Social democracy, it is often said, is nice but pricey. Whatever its merits in the rich countries of Western Europe, social democracy is frequently dismissed as an infeasible model for developing countries. Based on generosity towards the poor and protection against market competition, the argument goes, social democracy is only possible in consensual, homogeneous and affluent societies with an extraordinary commitment to equality. In third world countries that are conflict-ridden, heterogeneous and poor, does the social democracy have any relevance? In this article we offer a more agnostic view of the feasibility of the social democratic model of development in the third world. First, we argue that consensus, homogeneity, and affluence are products of the social democratic model, not prerequisites. Second, we claim that the central social democratic policy as a development model was the policy of wage compression attained through highly centralized wage-setting institutions. Third, we argue that the economics benefits of wage compression would be as significant in South Africa, Brazil or India today as they were in the Nordic countries between 1935 and 1970. The political feasibility of a policy of wage compression, however, is open to doubt, hence our agnosticism regarding whether or not the social democratic road to affluence can be repeated. In this paper we consider social democracy to be model of development rather than an end state. In particular, we will not enter into the debate regarding the future prospects of social democracy in Western Europe within the context of European economic integration, a common currency, an aging population and the ever increasing cost of providing the best health care that money can buy. The achievements of social democracy as a development strategy in terms of combining the socialist virtues of equality and security without losing the capitalist virtues of economic efficiency and technological dynamism are not seriously in dispute. What are disputed are the answers to the following questions: What was the contribution of specifically social democratic policies to the high level of affluence and equality in Northern Europe today. Would the policies that successfully promoted development in Northern Europe be equally effective and feasible in the third world in the context of an increasingly integrated global economy?
Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "This testimony discusses efforts to link resources to results--also known as "performance budgeting." During the past decade, Congress and several administrations have put in place a structure for increasing the focus on and accountability for government performance. Federal agencies have been working to carry out the Government Performance Act, which requires the development of periodic strategic and annual performance plans and reports. Absent structural change in a number of major entitlement programs, budgetary flexibility will continue to decline and eventually disappear--while demands for new federal resources to address such emerging challenges as homeland security and other issues become more compelling and pressing. Given the country's longer-range fiscal imbalance, there is also a need to broaden the measures and focus of the federal budget process to accommodate these goals. The nation's fiscal challenges escalate rapidly just beyond the 10-year budget projection period. As a result, new metrics and mechanisms are needed to better highlight the longer-term implications of existing programs and proposed new fiscal commitments. Furthermore, in order to address emerging challenges, it is necessary to address both retirement and health programs encumbering the nation's fiscal future, in addition to reexamining the base of existing programs--both discretionary programs and other entitlements--to free up resources to address new needs in a rapidly changing society. Such an examination should be cross-cutting and comprehensive in nature--all relevant policy tools and federal programs, including tax preferences, should be "on the table" in addressing such policy areas as low-income housing or health care financing and delivery. Although such a comprehensive reassessment will take time and may have to be addressed in phases, it is critically important that it occur. An extensive public education effort will be required to fully inform the American people about a long-term outlook under current policy portfolio as well as the alternative choices that are available."
International audience ; This initial Danubian integration plan under French auspices, but of Romanian initiative, has quickly failed because of the economic British and Czech opposition, and Italian and Hungarian political one . However, it should be noted the pioneering nature of this attempt, which succeeded in articulating international economic data, which involved the sale of the agricole production and the problem of industrialisation, with political ones - economic then politic reunification of the Danube Basin on the basis of the territorial status quo, thus benefiting from the influence of the guarantor power of these boundaries, France, in exchange for a more flexible policy towards minorities - and geo-strategic ones - since the French system of Central European friends would had been expanded on its western flank with a Hungarian friendship. Unfortunately, the acuteness of the crisis broke the two economic levers of the Agrarians: abundance of foreign capital and massive exports of cereals. ; Ce premier plan d'intégration danubienne sous égide française, mais d'initiative roumaine, a donc rapidement échoué devant l'opposition, d'ordre économique, des Britanniques et des Tchécoslovaques, ainsi que devant les coups politiques des Italiens et des Hongrois. Toutefois, il faut relever le caractère précurseur de cette tentative, qui parvenait à articuler des données internationales d'ordre économique -qui concernaient l'écoulement de la production des Etats agraires et leur industrialisation-, d'ordre politique -avec la réunification économique, puis politique, de l'espace danubien sur les bases du statu quo territorial, au bénéfice donc de l'influence de la Puissance garante de ces frontières, la France, en échange d'une politique plus souple envers les minorités- et d'ordre géo-stratégique -puisque le système d'amitiés centre-européennes de la France eût ainsi été étoffé sur son flanc occidental, où la voie ferrée de Salonique à Lvov se trouvait exposée au canon hongrois sur son tracé roumain, sans ...
Ce rapport a été élaboré à partir de divers produits de connaissance et matériels de formation regroupés sous l'appellation « eAtlasimprimé », qui ont été développés et partagés avec les organisations de la société civile (OSC) dans le cadre du programme Voice for Change Partnership (V4CP). ; Non-PR ; IFPRI1; 2 Promoting Healthy Diets and Nutrition for all; 3 Building Inclusive and Efficient Markets, Trade Systems, and Food Industry; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; Capacity Strengthening; Voice for Change Partnership ; AFR
The structure of the report reflects the sequence of topics which comprise the theory of change (ToC) and supporting results framework (RF) with respect to achieving sustainable results from prioritized agricultural public expenditures. Chapter 1 outlines the main macro and sectoral challenges which underpins the rationale for carrying out the agriculture public expenditure review (PER). Chapter 2 outlines the methodological aspects, key sectoral policies/strategies/targets; analyses of agricultural expenditure levels/trends, composition, relevant measures of efficiency, effectiveness and value of money; and criteria for defining the scope of the study. Chapter 3 outlines the Government's budgetary cycle, processes and practices based on relevant budgetary decrees/circulars that guide budgetary priorities and allocations for annual and medium-term agricultural sector expenditure, and management aspects. Chapter 4 conducts a backward assessment through an analyses of the levels, trends, composition, and performance of agricultural including the efficiency, effectiveness and emerging results of agricultural public expenditure, for the period 2013 – 2017. Chapter 5 synthesizes the expenditure performance of three strategic programs: agricultural technology, irrigation, and aspects related to decentralization and adaptation to climate change. Chapter 6 highlights the role, scope, levels/trends and sources of private sector financing in the agricultural sector, and their key determinants. Chapter 7 takes a forward-looking approach to the expenditure assessment by outlining: (a) key elements and emerging issues; (b) the approach used for estimating and using their medium-term expenditure framework; (c) good practices; and (d) alignment between the forward sectoral expenditure and priority agricultural sector policies and targets. Chapter 8 synthesizes the main findings and priority recommendations in the form of a roadmap, including a supporting proposed results-focused agriculture expenditure action plan.
16 p. ; il. col. ; En el marco de la convocatoria de FOMECA ENACOM 2016, el proyecto "Rugby por la inclusión" resulta ser ganador, permitiéndole a la Fundación "Cultura Para Todos" la ejecución de una propuesta que consiste en la apropiación del rugby como deporte que incluye a chicos y chicas de barrios vulnerables. El territorio en el que se lleva a cabo esta propuesta es el Barrio Juan XXIII, mejor conocido como "La Bombilla", en San Miguel de Tucumán. Se trata de uno de los barrios tucumanos más mencionados en los medios de comunicación hegemónicos cuando se habla de pobreza estructural, inseguridad y consumo de estupefacientes por parte de los más jóvenes. En este contexto, el rugby aparece como una posibilidad de desarrollo de nuevas habilidades deportivas entre los más chicos y también como herramienta de contención para grupos de niños y adolescentes. El rugby propone, además de un estilo de vida forjado por el entrenamiento físico diario, una serie de valores que pueden aplicarse en la convivencia de la vida cotidiana como la lealtad, honestidad, respeto, solidaridad, trabajo en equipo y tolerancia. La experiencia permitió que más de 50 chicos y chicas se acerquen dos veces a la semana sin falta para entrenar en el predio del 911, donde está ubicada la Subjefatura de Policía de Tucumán. Además, la apropiación de este espacio permitió el desarrollo de un vínculo entre la policía y la comunidad sin precedentes, permitiendo el trabajo en conjunto de la Fundación con la Secretaría de Participación Ciudadana (Ministerio de Seguridad de la Provincia de Tucumán) en el diseño de políticas públicas para la integración y la buena convivencia.--
