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PRACTICE AND RESEARCH AREAS
Bridges seeks common grounds and deeper cross-cultural understanding, thus “bridging the divide” between the developed west and the developing countries of the east. We hope to overcome this divide with effective analysis and objective solutions for core development issues in the region.
With first-hand knowledge of the needs and the potentials of the region, Bridges provides its associates a platform to engage in original research based on their respective fields of interest and current development trends. The synergy thus created, leads to quality research, widely published in the media and international journals.
Bridges offers services and conducts research in the following areas
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Nationalism and Ethnicity—Indigenous Identity and the State, Ethnic Relations and Conflict Resolution |
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Democracy and Rule of Law—Elections & Political Processes, Political Islam, Civil Society |
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Governance—Anti-Corruption, Democratic Decentralization, Legislative and Institutional reforms, Institutional Capacity. |
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Socioeconomic Development—Women in Development, Youth and Children, Agriculture, Education, Health, Micro-Finance, and Small Enterprise Development. |
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Disaster Management – Humanitarian Assistance |
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Nationalism and Ethnicity
Ethnic conflict is a threat to global peace and a leading cause of underdevelopment in the world. Though everyone involved in a conflict, the state, ethnic groups, intergovernmental organizations, and even non-governmental actors, claim to seek peace, some purse it by violent means, making conflicts highly complex affairs with often tragic outcomes. We at bridges use various models to “cut through this complexity and identify core processes and variables that external third parties can influence to promote peace.”
Bridges works for a place-centered approach to nationalism recognizing the symbolic and socio-economic significance of territory at different levels of nation-building.
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Democracy and Rule of Law
Enshrined in the constitution, adopted by a parliament and enforced by an independent judiciary, democracy and rule of law are crucial to the stability of a country. In the context of rapid social change, when the existing institutions are unable to provide the necessary services, the emergence of an informal sector leads to the disassociation between democracy and rule of law. Rulers, in situations of unrest, tend to take refuge in authoritarian practices through police and military, through mechanisms that democratic institutions cannot accommodate. We at Bridges believe that to strengthen democracy and uphold the rule of law, empowerment of political and civic organizations, reformation of electoral processes and promotion of citizenship and citizen’s participation in public affairs are of vital importance.
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Governance
Good governance is the key to poverty alleviation and development in the region. It refers to transparency in the traditions and institutions by which authority is exercised in a country and integrated approaches towards capacity building and governance. Good governance ensures that voices of the minorities and the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision making.
Bridges, through its research aims to foster legislative and institutional reforms which will guarantee a realization of human rights and minimize corruption.
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Socioeconomic Development
Economic and social hardships impose severe constraints on the developing world. Bridges experts understand the socioeconomic complexities of the region and are able to tailor their practices and research to the local developmental needs. Our experts aim to eradicate poverty through agricultural development, provision of better health facilities and educational reform.
In addition, Bridges experts recognize the acute female deprivation in developing countries and through their efforts desire to contribute towards an equality of the sexes. Our experts also research micro financing schemes and opportunities for small enterprises and especially understand the complexities of creating business opportunities in regions of dense social networks.
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Humanitarian Relief and Assistance
Bridges strives to assist people in times of hardship. The Consortium intends to use its capacity to research ways that can improve preparedness and mitigate negative effects of natural hazards. GIS Lab at Bridges uses Risk Triangle to measure community vulnerability, and urban seismic risk in the region. Consortium experts also offer insight to integrate natural disaster management into sustainable development.
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