History: The Reconstruction Of A Post Conflict Situation (Term Paper Sample)

POST WAR RECONSTRUCTION
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INSTITUTION
Introduction
Conflict denotes disagreement, friction or discord that arises between groups/individuals or among several groups because of unacceptable beliefs or actions. There are two major different forms of conflict – intergroup conflict and intergroup conflict. Intragroup conflict refers to that conflict that occurs between individuals of the same group. While intergroup conflict represents the conflict which occurs between members of two or more groups and in most cases involve violence, psychological tension or interpersonal dissension (Clapson et al., 2013).
There is always a particular course or mode of conflict. Initially when there is peace in the group disruption may occur via discord, limited resources or differences in opinion and thought. When these factors stir up the situation, the existing peace is lost, and no unity stands in the group (coalition may take a course). As the conflict escalates so does the need for resolving the conflict arises.
According to sociologists emotions act as the motivating factors for a conflict to arise. These emotions have been grouped into four – envy, contempt, pity and admiration. Apart from these emotions, there are also beliefs that impel the escalation of conflict in different discourses. These ideas include superiority, injustice, vulnerability, distrust and helplessness. When it comes to superiority, the individual/group view themselves as being better than other people in different ways like tradition, culture, status, entitlement and language (Clapson et al., 2013). The concepts of ethnocentricism and monoculturalism are usually experienced.
Injustice perceives the ill-treatment of specific groups or individuals by other people or group. Such kind of treatment can always spark retaliation attempts by the suppressed group. Vulnerability brings fear of the unknown usually exist at both individual and collective levels. These groups in most cases perceive external and internal dangers that can accrue to them Thus the characteristic of pessimism is realized among these people. Distrust is yet another belief that acts as a causative factor of conflict (Dana, 2001). Suspicion looks into the assumed hostility and libel intent of others. The anticipation that a given group of individuals will harm, hurt, abuse or humiliate and take advantage evokes the perception that harm is intentional.
Lastly, helplessness shows individuals or groups who lack the necessary ability to achieve a particular aim. The belief diminishes motivation, sets powerlessness and dependency. In most cases, helplessness renders obstacles for group advancement (Dana, 2001).
Conflict Cycle
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This paper aims at evaluating the opportunities and dangers that can be realized in the process of reconstruction after conflict. The paper will also assess two case studies (Rwanda genocide and Bosnia/Herzevorgonia) and also to highlight the learnt lessons on elaborated experiences of strengthening public administration and the governance in after conflict recovery. In addition the paper will attempt to highlight the challenges in reconstruction, government strategies in reconstruction, the influence of international community and lastly the opportunities and dangers for development in reconstruction.
Literature review
Conflict has been a major occurrence globally from time indefinite and many studies have been carried out to ratify the cause and come up with methodologies on how the situation can be corrected. Many scholars specializing in peace studies have developed several literatures on how the issue can be approached and tackled. The major type of conflict realized currently is the armed conflict (Davis, 2016). The Uppsula Conflict Data Programme, (UCDP) AS AT 2009 recorded active conflicts at figure 36 at different 27 regions. Out of these active armed conflict regions about six of them had reached the amount of war. On the other hand, the United Nations stated that approximately thirty five individuals perish hourly in the world due to uneven armed conflict (Davis, 2016).
The conflict resolution process can best use the methodologies of negotiation, mediation, summitry, litigation or even diplomacy. These methods are a sure way of achieving the post war reconstruction. A key body in achieving post war reconstruction is the International Conflict Resolution (ICR. The ICR body calls for specific methodologies in conflict resolution and not using violence as a way of settling differences. The purpose of the move is to ensure that no future violence is realized (Francis, 2012). A successful use of the methodologies was realized in the armed conflict between Iraq and Iran with the mediation being spearheaded by the Swedish Opposition Leader Olof Palme. The lack of foreign involvement in conflict resolution usually fails.
For instance the internal Sri Lankan armed conflict did not accommodate the assistance of the foreign body in resolving the conflict. As a result the internal feud extended for a period of more than 17 years, however the intervention of the Norwegian government solved the whole issue. Another good example is the Kenyan post-election violence in the period 2007/2008. The involvement of the African Union in resolving the conflict quelled the situation before it could go for a longer period (Deutsch et al., 2006).
Peace commentators argue that there exists the notion o negative peace. Negative peace according to the scholars refers to the situation where the real conflict has been resolved but then the causative dynamics of the conflict have not been resolved. Therefore when these dynamics are not corrected then they may give rise to the new hostilities. The countries which have experienced the recommencement of the conflict due to assumption of the dynamics include Cambodia, Rwanda, DRC, Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Philippines, Kosovo and Sri Lanka among others (Grant et al., 2007). The resurface of these conflicts have always claimed many innocent lives and destruction. On the contrary, the examples of sustained peace resulting from the use of recommended ICR approach are the Liberia 2003 agreement, 1992 Mozambique agreement, 1996 Guatemala agreement and the 2000 Sierra Leone ceasefire.
Apart from the conflict resolution there is also the conflict transformation which touches on the post war reconstruction. Conflict transformation applies the concept of transformative mediation such that the objective is to change the disputing groups by sensitizing them in comprehending their wants and those of other groups.. Conflict transformation together with its importance is shown by its use in NGOs, local parties/CBOs, governmental and intergovernmental personalities and other stakeholders and their responsibilities through the process. In as much as many studies have been done in the reconstruction of peace still there exist gaps in terms of the appropriateness of methodologies and approaches that should be upheld during the whole process of conflict resolution and transformation (Grant et al., 2007).
Case studies
The two case studies to be discussed in the paper are two – the Rwandan genocide and the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict.
The Case of Rwandan genocide
The Rwandan genocide aimed the minority ethnic group – the Tutsi in Rwanda by the majority ethnic group – the Hutu. Many individuals lost their lives during the 100-day ethnic clash claiming more than 800,000 lives. Apart from the Tutsi, another minority group – the Pygmy Batwa were also killed in the genocide. The genocide ended with the intervention of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) who took control of the control. From that period the reconstruction of peace has taken order to reclaim the lost glory (Hitchcott, 2015). At the end of the conflict in 1994 Rwanda has undergone a great institutional reconstruction process. The conflict caused devastation on a broad scale such that infrastructure was not accessible together with supplies. The economy was ruined and became non-operational and the existing societal structures crumbled down (Hitchcott, 2015).
Both the private and public sector became less productive, and the economy faced a steady decline. Also, the national, district and local administrative model were weakened and totally incapacitated in 1990. Human resources were acutely shaken as a result of the mass killings. The three organs of government were all affected. The most affected were judiciary which had its infrastructure damaged, and the whole institution faced severe consequences. The post-conflict Rwanda faced six key challenges – social cohesion, judiciary, security, politics, administration and economy (Hitchcott, 2015).
The Case of Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict
The Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict was realized in the period 1992-1995 and claimed approximately more than 100,000 lives. The war came to an end with the Dayton Peace Agreement that bestowed powers on the Office of the High Representative (OHR) to oversee the running of the country. The OHR represented the international community in the discord. The country was then divided into two regions – the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina (Sacco et al., 2016).
The core challenge that was faced in the restoration of peace was the ethnic imbalance (Serbs, Croats, and Bosniacs), attaining functions of a democratic state and adoption of a merit-based public service. The institutional reforms that were mandatory in the post-war Bosnia/Herzegovina were the changing of the civil service including the judiciary and the police (Sacco et al., 2016). The three entities (State Level, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska)came to a consensus by signing a joint statement that had the provisions of reforming the public administration, institutions and the publ...