Peter Langille

International Development Days

PETER LANGILLE

Human Security Fellow and Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria.

The title of his fellowship project is "Fast-Tracking a Complementary Agenda: Enhancing Rapid Deployment Capabilities and Initiating a UN Emergency Service".
Peter will pursue five related objectives while at the Centre for Global Studies.

First, he is directing a project on the multinational Standby High Readiness Brigade (SHIRBRIG) for UN peace operations and its potential adaptation for protecting civilians. This is a collaborative initiative of the Liu Institute for Global Issues, University of British Columbia and the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria, co-chaired by Dr. Lloyd Axworthy and Dr. Gordon Smith. The project will entail extensive consultations with SHIRBRIG member states, UN officials and the community of interested NGOs and institutes. The first meeting of these parties -- ‘Exploring the SHIRBRIG’s Potential in Protection Operations’-- has been funded by the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development. This is a policy-oriented initiative to identify further requirements and prompt corresponding reform at the political, strategic, operational and tactical levels. Consideration will also be accorded to the planning of a larger conference on the SHIRBRIG and protection of civilians, attracting additional participants and developing similar partnerships elsewhere.

Second, he is working with several groups to develop a transnational network of non-governmental organizations and academics to support more rapid, reliable and effective UN peace operations. This is a cooperative endeavour to expand on the models and outreach established by the Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping (PEP) and the Peace Operations Working Group (POWG).

Third, he is attempting to initiate an annual NGO-academic dialogue with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. If approved, this would provide a forum for disseminating and exchanging reliable information with a broad community of interested parties.
Fourth, he will continue to refine terminology, plans and proposals for the development of a UN Emergency Service. Aside from building a more sophisticated model, he is outlining a cumulative development process and an alternative approach, which may help to ‘fast-track’ the start-up of a dedicated UN mechanism, designed for diverse operations.

Finally, he plans to research, publish and speak on these issues over the next year. Dr. Langille has an MA (conflict analysis) from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, a graduate diploma in peace research from the University of Oslo and a PhD from the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, England.
He is the author of two books, Changing the Guard: Canada’s Defence in a World in Transition, (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1990) and Bridging the Commitment-Capacity Gap: A Review of Existing Arrangements and Options for Enhancing UN Rapid Deployment, (Wayne: Centre for UN Reform Education, 2002). He has also published related articles in International Peacekeeping, Human Security, Peace Magazine, Mondial, Ploughshares Monitor, Policy Options, Multinational Policy Towards Peace, UN Rapid Reaction Capabilities: Requirements and Prospects and Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution.

He formerly taught courses in ‘Canadian Defence and Foreign Policy’, ‘Conflict Prevention and Management’, ‘Advanced International Relations’, ‘World Politics’, ‘Contemporary Approaches to Intra-State Conflict’ and ‘Canada in International Conflict’ at the University of Western Ontario, Carlton University, York University, Huron and King’s College.

Recently, he has focused on initiatives to enhance training, role specialisation and rapid deployment for UN peace operations. He has had practical and professional experience in each area. In 1995, he was on the Core Working Group of the Canadian Government's Study, Towards a United Nations Rapid Reaction Capability. (This was a joint study of the DND and DFAIT.) As a partner in Common Security Consultants, he co-authored the initial proposals and blueprints recommending the establishment of a dedicated Canadian and Multinational Peacekeeping Training Centre at CFB Cornwallis (The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre).
He was a former member of the Canadian Government's Consultative Group on Arms Control and Disarmament and formerly a co-director of the Canadian Peace Research and Education Association. He is on the Board of the World Federalists, Canada, as well as a Director of the Peace Operations Working Group of the Canadian Peacebuilding Consultative Committee.

His academic interests include: