Policy Memo Assignment

Policy Memo Assignment ICN Fall 2015 Please read through these instructions in their entirety and feel free to be in touch with questions. PLEASE NOTE DUE DATE: Wednesday, 10 November, by email by 11PM. Overview: ? You are a policy advisor to the president of your chosen conflict country. This is your (6- pages, double-spaced) memo to the president that advises him / the state as to how to best address the conflict in your country – toward ending violence and building peace, from that state’s perspective. ? The idea is to get in the head of the state, building on your knowledge of the opposition’s perspective from the first assignment. ? You must have a minimum of fifteen sources for this paper, at least ten of which are new to this paper. At least six of these must be a book, an academic journal article, NGO, or think-tank report of substance (not an op-ed or blog post). Additionally, you must use two government documents (as part of the ten new sources); this can be a report, a press release, a transcript of a speech or legislation. (I’m open to other formats, just check with me first.) ? You must cite all information that is not a common fact (using endnotes and a bibliography). ? You must use headings in your memo, but they need not reflect the organization of questions below. It’s about a cohesive, organized memo with good flow. ? You are encouraged to be creative – think outside the box – but you must be realistic as to what your state would or would not do in the present climate. Questions: ? Briefly provide an overview of the conflict (from the state’s perspective). ? What are the key objectives of your state with regard to the conflict? ? What are the core issues impeding transformation of the conflict away from violence (from the state’s perspective)? ? How is violence used within the conflict, by whom, and to what end (you can include the state but keep in mind you are the state)? ? What are the challenges presented by the use of violence in your conflict? ? What roles can your state play in ending violence? ? How long will this take? ? Can the opposition actors using violence be negotiated with? Why/why not? ? How has your state responded to violence perpetrated by the opposition and to what effect? ? What are your key recommendations, as an advisor to the president, for ending violence and building sustainable peace?