http://www.monitor.upeace.org The Peace and Conflict Monitor provides a forum for academic discussion and peace journalism on relevant regional and global issues. http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=695 In the weeks leading up to the 2010 Costa Rican election, outgoing President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oscar Arias Sanchez visited the students, staff, and faculty of the University for Peace, marking the official inauguration of UPEACE's 30th anniversary celebrations. In his address, President Arias emphasizes the social and political progress of the past thirty years, and argues that a continued commitment to education for peace, through the development of the imagination, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to engage in politics, will bring us further towards the goal of a peaceful world. http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=696 Anne Dehollain and Hyunmin Kang take opposite standpoints on the question of Security Council reform, having been asked to argue for or against, giving due consideration to the legal and political issues at hand. http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=697 Election violence has remained a feature on Nigeria’s political landscape, and a review of the problem suggests a number of reasons. This article identifies poverty, a culture of impunity, weak penalties, a lack of effective governance, and small arms proliferation, amongst others. It also looks at the effects of instability and violence in Nigerian society and proffers a number of solutions ranging from sustainable development, security sector and electoral reforms, and anti-corruption measures. http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=698 Recently, the violent activities of left wing extremist in India have increased. The continual violent activities of these groups have attracted much media attention. The movement has been given front-page coverage in the print media and the broadcast in prime time televised news. This paper argues that the increased coverage of Naxal activities has produced ideological effects which further strengthen mobilising the cadres and sympathisers of Naxal, consequently, increasing the frequency of violence. http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=699 This paper aims to analyze the debate over political violence in contemporary Islam from the viewpoint of its historical roots. At the heart of the matter are two currents that have existed in the Muslim community since its very beginning: a dialectic between the intellectual and the martial, and competing interpretations of an idyllic patristic era, with several practical and ideological consequences. This paper will demonstrate how today's debate can be framed within this vision of Islamic history. http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=701 Mary Wade returned to the U.S. after 35 years living abroad. Upon returning she observed the changing attitudes of inner-city youth. She noticed the violence, aggression, drug use and abundance of weapons. In an effort to change the negative path these youth are choosing Wade established BRIC, a youth program designed to teach respect, tolerance and understanding in Philadephia.