New Website on Weebly

Thank you for visiting. Please follow the link below to my website. The new website will allow me to include more information, project links, and multimedia. This blog will be discontinued on December 31, 2013.

Jennifer M. Kerner @ Weebly.com

Thank you,

JMK

The Travel Blog Analog

For my loyal followers (you patient masses, you), I will be posting primarily on my travel blog from now until September. I am currently attending the Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Methods Research in Syracuse and will be traveling in Uganda from July 2 - August 13. Please refer to the travel blog for research updates, insights, travel experiences, and other news.

Thanks for checking in!

Travel Blog: Lars and Jennifer in Uganda

Facing Fears and Going Beyond

On my flight from Albuquerque to Chicago (en route to Syracuse), I was flipping through the in-flight magazine (as is customary during the pre-“approved electronics” period) and one article* in particular grabbed my attention. It is an article by Arielle Castillo entitled “Staying Strong.” The article chronicles the life of one man, Nick Scott, in his journey to overcoming the obstacles associated with losing the use of his legs. But Mr. Scott does more than overcome. He dominates.

Nick Scott lost the use of his legs when he was 18 due to a horrific vehicular accident. After some time living in the “dark and twisty” aftermath of his accident, Nick somehow found the courage and motivation to pull himself out. He began weightlifting and eventually became involved in the sport of wheelchair bodybuilding. Now 31, Mr. Scott has been involved (and performed very well) in several sports, including IPC Wheelchair Dance. The article goes in depth into how Nick was able to redefine his life and purpose, but one quote really hit home for me.

“To leave a legacy, you’ve got to do stuff that’s unheard of. You have to do the unthinkable and do the stuff you fear. That’s what this is about – pushing beyond.”

Lately, I feel that I have been taking the famous quote “Do one thing every day that scares you” to a literal extreme. I have taken many risks over the past six years, to my person and my career. Not every one of those risks has paid off in full, I’ll admit. But not once have I felt even an ounce of regret. I often ask myself why I push so hard, why I ask so much of myself, and why I can’t just be satisfied with achieving my mid-level goals. There are several answers.

First, in order to truly learn about oneself and about the world, one has to make mistakes. I didn’t understand this until I was almost out of college. My greatest fear growing up was failure. Because of this fear, I often shied away from opportunities and challenges. I desperately wanted more out of my life (U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team, marine biologist on one of Jacque Coustou’s famous vessels, Broadway actress, UNHCR Executive Director), but I was afraid that, in pursuing these dreams, that I would fail. And failure was not acceptable.

But as I made my way through my college career, tasting, for the first time, the feeling of having to own up to one’s strengths and weaknesses, I realized that failure (or, if you prefer, unsuccessful attempts), were truly learning experiences. I have learned more (and my future children will roll their eyes at this point when they receive this pep talk) from my mistakes and failures than I have from my successes.** And, knowing this, it is also true that, without risk-taking, without grabbing at opportunities at which you may have only a 20% chance of succeeding, you will not learn and you will not grow. Period.

Second, it is my personal belief that we are on this earth to enjoy all that we can, to celebrate each other, and to help one another when we see that there is a need. I used to think that human beings existed only as vessels for service to others, but as I have matured, I have come to appreciate that my personal happiness and satisfaction with my life is just as important as my service to others. In order to thoroughly appreciate the blessings in my life, in my experience as a member of the human race, therefore, I feel that it is my prerogative to educate myself about everyone else who is also a part of this human experience. And that type of learning can only happen when you reach beyond the borders of your comfort zone. One doesn’t necessarily have to physically place oneself in another culture or community. Rather, it is idea that, whatever your preconceived notions, whatever your subconscious prejudices, and whatever your creed, consider what may exist beyond those boundaries. If you possess a conviction, consider the counterfactual. This is not to say that you should not possess any strong convictions or attitudes about the world; indeed, you should. But in order to truly understand your own perspective, you must consider that of someone else.

I have been accused of waffling, of being “soft” or idealistic when it comes to certain issues. For instance, my studies often consider the combatant perspective of engaging in warfare, even when the conflict includes episodes of torture, rape, child abduction, and massacre. This is not to say that I side with combatants, or that I take pity on them. This is quite far from the truth. I am a staunch pacifist and opponent of the death penalty who believes that violence is never the last resort nor is it ever the appropriate response to any form of aggression.*** This is not to say that I have not had moments where I thought to reconsider this position. I am human, after all. And it is not to say that I do not appreciate the efforts of those who engage in combat.**** But the point is that, by considering the position and worldview of those who engage in violent conflict, I can better articulate my convictions with regards to peace and pacifism. In the long run, I hope that my queries into combatant behavior and motivation can inform programs and policies that prevent or stop conflict from occurring, as well as assist those who are transitioning from combatant life to civilian life. But in order to develop these new perspectives, in order to gain that knowledge, I have to take (prudent) personal and professional risks.

