Governance in Post-Conflict Societies

Governance in Post-Conflict Societies
Author: Derick W. Brinkerhoff
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 485
Release: 2007-01-24
Genre: History
ISBN: 1135983232

Foreword Frederick D. Barton Preface Derick W. Brinkerhoff 1. Governance Challenges in Fragile States: Re-Establishing Security, Rebuilding Effectiveness, and Reconstituting Legitimacy Derick W. Brinkerhoff Part 1. Governance and Post-conflict: Perspectives on Core Issues 2. Does Nation Building Work? Reviewing the Record Arthur A. Goldsmith 3. Constitutional Design, Identity and Legitimacy in Post-Conflict Reconstruction Aliza Belman Inbal and Hanna Lerner 4. Election Systems and Political Parties in Post-Conflict and Fragile States Eric Bjornland, Glenn Cowan, and William Gallery 5. Democratic Governance and the Security Sector in Conflict-affected Countries Nicole Ball Part 2. Actors in Governance Reconstruction: Old, New, and Evolving Roles 6. From Bullets to Ballots: The U.S. Army Role in Stability and Reconstruction Operations Tammy S. Schultz and Susan Merrill 7. The Private Sector and Governance in Post-Conflict Societies Virginia Haufler 8. Rebuilding and Reforming Civil Services in Post-Conflict Societies Harry Blair 9. Contributions of Digital Diasporas to Governance Reconstruction in Fragile States: Potential and Promise Jennifer M. Brinkerhoff Part 3. Reforming and Rebuilding Governance: Focus on the Local 10. Decentralization, Local Governance, and Conflict Mitigation in Latin America Gary Bland 11. Subnationalism and Post-conflict Governance: Lessons from Africa Joshua B. Forrest 12. Subnational Administration and State Building: Lessons from Afghanistan Sarah Lister and Andrew Wilder About the Contributors Index

Postconflict Elections, Democratization, and International Assistance

Postconflict Elections, Democratization, and International Assistance
Author: Krishna Kumar
Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers
Total Pages: 286
Release: 1998
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9781555877781

The third in a series of publications coming out of the ongoing evaluation studies at USAID's Center for Development Information and Evaluation. Based on the hypothesis that elections in a postconflict setting are fundamentally different from those organized under normal circumstances, 13 contributions examine the planning, organization, conduct, and execution of such elections; the critical roles played by international donors; and the longer-term outcomes, particularly their impact on political and social reconciliation. Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Power-Sharing in Conflict-Ridden Societies

Power-Sharing in Conflict-Ridden Societies
Author: Nils A. Butenschøn
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 375
Release: 2016-03-03
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1317076753

Based on a unique comparative study of Burundi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nepal, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Fiji this book analyses the formal and informal arrangements defining the post-conflict political order in these countries and evaluates whether these systems strengthened or weakened the chances of establishing sustainable peace and lasting democracy. What can be learned from these cases? Each country has it unique history but they are faced with comparable challenges and dilemmas in building a democratic future. Which solutions seem to contribute to democratic stability and which do not? These questions are discussed in light of theoretical literature, case studies, and field interviews with the authors concluding that systems based on proportional representation offered the best prospects for including diverse and conflicting identities and building unified political systems. The book is of particular interest to students of democracy and peace-building; academics as well as decision-makers and practitioners in the field.

African Democracy and Development

African Democracy and Development
Author: Cassandra Rachel Veney
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2013
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0739175491

Various African nations have undergone conflict situations since they gained their independence. This book focuses on particular countries that have faced conflict (civil wars and genocide) and are now in the process of rebuilding their political, economic, social, and educational institutions. The countries that are addressed in the book include: Rwanda, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, there is a chapter that addresses the role of the African Diaspora in conflict and post-conflict countries that include Eritrea, Liberia, and Somalia. The book includes an examination of the various actors who are involved in post-conflict rebuilding and reconstruction that involves internal and external participants. For example, it is clear that the internal actors involve Africans themselves as ordinary citizens, members of local and national governments, and members of non-governmental organizations. This allows the reader to understand the agency and empowerment of Africans in post-conflict reconstruction. Various institutions are addressed within the context of the roles they play in establishing governance organizations such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Sierra Leone, the African Union, chiefs in Liberia, and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, the external actors who are involved in post-conflict reconstruction are examined such as international non-governmental organizations and the African Diaspora. They both have their own constituents and agendas and can and do play a positive and negative role in post-conflict reconstruction. It is obvious that countries that are addressed in the book are in dire need of financial assistant to rebuild much needed infrastructure that was destroyed during the conflict. All of the countries covered in the book need schools, medical facilities, roads, bridges, airports, ports, and the government does not have the money to provide these. This is where the international non-governmental organizations and the African Diaspora play an important role. The chapters that address these issues are cognizant of their importance and at the same time, the authors realize that sovereignty can be undermined if Africans are not in the forefront of policy and decision making that will determine their future. There are chapters that provide a gendered analysis of post-conflict when it is appropriate. For example, it is clear that women, men, boys, and girls experienced conflict in different ways because of their gender. They all participated in the conflict in various ways. Consequently, the efforts at peace building are given a gendered analysis in terms of what has happened to women and girls in the demobilization and rehabilitation period including an excellent analysis of land reform in Rwanda and how that affects women and members of a certain ethnic group that are often overlooked in the examination of the 1994 genocide. This book provides a very good contribution to the literature on conflict and post-conflict African countries because of its depth and the vast topics it embraces. It provides an analysis of the internal and external actors, the role of gender in post-conflict decision making, and it provides the voices of ordinary Africans who were affected by the conflict, and who are determined to live productive lives.

