In 2016/17, during the course of my research in Cambodia, I explored micro-politics of contestation and the role of former Khmer Rouge in contesting land grabbing. Analyzing the repercussions on conflict transformation, I also paid special attention to gender dynamics at play. 

New Cambodian Aartists - Dignity Project 2016 - mona simon Watch on Vimeo This external content requires your consent. Please note our privacy policy. Cambodia - A joyous wedding preparation – celebrating a new chapter in a young wife’s as she steps into the unknown with anxious excitement. Stuck in abusive structures – the pain and suffering is hidden behind feminine beauty and a smile. But once the line is crossed too many times, the pain can be ignored no longer. Taking a stand – finding strength and courage, united as one, to have a voice and say ‘no more violence’.

Phnom Penh is a rapidly changing city marked by urban development. In 1998 one in every 20 Cambodians lived in Phnom Penh. Within four years, this statistic has become one in every ten Cambodians. Between 1998 and 2008 the city’s population more than doubled, increasing from 567,860 to 1,237,600 people.

Human dignity must be restored. People need to be empowered to stand for their rights. Human rights belong to everyone. These are some of the powerful messages heard at Meta House on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 2016.

Why was China, a powerful state, incapable to influence Cambodia, a much weaker state during the years of Khmer Rouge mass atrocities? What did China get in return for its development aid? Can historical analysis reveal something about the current political environment? These are some of the questions Andrew Mertha, a professor at Cornell University, dwells into in his book Brothers in Arms: Chinese Aid to the Khmer Rouge, 1975–1979. 

Image credits A student stands on the stage, holding a turtle in a basket. He calls his pet ‘Ninja Turtle’ as he imagines it to be a courageous fighter that stands up against bullies. In reality, the turtle spends most of its time hiding in its shell. The boy feels he has a lot in common with the turtle – he is too scared to defend a fellow classmate who is being bullied.

The daily life in Phnom Penh seems to be far away from the politics of the United States – yet the presidential elections are coming closer and information on the campaign drama is available in Cambodia, too. 

Repression of civil society is on the rise all over the world, even in supposedly democratic countries above reproach. Especially activists and organisations who advocate for democracy, human rights, and social and environmental justice are under pressure.

More Lessons Learned from the Holocaust - Towards a Complexity-Embracing Approach to Why Genocide Occurs Abstract.Why do genocides occur? This paper applies qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to revisit this question, and analyses 139 cases of genocide and non-genocide.

https://psmag.com/inside-cambodias-future-floating-arts-center-a122392d…