“To leave a legacy, you’ve got to do stuff that’s unheard of. You have to do the unthinkable and do the stuff you fear. That’s what this is about – pushing beyond.”

Nick Scott talks about leaving a legacy. To me, this means creating something, an idea or a path, that outlasts the creator. It means taking what one has learned and sharing it with others so that they may also benefit from that knowledge. It means being unselfish with one’s successes and mistakes. It means contributing to the betterment of humanity, no matter how big or small that contribution may seem. I want to leave a legacy for my students, for my family, for those who have graciously assisted me with my educational journey, for those who have experienced my failures right alongside of me, and for my future children. I want them to understand that fear is insightful, that taking chances is as important as daily exercise, that boundaries are meant to be explored with prudence, and that they are part of something much bigger than themselves.

So I say to you, reader, take a risk. Do the unthinkable. Face your fears. And push beyond. Your rewards will be innumerable.

*Arielle, Castillo. 2013. “Staying Strong.” American Way Magazine, June 15.

**I actually have an entire notebook dedicated to lessons I learned when things didn’t work out. It has been very useful on more than a few occasions.

***My greatest personal struggle has been with my attitude towards self-defense. Having had occasion to use it myself, I often wonder whether I am altruistically against the use of violence, or whether I believe that the use of violence must be taken into context. I have not yet come to a conclusion on this issue.

****I am and have been actively involved in several veterans associations, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Horses for Heroes, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Research Updates, Travel Plans, and News Out of Africa

With the successful end of another semester, I have been preparing for a summer full of research and writing opportunities. The first half of the summer will be spent developing the research design for my dissertation which will then be workshopped at the Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Methods Research (IQMR) towards the middle and end of June. I am also the manager for Dr. Christian Davenport (University of Michigan) and Dr. Kathy Powers (University of New Mexico) for a project that considers the myriad ways in which reparations are indicated, implemented, and disseminated among different populations and under varying conditions. Additionally, Ms. Brittany Ortiz, M.A. (University of New Mexico) and I are conducting a pilot study this summer for a larger project that considers questions related to memorials, collective memory, transitional justice, and mass atrocity. The pilot study this summer will be one of several studies and projects that will be carried out during my time in Uganda (a seven-week journey that will include stays in Gulu and Kitgum, among other areas in the West and North). Mr. Lars B. Parkin (Scouler & Company) will be joining me on my travels to and within Uganda as companion and assistant. Together, we plan to collect valuable data to be compiled into a brand new dataset, gather information to develop/complete several research projects, explore opportunities for future research endeavors, and blog about our experiences along the way. I will also be offering to hold brief informational question/answer Skype sessions with classes and groups while we are in Uganda. (Please contact me directly if you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity - jennikerner@gmail.com).

Source: University of Florida

Meanwhile, the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is deteriorating (UN Calls for Sanctions Against Seleka). Seleka, after its successful overthrow of the federal government, has been accused of committing human rights violations and acts of violent aggression against innocent populations. These acts are apparently retribution or vengeance for past wrongs. With South Sudan still developing after its independence in July 2011 (South Sudan and the Issue of Decentralization), as well as the volatile situations in both Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Northwestern Uganda, it remains to be seen whether and how Seleka will be stopped from committing these human rights violations. Another concern is, if they are successfully halted in their criminal activities, how will they be brought to justice? These situations bring to mind the complex interweb of national, subnational, and international organizations that may or may not be able to press charges against collectives of individuals with formal political affiliation who, not only control a country's government, but also play the role of adversary to many of that same country's citizens.

In an editorial published in the Kampala Observer (Ugandan Journalism and the Right to Know), the issue of "the right to know" has been highlighted in regards to recent accusations that journalists were not fairly portraying information about Tinyefuza (General David Sejusa) who has been accused of committing human rights violations and meddling in government affairs. While this situation may seem relatively unimportant given the security concerns present in the rest of the country, the concern about dissemination of information relates to Uganda's ability to process past atrocities and deal with present ones. If Uganda is not willing to deal with information and transparency in a direct and open manner, it is unlikely that transitional justice mechanisms meant to hold perpetrators accountable and provide appropriate justice to victims will be successful.

