Comments on: Urban Tipping Points – important new research on roots of violence http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555 duncan green poverty to power oxfam development Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Matias http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555&cpage=1#comment-174072 Matias Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:11:32 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555#comment-174072 The fifth point in the recommendations fro how to avoid urban conflict caught my eye(... overlapping authority systems (e.g. between traditional and modern; city and national) are a recipe for conflict, with more participation and active organization a healthy counterweight.) I would like to point out a remarkable positive exception: I'm an European student doing an internship in Kumasi, Ghana over the summer. Day day before the post was published, I visited the local Kings Palace. It seems that the Ashanti king and all connected institutions are still very much up and going. For example, the president of Ghana needs to pay homage to the local king anytime he visits Kumasi. Still the existence of these "overlapping authority systems" has not lead to any conflicts for decades! Rather the opposite: they are in close co-operation. Is there any research to be found on the circumstances under which the overlapping does lead to conflict and when it does not? The fifth point in the recommendations fro how to avoid urban conflict caught my eye(… overlapping authority systems (e.g. between traditional and modern; city and national) are a recipe for conflict, with more participation and active organization a healthy counterweight.)
I would like to point out a remarkable positive exception:
I’m an European student doing an internship in Kumasi, Ghana over the summer. Day day before the post was published, I visited the local Kings Palace. It seems that the Ashanti king and all connected institutions are still very much up and going. For example, the president of Ghana needs to pay homage to the local king anytime he visits Kumasi.
Still the existence of these “overlapping authority systems” has not lead to any conflicts for decades! Rather the opposite: they are in close co-operation.
Is there any research to be found on the circumstances under which the overlapping does lead to conflict and when it does not?

]]> By: Scott http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555&cpage=1#comment-173843 Scott Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:12:35 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555#comment-173843 On the epidemiological approach, see The Interrupters, one organization's approach to treat violence like infectious disease. http://interrupters.kartemquin.com/ On the epidemiological approach, see The Interrupters, one organization’s approach to treat violence like infectious disease. http://interrupters.kartemquin.com/

]]> By: ALFRED http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555&cpage=1#comment-173492 ALFRED Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:12:28 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555#comment-173492 Great analysis and concise reflection on the Tipping Point of Urban Violence study. I agree fully that looking at webs of violence; 'networks of violence' and 'circuit breakers' would be a wonderful way of overcoming the limitations of the 'commodity chain' concept; which insinuates a more linear process. In Geneva Duncan had an analogy of urban violence; using forest fire, to demonstrate its complexity as a phenomena and also to suggest that interventions needs to take such complexity into account. Thanks Duncan for a great post Great analysis and concise reflection on the Tipping Point of Urban Violence study. I agree fully that looking at webs of violence; ‘networks of violence’ and ‘circuit breakers’ would be a wonderful way of overcoming the limitations of the ‘commodity chain’ concept; which insinuates a more linear process. In Geneva Duncan had an analogy of urban violence; using forest fire, to demonstrate its complexity as a phenomena and also to suggest that interventions needs to take such complexity into account. Thanks Duncan for a great post

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555&cpage=1#comment-173428 Suzanne Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:29:30 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555#comment-173428 Will reply later, but I agree most heartily about Carolyn Moser, The HERO. She spoke at CIDA many years ago when she was at the WB, and i was smitten by her intelligence, common sense and humanity. Cities in Canada aren't so great either, so will read her paper & digest. Will reply later, but I agree most heartily about Carolyn Moser, The HERO. She spoke at CIDA many years ago when she was at the WB, and i was smitten by her intelligence, common sense and humanity.

Cities in Canada aren’t so great either, so will read her paper & digest.

]]> By: Millie http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555&cpage=1#comment-173396 Millie Wed, 20 Jun 2012 07:34:31 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10555#comment-173396 Dear Duncan, thanks for a clear and concise sum up of the research! i havent read the full document so these comments are based purely on your blog entry: 1. if it doesnt already, it would be useful to include a reference on how transparency and citizen engagement builds trust (http://tpt.to/a2zv3qH) 2. how do we scan for surprises in this context? the hypothesis based research is limiting by what we know and what we understand.. urban setting is a complex environment where tipping points can be set of by a variety of factors... how do we scan for these in order to amplify the good and dampen the bad (i tried to provide way forward in this based on a recent experience w/complex human systems: http://europeandcis.undp.org/blog/2012/06/19/complexity-and-development/ again, thanks so much for sharing. there is a lot of implications of this to the development work as we often forget, with the focus on rural areas, that unemployment is rising in urban areas! best Millie Dear Duncan,
thanks for a clear and concise sum up of the research! i havent read the full document so these comments are based purely on your blog entry:
1. if it doesnt already, it would be useful to include a reference on how transparency and citizen engagement builds trust (http://tpt.to/a2zv3qH)
2. how do we scan for surprises in this context? the hypothesis based research is limiting by what we know and what we understand.. urban setting is a complex environment where tipping points can be set of by a variety of factors… how do we scan for these in order to amplify the good and dampen the bad (i tried to provide way forward in this based on a recent experience w/complex human systems: http://europeandcis.undp.org/blog/2012/06/19/complexity-and-development/

again, thanks so much for sharing. there is a lot of implications of this to the development work as we often forget, with the focus on rural areas, that unemployment is rising in urban areas!
best
Millie

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