La idea original del Plan Colombia se define como una estrategia de cooperación bilateral entre Estados Unidos y Colombia, encaminada hacia la lucha contra el narcotráfico a partir de 1999, cuyo objetivo general es combatir la producción y distribución de los cultivos ilícitos en el país. De manera simultánea, se orientó a complementaria desde el ámbito económico las estrategias que favorecieran los intereses de ambas partes; teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, la pregunta de investigación es, ¿cuál ha sido el proceso de transformación económica del Plan Colombia en el periodo de 1999 a 2017 ?, en este contexto se puede evidenciar la existencia de literatura que arroja una revisión general frente a la estructura, componentes y desarrollos del Plan Colombia, lo cual se limita a mencionar particularidades habituales del mismo. De tal manera, el análisis se desarrolla, en primera instancia, en la descripción del "Plan Colombia", en segundo lugar, se especifican las razones de la concertación de intereses entre Colombia y Estados Unidos en el marco del mismo, y, por último, se analizan los contextos económicos en la ejecución de este. La pregunta de investigación se responde a través de una revisión bibliográfica y de documentos tanto académicos como oficiales, donde las respuestas recibidas muestran que el proceso de transformación económica en el marco del Plan Colombia se vio alterado por hechos coyunturales, tanto a nivel nacional como internacional , que condujeron a una redistribución y cambio en el financiamiento de este. Estos resultados indican que las articulaciones económicas en el proceso evolutivo del plan han generado incertidumbre frente al tema de paz en Colombia y la severidad y eficacia del Plan luego de 18 años de su consecución, de ahí que se haga necesario la ejecución de una exploración continua para identificar las razones de los cambios de capital en el plan para la lucha contra el narcotráfico y la obtención de la paz. Teniendo esto en cuenta, se recomienda que las áreas y ramas de estudio competentes a este tema realicen investigaciones adicionales para identificar otros factores determinantes a lo largo del Plan Colombia. de ahí que se haga necesaria la ejecución de una exploración continua para identificar las razones de los cambios de capital en el plan para la lucha contra el narcotráfico y la obtención de la paz. Teniendo esto en cuenta, se recomienda que las áreas y ramas de estudio competentes a este tema realicen investigaciones adicionales para identificar otros factores determinantes a lo largo del Plan Colombia. de ahí que se haga necesaria la ejecución de una exploración continua para identificar las razones de los cambios de capital en el plan para la lucha contra el narcotráfico y la obtención de la paz. Teniendo esto en cuenta, se recomienda que las áreas y ramas de estudio competentes a este tema realicen investigaciones adicionales para identificar otros factores determinantes a lo largo del Plan Colombia.
Bei der Sozialversicherung werden Unterhaltspflichten gegenüber Kindern ignoriert: Eltern und Kinderlose werden hier zu Unrecht gleich behandelt. Deswegen reißen hohe und weiterhin gestiegene Sozialversicherungsbeiträge ein Loch in die Familienbudgets, insbesondere in den durchschnittlich und niedrig verdienenden Haushalten. Hierin liegt ein häufig übersehener Grund für die auf hohem Niveau stagnierende Kinderarmut in Deutschland. (DIPF/Orig.)
