflict zones. Read more

Protecting Civilians: An Interview with Cecilia Jacob

Cecilia Jacob discusses the evolution of the protection of civilians and the key challenges facing the norm today. Read more

Sons of the Soil Conflicts

Sons of the soil conflicts are a global issue. It is vital that policymakers and scholars of international politics understand the character, causes and consequences of these conflicts. Read more

We Need To Talk About the UK’s New Special Operations Concept

Recent reports in the British media suggest UK special forces are pushing for a new role in the changing global security environment. This represents an opportunity for a much-needed debate about the future resourcing and priorities of the UK's special forces. Read more

Latest

Upcoming Project Launch: The Sustainable Security Index

Next month, ORG will launch its Sustainable Security Index project.

Ewan Lawson Joins ORG as a Fellow

We are delighted to announce that Ewan Lawson has joined ORG as a Fellow. Ewan is an independent researcher on defence and security issues having previously been a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.

What Sir Keir Starmer’s Victory Could Mean for Labour’s Priorities on National Security

This article discusses what direction Labour's security polices could take under Keir Starmer's leadership.

The Global Crisis of Our Time: The Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19

This briefing concentrates on three elements of the COVID-19 outbreak,: the experience in the United Kingdom and its response to the crisis; the global emergency which is becoming apparent across the Global South; and some early indications of the longer-term impacts of the pandemic.

The Role of Youth in Peacebuilding: Challenges and Opportunities

Young people are frequently ‘othered’ in discussions about conflict. This is a dangerous practice as youths can play a very positive role aiding peacebuilding in societies recovering from conflict.

Making Bad Economies: The Poverty of Mexican Drug Cartels

Some stories say that local economies benefit from cartels in Mexico. But research suggests that the areas most plagued by drug-related violence have seriously suffered economically.

ORG's Vision

Oxford Research Group (ORG) is an independent organisation that has been influential for for nearly four decades in pioneering new, more strategic approaches to security and peacebuilding. Based in London since 2006, ORG continues to pursue cutting edge research and advocacy in the United Kingdom and abroad while managing innovative peacebuilding projects in several Middle Eastern countries.

Remote Warfare: Lessons Learned from Contemporary Theatres

This report is a first attempt to identify some of the factors that have helped or hindered the UK’s current approach to remote warfare.

Weavers of Peace: The Higaonon Tribe in the Philippines

The Higaonon, an indigenous tribe in Northern Mindanao in the southern Philippines, have preserved an ancient system of conflict resolution which has enabled them to be a truly peaceful community. However, there is a need to ensure that this knowledge is not lost in the future.

The Cyprus Problem: Why Solve a Comfortable Conflict?

Several diplomatic efforts have been made both domestically and internationally to enhance peaceful unity since the start of the Cyprus Problem. Despite the shortcomings of past efforts, it is still desirable not only to resolve the issue, but also to do so in a timely manner.

Why Does UN Humanitarian Intervention Remain Selective?

Over the past two decades, the United Nations Security Council has responded more strongly to some humanitarian crises than to others. This variation in Security Council action raises the important question of what factors motivate United Nations intervention.