Suchergebnisse

This essay analyzes some of the political, economic, & social challenges of East Timor's transition to independence. It scrutinizes the ethical dimensions of building peace in a territory devastated by the combined effect of Indonesia's colonial occupation & the violent militia attacks of Sept 1999. The most difficult task ahead does not lie in the physical rebuilding of the territory -- gargantuan as it may be -- but in the more intricate & long-term rehabilitation of a traumatized society. The latter involves competing Timorese factions as well as a range of international actors, including the United Nations Transitional Authority, foreign governments, business institutions, & various multilateral & bilateral donors, each having their own organizational leitmotifs & policy priorities. If not managed carefully, the reconstruction process could further exacerbate existing societal tensions & complicate the search for peace & reconciliation. The essay identifies a number of crucial components necessary to counter such risks, including the need to promote popular participation in the rebuilding process. Without the legitimacy created by strong community involvement & grassroots participation in decision making, the task of national reconstruction may well become overwhelmed by conflict. 41 References. Adapted from the source document.

In recent literature on international peacekeeping and peacebuilding interventions, attention has been drawn increasingly to local level dynamics and the reciprocal relationships with national conflict dynamics. This article places local social structures and networks at the centre of analysis and action, while unpacking the category of the 'external actor'. Through a case study of UN civilian peacekeeping support to local peacebuilding in South Sudan, it argues that there are important efforts being made to contextualise peacebuilding activities for local circumstances, notwithstanding significant institutional obstacles limiting the impact of these efforts. It also argues for further empirical scrutiny of if and how international peacebuilders are engaging with the local dynamics of conflict, seeking to improve the understanding of the heterogeneity of and interaction between actors at these levels.

Examines UN missions which combine both civilian and military responsibilities that engage a variety of agencies within the UN system; focus on El Salvador.