The Centre held a public debate on Tuesday 13th June entitled The Darfur Crisis: what is to be done?. Laurie Nathan of the Crisis States Research Centre spoke about the peace negotiations and the process of African Union mediation in Abuja, of which he has personal experience.  Mark Bowden of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs offered an explanation of the scale of the humanitarian disaster, whilst Hafiz Mohamed, Darfur Coordinator for Justice Africa, discussed his own experience of the situation and the demands of ordinary citizens from all sides of the conflict.   David Keen, Reader in Complex Emergencies at the LSE, reflected on the origins of the crisis and prospects for the future.  
Further information on Justice Africa  and on UN OCHA.

On Tuesday 2nd May 2006 the Centre, in conjunction with DESTIN, organised a public lecture given by Dr Aguinaldo Jaime, Deputy Prime Minister of Angola.  Dr Jaime spoke on "Financial Systems and Economic Development: the case of Angola" and explained the challenges that Angola has had to overcome in its transition period, including the difficulties faced in reducing the country's high level of inflation.

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On Thursday 9th February 2006 the Centre's Director, Dr James Putzel, participated in a public event organised by the LSE Centre for Civil Society "Faith Based Agencies: promoters of development or part of the problem?".  Together with Mohammed Kroessin, Asst. Chief Director of Muslim Aid, and Dr Daleep Mukarji, Director of Christian Aid, Dr Putzel discussed whether faith-based agencies play a role that is distinct from secular agencies in development and relief efforts, both historically and at the present time.  Further information on the Centre for Civil Society can be found here.

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On Friday 20th January 2006 the Crisis States Research Centre and DESTIN hosted a panel debate in collaboration with Chatham House on 'The Role of Business in Development: the case of coffee production in Ethiopia'.    The event was chaired by Dr James Putzel, Director of the Crisis States Research Centre.

The panel comprised:
Hilary Parsons, Head of Corporate Affairs for Nestle 
Constantino Casasbuenas, Policy Advisor to the Trade Team, Oxfam GB
Dr Haile Kebret Taye, Deputy Director, Ethiopian Economic Policy Research Institute
Dr Muzong Kodi, Associate Fellow at Chatham House

A synopsis of the event is available here.

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DSA Forum: Africa after 2005: from promises to policy
The CSRC was represented at a the DSA forum held at Church House on 9th December 2005 and took the opportunity to publicise its work to participants from a wide range of government departments, NGOs and policy-makers.  Following the forum, the DSA has set up a Bulletin Board to share initiatives and resources that will help translate the promises of 2005 into the policies of the future.

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Book Launch: 'Conflict & Collusion in Sierra Leone'

On Friday 11th November 2005 the Crisis States Research Centre and DESTIN held a book launch and reception to mark the publication of Dr David Keen's new book on the civil war in Sierra Leone.  The book provides a new interpretation for the study of war and politics in the developing world and challenges conventional understanding of recent events in Sierra Leone.  Dr Keen is a Reader in Complex Emergencies at DESTIN.

Also present at the reception was Lansana Gberie, a journalist and academic who covered the war first-hand from 1991-1996.  His own book about the workings of a "failing state" - 'A Dirty War in West Africa: the RUF and the destruction of Sierra Leone' -  has also just been published.

'Conflict and Collusion in Sierra Leone' is published by James Currey Ltd.

'A Dirty War in West Africa' is published by C.Hurst & Co.

Photos from the event:
James Putzel, David Keen and Lansana Gberie
James Putzel and David Keen
Lansana Gberie
David Keen

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On Monday 17th October 2005 the Crisis States Research Centre and DESTIN hosted a debate on the interaction between development and international terrorism.  Panellists discussed the sources of terrorism in the developing world and the implications of the "war on terror" for countries struggling to get out of poverty.  The debate was followed by a question and answer session.  Panellists were:

Jo Beall, Director of DESTIN, LSE
David Keen, Reader in Complex Emergencies, DESTIN, LSE
Jude Howell, Director of the Centre for Civil Society, LSE
Ian Linden,  Dept of the Study of Religions, SOAS
James Putzel, Director of the Crisis States Research Centre, LSE
Dennis Rodgers, Dept of Geography, LSE
Ben Wisner, Oberlin College, Ohio. Author of the recently published book 'Towards a New Map of Africa'

**  A full transcript of the event is available here.

** Articles on Terrorism and Development contributed by CSRC members were published in the Journal of International Development in January 2006.