| |
Contributions from
the Column
Studies and reports
Ratings agencies
Global Corruption Report
Peace cannot be compelled
"The principle of non-intervention still prevails in Africa"
Afghanistan: no development without government and civil society
Genetically modified food aid for Africa?
Roads to combat hunger
Can research advise politics?
03/2003
|
|
Germany's role in international conflict resolution
Peace cannot be compelled
When 14 years ago German Federal Border Guards were deployed as UN 'blue helmets' in Namibia, it was a small input to the independence of the former Imperial German colony. And when in 1992 the German armed forces took part in a UN peacekeeping mission for the first time by stationing a medical battalion in Cambodia, it was a clear step towards Germany's greater engagement in such international operations. In both countries, the 'blue helmet' deployments marked the end of decades-long civil wars and laid the foundation for elections and civil conflict resolution. What is still uncertain is the outcome of two other international missions in which Germany is participating: in the Balkans, and especially in Afghanistan.
Experts in the fields of peace work and development cooperation gathered at a conference held by the Federal Academy for Security Policy, in Bonn, February 11-12, to assess the potential of military and civil instruments in conflict resolution. The stages of Germany's engagement in UN missions – in Namibia, Cambodia and the Balkans – were used as case studies. The impact of international conflict resolution and development cooperation was evaluated on the basis of the later political developments in these operational areas.
The bottom line was found to be surprisingly good. In Namibia and Cambodia, the opposing sides had used the opportunities of civil conflict resolution. The former warring parties now argued out their conflicts in Parliament. What were the reasons for this change? The general opinion at the conference was that it could be explained neither by peacekeeping alone nor by follow-up Technical Cooperation. The participants were unanimous that internal actors and the dynamics of their connections were above all responsible for the success or failure of peace missions. They said post-conflict peace-building instruments offered from outside formed only a framework; the donors could not compel peace. That was clear, for instance, in the Balkans, where the situation was still far from stable. Some participants said they believed it would take decades until peace in the Balkans no longer had to be secured from outside.
The conference's review of the successful examples of conflict resolution with German participation encourages staying power in working for peace in the Balkans and Afghanistan and other crisis regions in the future.
Colin Gleichmann
|
