Open Letter: Research update 1/3

Hi everyone

I’m now one third of the way through my incredible year as an Open Society fellow, and about to embark on three intensive months of interviews in Africa, so it seemed like an appropriate time to send an update.

The bulk of my U.S. government interviews are now complete. High profile highlights to date have included Colin Powell, Jendayi Frazer and John Bolton, although the most interesting interviews of all have been with the numerous mid-level staffers who do the daily grind. I remain hopeful about securing an interview with the former President, which would surely be fascinating  – we shall see.

Each week I get more cables and emails declassified about how U.S. policy on Darfur has been constructed, thanks to the wonderful support of the National Security Archives (Tom & Yvette – you have my ongoing gratitude). And each week I end up wishing the UN had a similarly well-organized and accessible Freedom of Information Act process!

I’ve also made some significant progress (albeit depressing) in understanding the way Darfur has been handled by states at the UN Security Council, both from the input of P5 states like the U.S. and France, but also with some fascinating insights from non-permanent members on the Council who tend to be more willing to talk openly about what goes on behind closed doors.

All levels of UNDPKO , from their former head, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, through to their newest recruits, have been extremely helpful as I reconstruct the fraught process of transitioning from AMIS to UNAMID. And one of the most unexpected joys of my research to date have been discussions with military folks, both at the UN and at the Pentagon, who have been generous with me as I begin to learn to understand, if not quite speak, their language.

Finally, the process of grounding the policy story the book tells in the experiences and perceptions of the U.S.-based citizen advocates, whose work this book is really about, is an ongoing and enjoyable challenge – especially as I learn to balance my insider/outsider role in this regard.

Today I head off to Cairo for the start of the next segment of my research (coincidentally it will be fascinating to be there in the aftermath of Obama’s big speech – and I’m keen to see what the large Sudanese refugee community in Cairo thinks about his approach to Darfur).  In the coming months I will be speaking with the people who have been working on Darfur at the League of Arab States (people “we” Darfur advocates speak with on a far too irregular basis), the African Union, and – depending on their willingness to engage with me – the Sudanese government (my website is currently being blocked in Khartoum which is unlikely to be a positive sign in this regard!).  Best of all I hope to get back into the communities that are at the heart of all this – the displaced Darfuris themselves.

I am cognizant of just how remarkable the opportunities I have this year are, and have been thrilled with OSI’s willingness to support my evolving thinking about how to use the process of research and writing itself as a way for further increase citizen engagement in Darfur policy. Beyond-the-call-of-duty thanks to Pam, Chipp and Jonathan at OSI, as well as the inspiring Global Voices gang, for moving me from being a total tech-phobe to someone who is now both willing and able (!) to twitter and podcast my experiences – not only in order to open them up to others who don’t get this incredible opportunity that I have through the fellowship, but also to get feedback from the “netizens” out there who are as obsessed with improving our capacity to prevent and stop mass atrocity crimes  as I am. In this regard my “global team” of Young Leaders on Genocide Prevention remain a source of inspiration to me.

Thanks for all your support. My promise in return is that I am and will continue working 24/7 to ensure the end product is really something that will make a difference.

With best wishes & much hope,

Bec