В статье рассматриваются особенности трансформации социальной защиты населения в европейских странах и в России. Анализируется специфика оказания социальной помощи на различных исторических этапах, приводится периодизация развития системы социальной защиты населения, описываются модели со-циальной защиты населения. Первый этап (доиндустриальный) конец XIX в. 20-е гг. ХХ в. В это период закладываются базовые основы охраны труда и формирования системы обязательного социального страхования. Второй этап 20-60-е гг. XIX в., индустриальный. Эволюция системы социальной защиты в разных странах имеет разные темпы, чем и обусловлены различные подходы к развитию национальных систем социальной защиты. Тре-тий этап становления системы социальной защиты населения в Европе длится с 60-х гг. ХХ в. Наиболее эф-фективные модели системы социальной защиты складываются в этот период в странах Европейского союза. Сравнительный анализ позволил сделать вывод о переходе от моделей, центрированных на государственном секторе, к модели, при которой основные функции по обеспечению социальной защищённости населения берут на себя общественные структуры. Общественные институты начинают полагаться на фи-нансовую поддержку со стороны коммерческого сектора, а государство при этом выступает в качестве га-ранта подобного рода взаимодействия на основе социального партнерства. ; The article discusses the features of the formation of the system of social protection of the population in European countries and in Russia. The authors describe the different models of social protection of population, analyse specificcs of social help in different historical stages, periodize system of social protection of population. The first stage (pre-industrial) the end of the XIX century the 20s of the XIX century. During this period laid the basic foundation of labor protection and formation of the mandatory social insurance system. The second stage 20-60-ies of the XIX century, industrial. Evolution of system of social protection of population has differ-ent pace, that is why the approaches to it are different. The third stage formation in Europe runs from 60-ies of XX century. The most effective social protection system models are added during this period in the European Union. Comparative analysis led to the conclusion of the transition from models where the leading role played by the public sector, to a new model in which the basic functions for the social protection of the population take on social structures. Financial support is provided by the commercial sector. The state in this case acts as a guarantor of the in-ter-sector cooperation. Public institutions are beginning to rely on financial support from the commercial sector. The state in this case acts as a guarantor of this kind of cooperation on the basis of social partnership.
INTRODUCCIÓN. La accesibilidad de la población a los centros sanitarios españoles ha ido evolucionando en las últimas décadas, ligada al estado de bienestar y a los cambios en las competencias en materia de salud. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir la evolución de la accesibilidad y su impacto en la población. METODOLOGIA. Se han utilizado bases bibliográficas para buscar los artículos relacionados con el objetivo de la revisión y comprendidos entre 1940 y 2013. Se han seleccionado aquellos artículos con mayor calidad y que ayudaban a construir la revisión del tema propuesto. RESULTADOS. La accesibilidad a los centros sanitarios españoles está ligada a la evolución de la atención pública en los últimos setenta años. Por un lado, la aparición del Seguro Obligatorio de Enfermedad (SOE) y la creación de la Seguridad Social hicieron que casi el total de la población española tuviera cobertura sanitaria. Por otro lado, la aplicación de principios como los de justicia y equidad hicieron aflorar numerosos centros hospitalarios con la finalidad de acercar al máximo la asistencia a la población. En los inicios del siglo XXI, con un crecimiento desmesurado de centros hospitalarios y una crisis económica mundial, se constata la necesidad de ubicar los centros asistenciales de acuerdo con el principio de eficiencia económico-espacial o de racionalidad económica. CONCLUSIONES. En un entorno actual de crisis se analizan las consecuencias de la hiperaccesibilidad (sistema sanitario insostenible, polimedicación de la población, etc.) y se busca un sistema sanitario más eficiente. También es necesario plantearse la relación existente entre la hiperaccesibilidad y la hiperfrecuentación de la población a los servicios sanitarios, así como la relación entre la hiperaccesibilidad y la polimedicación.
In recent years, a growing number of commentators have raised concerns that the decisions made by Internet intermediaries —including last-mile network providers, search engines, social networking sites, and smartphones— are inhibiting free speech and have called for restrictions on their ability to prioritize or exclude content. Such calls ignore the fact that when mass communications are involved, intermediation helps end users to protect themselves from unwanted content and allows them to sift through the avalanche of desired content that grows ever larger every day. Intermediation also helps solve a number of classic economic problems associated with the Internet. In short, intermediation of mass media content is inevitable and often beneficial. Calls to restrict intermediation have also largely overlooked the longstanding tradition reflected in the Supreme Court's First Amendment jurisprudence with respect to other forms of electronic communication recognizing how intermediaries' exercises of editorial discretion promote free speech values. The debate also ignores the inauspicious/dubious history of past efforts to regulate the scope of electronic intermediaries' editorial discretion, which were characterized by the inability to develop coherent standards, a chilling effect on controversial speech, and manipulation of the rules for political purposes. ; En los últimos años, un creciente número de académicos han manifestado su preocupación sobre decisiones tomadas por los intermediarios en Internet —incluyendo a los proveedores de acceso a Internet, motores de búsqueda, sitios de redes sociales y teléfonos inteligentes— que están inhibiendo la libertad de expresión y han solicitado restricciones a su capacidad de priorizar o excluir contenidos. Estas alertas hacen caso omiso del hecho de que cuando se trata de comunicación de masas, la intermediación ayuda a los usuarios finales a protegerse de contenidos no deseados y les permite discernir entre una avalancha de contenido sí deseado que se hace cada día más ...
