The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre
1125 Colonel By Drive, CTTC Building, Suite 3600
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5R1 Canada
Research Interests
Post-Conflict Reconstruction; identicide and the destruction of cultural property; military geography; peace operations
Professional information
Dr. Sarah Jane Meharg is Adjunct Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Senior Research Associate at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Ottawa Canada. She is Canada's leading post-conflict reconstruction expert and specializes in the research and implementation of advanced technologies for reconstruction initiatives. Dr Meharg focuses on economic acceleration in regions experiencing economic transitions, including post-conflict and post-disaster environments such as Afghanistan, Haiti and the Balkans.
Dr Meharg has received numerous commendations for developing her unique theory of conflict- identicide (1997) -which defines the precursor stages of genocide.
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Dr. Meharg is currently researching economic acceleration; the environment of peace operations; military geography; and identicide/genocide.
Dr. Meharg serves as a research fellow with organizations such as the Centre for Security and Defence Studies (CSDS) and the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute (CDFAI) and the Security and Defence Forum (SDF). Dr Meharg is president of Peace and Conflict Planners Canada Inc., a firm that specializes in economic and cultural reconstruction and new-use technology applications for conflict and disaster affected environments. Clients include both domestic and international organizations and governments.
Dr Meharg develops "futures" concepts for application in her fields of study, and has a unique specialization in connecting defence, humanitarian, government, academic and private sector interests. She has written numerous chapters and articles, including two recent books: Helping Hands and Loaded Arms: Navigating the Military and Humanitarian Space (Canadian Peacekeepers Press: Cornwallis N.S., 2007), and Measuring What Matters in Peace Operations and Crisis Management (McGill-Queen's University Press: Kingston, 2009).
Dr Meharg recently collaborated with the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) at the US Army War College in the publication "Security Sector Reform: A Case Study Approach to Transition and Capacity Building" (January 2010).
Publications
Identicide
- Identicide: The Destruction, Reconstruction, and Construction of Landscapes of Identity in Bosnia and Croatia, Ph.D. (Geography) dissertation, Queen's University. 2003.
- Making It and Breaking It, and Making It Again: The Importance of Identity in the Destruction and Reconstruction of War-torn Societies. MA (War Studies) thesis, Royal Military College of Canada.1998.
- "Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Humanitarian Assistance or Profit-Driven Activity?" Peace Research Journal 35:2 May (2003).
- "Identicide and Cultural Cannibalism: Warfare's Appetite for Symbolic Place", Peace Research Journal 33:3 November. (2001), 89-98.
- "Identicide and Cultural Cannibalism: Warfare's Appetite for Symbolic Place", CPREA Conference Presentation Abstract, Peace Research Journal 33:2 May, (2001).
- "The Extension of the UN Mandate in Haiti". Journal of Peacekeeping and International Relations. Vol. 3 No. 6 Nov/Dec.1996.
- "Review of the Atlantic Provinces Political Science Conference 1996" Journal Of Peacekeeping and International Relations. Vol. 3 No. 6 Nov/Dec. 1996.
- "A Bridge to Nowhere? The Reconstructed Bridge of Mostar," United Nations Association Capital Region Newsletter. Fall 2004.
- "Cultural Warfare: Cultural Property: An Unlikely Partnership", United Nations Association Capital Region Newsletter, 6-7. Nov. 2001.
Military Geography
- "The Geographies of Post-Conflict Reconstruction," A paper presented to the 2005 Military Geography Conference, University of Nottingham, UK. Publication forthcoming in Conference Proceedings.
Presentations
Recent presentations include:
- Military Geography Conference, Nottingham University, UK, 2005 "The Geographies of Post-Conflict Reconstruction"
- Canadian Association of Geography Annual Conference, London, Canada, 2005, Military Geography Panel, "Identicide"
- Carleton University Founder's Seminar Series: Department of Geography, Canada, 2005, "Identicide and the Four Layers of Landscape"
- Annual Conference of the Regional Peace Studies Consortium, USA, 2004, "The Problem with Post-Conflict Reconstruction"
- Intervention: Then What? Workshop, Carleton University, Canada, 2004, "Opening Remarks: The Effects of Interventions on Post-War Recipient Populations"
- American Association of Geographers Conference, Philadelphia, USA, 2004, "Identicide and the Destruction, Reconstruction, and Construction of Landscapes of Identity"
- United Nations Association - Canada, National Capital Region Branch, Canada, 2002, Annual General Meeting Keynote Address: "Identicide and the Bridge of Mostar"