In the East, Liberia has official begun its peace and reconciliation process (Liberia: Peace and Reconciliation). It will be interesting to see how this process plays out so many years after the conflict has ended and perpetrators have been tried for crimes. This process also brings up questions regarding the temporal and spatial factors associated with developing and implementing transitional justice mechanisms such as truth commissions, reparations, lustration, and memorials.

I will continue to update this blog regarding activities occurring in Central Africa, and with issues related to my research. However, if you are interested in updates related to NGOs, recent news, and research opportunities related to my work, please follow my Facebook page (Jennifer M. Kerner - FB Page).

New website: Ex-Combatant Reintegration

Dear friends and followers:

You will notice that I have added a link to the column on the right. Ex-Combatant Reintegration is a webpage dedicated to my research regarding demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration of combatants and former combatants, particularly in the Great Lakes region of Africa. This summer, I will be taking a trip to Uganda to explore what is being done in the North and other areas of the country with regard to ex-combatant reintegration. A preliminary exploration, this trip is intended to serve as a first-step toward conducting in-depth field research in conflict areas in and around the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The website is brand new and will probably not receive any attention until May 15th. However, once it is up and running, you can expect updates and commentary regarding ex-combatant reintegration in Uganda, including personal reflections and experiences.

Please check back for more updates. Illness and the whirlwind of the end of the semester have kept me away, but I will be back with more updates and commentary soon!

Thanks for following!
Jennifer

Peace and Conflict Organizations and Institutes Database

Considering a career in peace studies or conflict management? Interested in an internship or a postdoc fellowship? Tired of Googling or searching on Idealist for 500 iterations of "peace+conflict+job+career+internship"?

I present to you an excel spreadsheet that currently contains over 90 such organizations. I have included the name of each organization and, as I work on the spreadsheet, the city (or cities) where the organization is located, programs of note, contact information, and a website. Note that not all of the information has been provided for each organization. I will keep working on the spreadsheet and, as I do, this link (which I will place in my "links" section) will be updated.

Peace and Conflict Organizations and Institutes Database

Enjoy!

(Also, if you have any suggestions for organizations that are not found in the database, please contact me or comment below).

Funding Update: Seeing the "Big Picture"

At an orphanage near Uromi, Nigeria in the summer of 2006.
Never forget what is most important about the work you do.
For me, the most important aspect of this project is
safeguarding the futures of the individuals who survive violent
conflict in whatever way(s) I am able. In the words of my father,
 "At the end of the day, no matter what happens, no matter what you've
lost or won, it's people that matter."

Every now and then, when you're up to your eyeballs in research and you're having difficulty finding the light at the end of the tunnel . . . you have a breakthrough. Today was one of those days. Thanks to the unwavering enthusiasm of my mentor/advisor, as well as that of my family and close friends, I have managed to draft an outline of the ways in which the research I have done, both at Indiana University and the University of New Mexico, up to this point fits into a broader project pursuant to the goal of making the world a safer and more promising place in the wake of violent conflict. It is my hope that I can use this trip this summer to set in motion a research program that addresses concerns related to mental health, children, single parent families, domestic abuse, and indigenous solutions . . . all within the context of ending politically-motivated violent conflict and establishing a workable, sustainable peace.

Some might ask whether the goal should be preventing conflict from occurring in the first place. I argue that by focusing on improving reconstructive and transitional justice mechanisms and institutions, peace will become more durable and more readily disseminated in areas that are at-risk for violent conflict. (Extant research shows that there are risk-factors related to internal conflict and civil war, making these events predictable to some extent). But by ignoring what can be done in the post-conflict period in order to focus on preventing the outbreak of violent conflict in areas identified as high-risk, we are missing an opportunity for conflict/peace research and meaningful policy recommendations that could contribute to quelling poverty, hunger, domestic violence, etc., and improving economies, health outcomes, and the futures of hundreds of thousands of individuals. 

I also have three working papers that I expect to complete by the second week in May. The first considers how combatants and ex-combatants are represented in post-conflict democratic elections vis-a-vis the development of electoral rules. The second applies a theory of organization and co-optation to the development and implementation of demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration programs. The third is a research note regarding the recent national election in Kenya. Now that I have a formal and central thread throughout all of my work, I feel even more confident that the project this summer, as well as the subsequent research that is sure to follow, is imperative for the development of policies that aim to assist former combatants of all types in the aftermath of conflict.

Thank you, again, to all who have contributed and shown their support. Every little bit helps!

~Jennifer

Inspired by all of the support I have received,
I spent my Saturday morning writing (by hand)
over fourteen pages of my project.
Thank you for the added drive!