Sweden's approach and discussions towards the concept and ideas of European strategic autonomy could often be seen as vague and negative. The concept has traditionally been met with scepticism and suspicion within the Swedish political discourse, which have voiced concerns about the risks of a weakened transatlantic link within the security and defence policy domain. However, as the concept has expanded to other policy fields – especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of global affairs – and the concept has been firmly anchored in the EU's political rhetoric, Sweden has started to more proactively engage with the notion of European strategic autonomy. Sweden hence sees the importance of strengthening both the resilience of the EU as well as the Union's role in the world. However, Sweden is adamant in defending global free-trade rules, the workings of the internal market as well as the transatlantic link in security and defence. Consequently, Sweden has now started to publicly engage in the discussions on European strategic autonomy to try to steer the policy direction ; EU:s förmåga att hantera interna kriser och hävda sina intressen globalt har varit ett centralt samtalsämne under det senaste decenniet. Strategisk autonomi har blivit ett samlingsbegrepp för en diskussion om hur EU ska kunna säkra grundvalarna i europeisk integration, samt bli en mer effektiv aktör på den internationella arenan. Diskussionen inleddes inom utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken, men har vuxit in i allt fler policyområden såsom näringspolitik, grön omställning, teknologi, handel, hälsa och euron. Utvecklingen accelererade under Coronapandemin då EU lanserade ett gemensamt räddningspaket av historiska mått som kopplades till flera av dessa områden. För de nordiska EU-länderna har diskussionen och visionen om europeisk strategisk autonomi varit komplicerad. Danmark, Finland och Sverige är alla hängivna vänner av frihandel och strikt konkurrenslagstiftning samtidigt som man av olika skäl tvekar till ökad samordning och fördjupning av europeiska försvarsstrukturer. Detta går inte sällan på tvärs med kommissionens höga ambitioner på exempelvis på industriområdet. I denna antologi redogör författare från Danmark, Finland och Sverige för hur regeringarna i de respektive länderna ställer sig till de centrala beståndsdelarna i strategisk autonomi och dess policyinnehåll. Baserat på intervjuer med centralt placerade tjänstepersoner och officiella dokument beskriver författarna hur de olika länderna uppfattar omvärldsförändringarna och hur dessa påverkar EU-samarbetet. Dessutom beskrivs hur man uppfattar att det egna landets intressen är kompatibla med de förslag som lanseras för att stärka europeisk strategisk autonomi. Analysen är på engelska och är en del av Sieps forskningsprojekt EU och omvärlden.
