GSDRC newsfeed on Violent conflict

Conflict and Social Protection: Social Protection in Situations of Violent Conflict and its Aftermath

James Darcy — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT

How can people's lives and livelihoods be protected during and after conflict? This paper examines a range of strategies and both state and non-state roles in social protection. In insecure environments, support to non-formal mechanisms provided by civil society may be most effective, as despite their limited capacity they have greater access than formal providers. Broad-based welfare provision in post-conflict environments might avoid the social and political tensions that targeted assistance could create.

Promoting Citizen-Centric Public Service Delivery in Post-Conflict Situations

UNDESA — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What challenges and strategies are involved in rebuilding public service delivery after conflict? This chapter considers the benefits of a multi-stakeholder approach and the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Effective delivery of public services contributes to peace and stability, which in turn facilitates economic development. Post-conflict situations offer opportunities as well as challenges in public administration. Any framework aimed at restoring public services must derive legitimacy from national ownership and local involvement.

Early Conflict Prevention in Ethnic Crises 1990-98: A New Dataset

M. Öberg, F. Möller, P. Wallensteen — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What are the trends in and effects of early conflict prevention during the escalation of ethnic crises? This article uses a new dataset to analyse operational conflict prevention measures prior to the outbreak of war in intrastate ethnic conflicts between 1990 and 1998. Most preventive action is focused on a few high profile cases, and Asia in particular receives little attention. Diplomatic measures and relief efforts both have conflict dampening effects, while carrots (inducements) increase the likelihood of war. Other measures show no significant effects. Expectations about the effectiveness of coercive preventive measures may thus be overstated.

Mediating Peace in Africa: Securing Conflict Prevention

Salomé van Jaarsveld and Shauna Mottiar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can the African Union�s mediation and conflict prevention mechanisms be strengthened? This seminar report assesses the evolving African peace and security architecture and presents five key recommendations for its future development. It argues that the AU�s partnerships should be strengthened, mediation work institutionalised, early warning systems established, lesson-learning institutionalised and that civil society should become more involved in mediation processes.

Peacemaking in the Midst of War: An Assessment of IGAD's Contribution to Regional Security

Sally Healy — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is the regional organisation of seven East African countries, aiming to achieve regional peace, prosperity and integration. When member states fuel military action even while participating in peace talks, however, what can IGAD achieve? This paper assesses IGAD�s development and contribution to two major peace processes, in Sudan and Somalia. Despite a significant influence on the outcomes, IGAD is undermined by weak institutional systems and an entrenched political culture of military aggression across the region.

Finance in Conflict and Reconstruction

Tony Addison, Philippe Le Billon and S. Mansoob Murshed — Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT

What role does finance play in war and post-conflict reconstruction? Domestic and foreign finance can determine who wins the war, the duration of the conflict and can contribute to increased post-conflict poverty and inequality. Action to reduce war finance (and to increase its cost) may encourage peace, provided such action is implemented across the international community. Financial liberalisation during reconstruction may foster economic instability and endanger peace. Strong financial regulation and supervision is important.

Contested Lands: Israel-Palestine, Kashmir, Bosnia, Cyprus, and Sri Lanka

Sumantra Bose — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

How can peace be made between warring groups with seemingly incompatible aims? The concluding chapter of this publication examines five case studies of recent peace processes in Israel-Palestine, Kashmir, Bosnia, Cyprus and Sri Lanka in search of an answer. It argues that in order to resolve ethno-national conflicts, peace processes should address border issues directly, use third parties and adopt a fast-track approach to peacemaking.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Peace Operations

Cedric de Coning and Paul Romita — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Peacekeeping and peacebuilding operations are tasked with increasingly complex and ambitious mandates, demanding integration and system-wide coherence, and resulting in the development of many sophisticated monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. What are the critical challenges for M&E practitioners, and how can they strengthen research and practice? Peace operation M&E is promoting a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing in governments, research institutions, and regional and international organisations. However, much more could be achieved with a common vocabulary and approach, and a higher profile for M&E.

Climate Change, Conflict and Fragility: Understanding the Linkages, Shaping Effective Responses

Dan Smith and Janani Vivekananda — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What effect will climate change have on violent conflict? This report argues that climate change is most likely to provoke conflict in poor, badly governed countries with a recent history of violent conflict. Adaptation policies must respond to the links between climate change, state fragility and conflict, and must begin by focusing on as local a level as possible. Further, a large-scale systematic study is needed of the likely costs of adaptation. This should address the social and political dimensions as well as economic sectors.

In Search of the Textbook Mediator

Antonia Potter — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

While there has been a growing literature on conflict resolution and mediation, there are few studies that specifically examine the experience of individual mediators. This concluding book chapter examines the 'art' of mediation in armed conflict. Drawing on the experience of high-level mediators in Iraq, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Aceh, it argues that the character and actions of mediators are critical variables in determining the outcome of peace negotiations.

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union: Evaluating an Embryonic International Institution

Paul D. Williams — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How has the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) helped promote peace, security and stability on the African continent? This article provides an overview of the origin of the PSC, and discusses elements of its design and mandate. Does the PSC have the resources and credibility to influence the continent�s governments? Without significant additional funding and manpower from the AU, the PSC cannot cope with the huge security problems facing Africa.