Promoting Democracy in Postconflict Societies

Promoting Democracy in Postconflict Societies
Author: Jeroen de Zeeuw
Publisher: Lynne Rienner Publishers
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2006
Genre: Democracy
ISBN: 9781588264466

?An engaging set of case studies, rich in detail and accessibly written, which underscore the complicated and challenging nature of war-to-democracy transitions.??Timothy Sisk, University of DenverFew would dispute the importance of donating funds and expertise to conflict-ridden societies?but such aid, however well meant, often fails to have the intended effect. This study critically evaluates international democratization assistance in postconflict societies to discern what has worked, what has not, and how aid programs can be designed to have a more positive impact.The authors offer a unique recipient perspective as they explore three dimensions of democracy promotion: elections, free media, and human rights. Drawing on the experiences of Cambodia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, they suggest concrete ways in which the international community can better foster democratization in the wake of conflict. Jeroen de Zeeuw is research fellow in the Conflict Research Unit at the Clingendael Institute of International Relations in the Netherlands. Krishna Kumar is senior social scientist with the United States Agency for International Development. His recent books include Rebuilding Societies After Civil War: Critical Roles for International Assistance and Postconflict Elections, Democratization and International Assistance. Contents: Introduction?the Editors. Parties and Elections. Supporting ?No-Party Democracy? in Uganda?J.-J. Barya. Fostering Political Pluralism in Ethiopia?D. Rahmato and M. Ayenew. Electoral Assistance and Democratic Transition in Mozambique?M. de Tollenaere. Human Rights. Strengthening Human Rights in Guatemala?D. Azpuru. Cambodia?s Fragile Rule of Law?S. Peou. Human Rights Assistance to Sierra Leone?M. G. Sesay and C. Hughes. Transitional Justice in Sierra Leone?Marieke Wierda. Media. Opening Up Media Space in Post-Genocide Rwanda?C. Kayumba and J.-P. Kimonyo. Promoting Independent Media Organizations in El Salvador?Anne Germain Lefevre. Building a Community Radio Network in Afghanistan?K. Kumar. Conclusion. Lessons and Recommendations?J. de Zeeuw.

War and Democratization

War and Democratization
Author: Wolfgang Merkel
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 264
Release: 2013-09-13
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1317990358

Promotion of democracy in post-war and post-conflict societies became a topic during the 1990s. The book deals with the legality, legitimacy and effectiveness of military interventions where the international community of states not only felt impelled to engage in military humanitarian or peace-building missions but also in long-term state- and democracy-building. External actors particularly engaged in four modes, namely enforcing democratization by enduring post-war occupation (mode 1); restoring an elected government by military intervention (mode 2); intervening in on-going massacres and civil war with military forces (‘humanitarian intervention’) and thereby curbing the national sovereignty of those countries (mode 3) and forcing democracy on rogue states by ‘democratic intervention’, in other words democracy through war (mode 4). The contributions link juridical and philosophical reflections on just war ad bellum with empirical evidence post bellum in Afghanistan, Georgia, Serbia, Croatia, Cambodia and East Timor. All empirical analyses stress the complexity and difficulties to establish democracy in post-conflict societies driven or monitored by external actors. Such an endeavour implies a comprehensive agenda of political, social, and economic methods of peace-building. However, if external actors withdraw before the roots of democracy are deep enough and before democratic institutions are strong enough to stand alone, then the entire endeavour may fail. This book was originally published as a special issue of Democratization.