Afganistan ve Pakistan iki sınır ülkesi olmasının yanı sıra pek çok ortak özelliğe sahip iki ülkedir. Fakat iki ülkenin geçmişten gelen pek çok sorunu bulunmaktadır. Özellikle Pakistan'ın bağımsızlığından sonra Afganistan ile Pakistan arasında Taliban ve istikrarsızlık gibi bölge güvenliğini ve uluslararası güvenliği tehdit edecek önemli meseleler ortaya çıkmıştır. İki ülke ilişkileri esas itibarıyla Peştunistan ve Durand Hattı çevresinde şekillenmiş ve ilk günden beri hiç kopmamıştır. Fakat merak edilen konulardan birisi ise Afganistan'ın genel anlamda istikrarsızlığında Pakistan'ın ne derece etkiye sahip olduğudur. Bu kapsamda araştırmanın amacı Afganistan'ın siyasi istikrarsızlığında Pakistan'ın etkisinin incelenmesidir. Afganistan-Pakistan ilişkilerinin incelemesindeki amaç, Pakistan'ın kuruluşundan itibaren Afganistan ile olan ilişkilerde bu ülkenin iç politikasını şekillendirmek suretiyle üstünlük kurma politikasıdır. Bir başka ifadeyle Pakistan'ın kendi çıkarları doğrultusunda izlediği politika, Afganistan'ın istikrarsızlığa sürüklenmesine neden olmaktadır. İki ülke ilişkileri her ne kadar gerginliklere sahne olsa da diyalog kapıları sürekli açık tutulmuş ve karşılıklı ziyaretler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Aynı kültürü ve ortak değerleri paylaşan iki taraf iyi komşuluk ve dostane ilişkilerin oluşturulmasında ve geliştirilmesinde mutabık kalmalarına rağmen dış güçlerin sürekli müdahalesi nedeniyle karşı karşıya getirilmişlerdir. İlişkilerde normalleşme ve istikrarın iki tarafa sağlayacağı fayda göz önünde bulundurulduğunda bütün sorunlara rağmen Afganistan ile Pakistan'ın işbirliğini geliştirmeleri tek çıkar yol olarak görülmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Afganistan, Pakistan, İstikrarsızlık ; Afghanistan and Pakistan are two countries that share the same border as well as these two countries share many common features. But there have been many problems between the two countries from the past. Especially after the independence of Pakistan, important issues have emerged and threatened the security of the region and international security, such as Taliban and instability between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The relations of the two countries are mainly shaped around Pashtunistan and Durand Line and have not been broken since the first day. However, one of the main concerns is the effect of Pakistan in the general destabilization of Afghanistan. In this context, the aim of the study is to examine Pakistan's influence on the political instability of Afghanistan. The purpose of the investigation of the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan is the policy of establishing superiority by shaping Pakistan's domestic policy in relations with Afghanistan since its foundation. In other words, Pakistan's policy towards its own interests has led to the instability of Afghanistan. Although the relations between the two countries are the subject of tension, the dialogue doors were kept open and mutual visits were made. The two sides who shared the same culture and common values were confronted with the continuous intervention of the foreign powers, although they agreed on the creation and development of good neighborly and friendly relations. Considering the benefits of normalization and stability in relations, the cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan is seen as the only way. Keywords: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Instability
Since 1945, violent conflict has occurred primarily within sovereign states rather than among them. These internal conflicts have far surpassed international conflicts in lethality, economic destruction, and social upheaval. This phenomenon is diverse: no region has avoided civil wars, while the stated aims of rebel groups have ranged widely. Prominent examples include anti-colonial nationalists in Algeria, Mozambique, and Kenya; ethnic separatists in Eritrea and Bosnia; leftists in Latin America and Southeastern Asia; Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; and income seeking warlords in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Internal conflicts have emerged in rich European countries such as the United Kingdom and Spain, and in the context of state collapse and extreme poverty in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. Some civil wars have lasted only weeks, while the longest-- in Sudan-- lasted over 40 years.Intense violent conflicts often leave core state institutions debilitated, fragmented, or, in some cases, totally destroyed. For these societies, the central tasks for ending conflict and beginning post-war recovery involve reinvigorating or reestablishing legitimate state authority. These post-war states must both win the acquiescence of the governed and develop the infrastructural power to implement state policy. The risks of conflict relapse are significant: since 1970, 44 of 111 post-war cases (40 percent) relapse into a full-fledged civil war, while 68 of 111 (61 percent) experience at least a low-level conflict. The time for policymakers to mitigate this risk is short: of post-war countries that fall back into civil war, the median time to relapse is just 35.5 months. The immediate post-war environment is therefore particularly critical for determining the political, economic, and social trajectories of conflict-affected countries. The right combination of policies can help determine whether a country recovers quickly and secures any available peace dividend, or whether it relapses and slides into a conflict trap. This dissertation explains how societies that have managed to end their civil wars are able or unable to rebuild political order in the their post-war period.This dissertation focuses on one key policy arena-- perhaps the most critical policy arena-- for post-war societies to address: the security sector. It may sound simplistic or even tautological to claim that the organization, disposition, control, and reform of armed groups are the most important task for a post-war society to undertake. It may seem obvious to stress the importance of the size, competencies, oversight, social embeddedness, and other qualities of the military, the police, the intelligence services, and any remaining armed non-state actors. But such qualities resist easy quantification, and most scholars and practitioners over the past decade have focused on economic performance, political democratization, communal reconciliation, post-conflict justice, and other "soft-power" variables to explain patterns of post-war successes and failures. The following chapters attempt to shift the conversation back to the formation and reformation of security sector actors in war-affected countries.