'The Grass of the Rich?' Integrity and Post-war Reconstruction in the Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone

E. Broadbent and A. Kamara — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can corruption and lack of transparency and accountability be addressed in reconstruction projects? These problems have severely constrained the rebuilding of Sierra Leone�s infrastructure, but neither the channels nor the incentives exist for community members to challenge such practices. This report reviews a Community Oversight Monitoring project (2008-2009), which identified delays in project completion, sub-standard work; and widespread theft of materials. Underlying contributing factors are patronage politics, institutional weakness and a lack of political will to investigate, redress and prevent such problems. Lack of civil society participation, oversight, awareness and consultation entrenches and is perpetuated by these political and institutional factors.

Strategic Communication: The Heart of Post-Conflict Processes

Frances Fortune, Oscar Bloh — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Why have governments and their international partners not placed strategic communication at the centre of post-conflict reconstruction and reform? This article from Conflict Trends outlines how strategic communication can help shift attitudes and behaviours of policymakers and citizens towards development and governance. Often lack of political will and fear of accountability hinders the use of strategic communication in post-conflict situations. However, such contexts provide unique opportunities for integrating strategic communication into reform processes.

Ten Years of Media Support to the Balkans: An Assessment

Aaron Rhodes — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What has been the impact of ten years of the international community�s support to media in the Western Balkans? This report from the Media Task Force of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe analyses 37 existing evaluations of media support projects, and makes recommendations for the future. In spite of mixed results, the impact of media assistance has been substantial. Donors should consider the development of the wider media market instead of sustaining too many individual media outlets. Projects should help NGOs work with lawyers to understand and use new laws once reforms have been passed.

Why Templates for Media Development Do Not Work in Crisis States

James Putzel and Joost van der Zwan — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

How should media policies be adapted in countries affected by crises and war? Do privately owned media contribute to democratic development in fragile states? This report is based on the outcome of discussions at a workshop organised by the Crisis States Research Centre, the Stanhope Centre for Communications and the Annenberg School for Communication. It argues that neo-liberal templates for media development do not work in fragile states and that unsophisticated liberalisation of the media can potentially undermine the state building project.

Newspapers in Sierra Leone: A Case Study of Conditions for Print Journalism in a Postconflict Society

Karin Wahl-Jorgensen and Bernadette Cole — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What are the challenges of democratic communication in developing countries? What can be learned from print journalism in Sierra Leone? This article from Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies analyses the conditions of the newspaper industry in Sierra Leone since the end of civil war. It highlights key difficulties including a lack of financial, technological and human resources. Resource constraints affect every level of society, however; the challenges facing the press must be viewed within the broader social context. Despite its difficulties, the press in Sierra Leone is emerging as an important watchdog.

The Kenyan 2007 Elections and their Aftermath: The Role of Media and Communication

Jamal Abdi Ismail and James Deane — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

What role have the media played in Kenyan democracy? To what extent are they responsible for inflaming the post-election violence of 2008? This briefing from the BBC World Service Trust draws on semi-structured interviews and a review of research and monitoring material. It finds that the media have both undermined and invigorated democracy; an understanding of democracy in Kenya � and elsewhere � requires a strong understanding of the media�s central role in shaping it. Development actors need to provide demand-led, coherent support for public interest media.

A New Approach to Post Conflict Reconstruction

Fredrik Galtung and Martin Tisné — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can post-war reconstruction support democratisation and prevent the early entrenchment of corruption? This study published in the Journal of Democracy examines democracy assistance in eight countries recovering from war: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mozambique, the Palestinian Authority, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste. It argues that citizens need to be involved in the allocation of the public resources that affect their lives. Community-driven accountability can stem corruption and re-engage people in the democratic process. Such measures can begin in the earliest post-war stages, building on local skills and resources.

Towards a New Model: Media and Communication in Post-Conflict and Fragile States

Shanthi Kalathil — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can donors improve their support to communications in conflict-affected and fragile environments? This report draws lessons from the experience of donors, and in particular USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), in supporting media and communication in conflict-affected environments. It calls for donors to make media and communication a technical priority in post-conflict and fragile states, and to view media and communication as a public good in itself, rather than as an instrument towards another end.

Transitional Justice and Peace Building: Diagnosing and Addressing the Socioeconomic Roots of Violence through a Human Rights Framework

Lisa J. Laplante — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can transitional justice mechanisms � in particular, truth commissions (TCs) � better accommodate socio-economic issues in order to respond to new cycles of violence in post-conflict settings? On the basis of comparative country experiences, this article from the International Journal of Transitional Justice argues that TCs should expand their mandates to incorporate a legal framework that views the socio-economic root causes of conflict in terms of violations of economic, social and cultural rights. By adopting a human rights-based framework, TCs can contribute to post-conflict recovery by diagnosing the socio-economic causes of conflict and helping to orient national policy agendas towards addressing poverty and the structural inequalities that lead to violence.