The concept of sustainable development has evolved from a mere movement for the protection of the environment, to other multidimensional approaches. Indeed, today it calls for a holistic approach, seeking to preserve and improve not only the environment, but also to achieve social equity and economic sustainability. In Europe, society demands quality and safe products, not only in the industrial sector but also in agriculture. According to FAO, sustainable agriculture development is a key element of the new global challenges to meet human food security needs at 2050. Unsustainable practices based on intensive soil tillage and agro-chemical applications have increased agri-environmental risks. Whereas world's food needs are expected to increase by 70% by 2050, agricultural land in Europe will also have to face environmental, economic and social challenges related to sustainable agriculture. As a result, in the EU 2020 Strategy, it is expressed that the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is required to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, enhancing social well-being, providing ecosystem services, managing resources sustainably while avoiding environmental degradation. There is broad consensus within the scientific sector that human actions generate a large portion of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, causing global warming. Certainly, Kyoto Protocol states it. According to the European Environmental Agency (EEA), there has been a decrease of 17% in GHG emissions between 1990 and 2009. However, EEA also stressed the importance of the agricultural contribution to total emissions (10.3%). The fossil fuel used in agricultural field operations, along with increasing CO2 emissions from soil through tillage, are considered to be one of the main direct sources of GHG emissions from agriculture sector. Increased inputs required to sustain conventional agriculture also adds significantly to total GHG emissions. Therefore, intensification of production through tillage, agro-chemicals and heavy machinery, which characterizes conventional agriculture in Europe, strongly contributes to increased net GHG emissions instead of mitigating global warming. Sustainable agricultural soil management is crucial for mitigating climate change, especially for the restoration of lost soil organic carbon. In fact, "Agricultural soils management" is recognized as one of the 15 most promising technology options for reducing GHG emissions in the COM (2005) 35 final "Winning the battle against global climate change." The Green Carbon Conference aims to show sustainable management of agricultural soils can help to agriculture mitigate and adapt to climate change, being compatible with the objectives of environmental protection, enhancing biodiversity and supporting farmers' welfare along with many other environmental, economic and social benefits. Over the last decade, Conservation Agriculture has become known as a set of interlinked agricultural practices, of no or minimum mechanical soil disturbance, maintenance of soil mulch cover, and diversified cropping system, capable of: (a) overcoming several of the severe sustainability limitations of conventional agriculture; and (b) raising productivity, enhancing resilience, reducing degradation and increasing the flow of ecosystem services. The discussion around both the Soil Thematic Strategy initiated in 2002, and the JRC SoCo (Soil Conservation) project clearly recognized the potential of Conservation Agriculture in mitigating and even reversing the problems of soil erosion, soil organic matter decline, soil compaction, loss of biodiversity, climate change vulnerability, among others. Whereas Conservation Agriculture is now practiced successfully on more than 125 million hectares worldwide, Europe has shown to be reluctant with regard to its adoption, despite many promising results confirming its suitability in Europe. Therefore, this European Conference on Green Carbon provides an opportunity to take a leap forward in terms of sharing farmers experiences on Conservation Agriculture across Europe, reviewing the recent progress made in knowledge generation regarding Conservation Agriculture, and to disseminate the outcomes of the currently running LIFE+ Agricarbon (LIFE08 ENV/E/000129). The slogan of 'Green Carbon' chosen for this Conference attempts to clarify and highlight the indivisible yet vital link between soil organic carbon and the role that soil health plays in the sustainability of agricultural production and in the flow of ecosystem services. Nevertheless, the topics addressed by the Green Carbon Conference are not only related to the importance of soil organic carbon for the overall soil quality and health, but also include other sustainability issues intimately related to the role of soil carbon such as landscape scale ecosystem functions and services, climate change mitigation and carbon offset, and economic aspects. This Conference also seeks to alert and inform EU policy stakeholders and technical officers of the urgent need to adopt sustainable soil and production practices of Conservation Agriculture to contribute to the objectives of Europe 2020, the EU's growth strategy for the coming decades.