Peacebuilding
Definition
Peacebuilding
Peacebuilding is about developing positive peace to reduce the chances of future conflict. It includes efforts at all stages, from stopping war to rebuilding society.
Ramsbotham’s Hourglass Model
- Visualises how conflict escalates and de-escalates.
- Top bulb: Conflict escalation → difference → contradiction → polarization → violence → war.
- Neck: Peak of conflict (decision point – escalate or resolve).
- Bottom bulb: De-escalation → ceasefire → agreement → normalization → reconciliation.
- Associated actions:
- Conflict transformation → addressing root causes, changing attitudes.
- Conflict settlement → short-term fixes (e.g., ceasefires).
- Conflict containment → limit violence.
Analogy
- Think of an hourglass as a conflict timeline.
- The sand at the top is tension building up (conflict escalation), the neck is the crisis point (war/peak violence), and the bottom is efforts to clean up the mess and prevent it from happening again (de-escalation and peacebuilding).
Theory of Knowledge
- To what extent does how we frame the stages of conflict influence our understanding of peace and violence?
Core Elements of Peacebuilding
1. De-escalation
- Involves peacemaking, peacekeeping, and DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration).
- Starts once immediate violence stops and supports long-term transformation.
Case study
Colombia Peace Deal (2016)
- The Colombian government signed a ceasefire and peace agreement with the FARC guerrilla group after decades of armed conflict.
- Included Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) of fighters, monitored by the UN.
- Marked a shift from active violence to structured peace talks and reconciliation.
2. Rebuilding Infrastructure / Reforming Institutions
- Reconstructs physical, social, economic, and political structures.
- Prevents recurrence by tackling root causes (e.g., inequality, injustice, weak institutions).
Case study
Rwanda Post-Genocide Reconstruction
- After the 1994 genocide, Rwanda focused on rebuilding schools, hospitals, and roads.
- Major reforms in justice, governance, and education, including the creation of Gacaca courts to address backlog of genocide cases.
- Helped restore state functions and reduce long-term conflict risk
3. Addressing Injustices
- Includes criminal tribunals and truth commissions.
- Goes beyond punishment to healing (e.g., truth-telling, reparations, forgiveness).
Case study
South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (1995–2002)
- Investigated apartheid-era human rights abuses.
- Provided victims a platform to tell their stories; perpetrators could seek amnesty for full disclosure.
- Focused on truth-telling, healing, and national reconciliation over retributive justice.
International Legal Mechanisms
1. International Criminal Tribunals
- Prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity (e.g., ICTY, ICTR, Sierra Leone).
- Functions: justice, deterrence, documentation, accountability.
- Criticisms: bias (especially against African leaders), cost, political influence.
Case study
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
- Established in 1994 by the UN after the Rwandan Genocide.
- Prosecuted key figures for genocide and crimes against humanity, including government officials and media leaders who incited violence.
- Achieved some accountability but faced criticism for high costs and long trials.
2. International Criminal Court (ICC)
- Tries grave crimes, limited to Rome Statute member states.
- Relies on state cooperation.
- Criticised for low conviction rates, perceived bias, and limited jurisdiction.
Case study
Thomas Lubanga (DR Congo)
- First conviction by the ICC in 2012.
- Lubanga was found guilty of recruiting and using child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Set a legal precedent, but ICC has been criticised for focusing too heavily on Africa and relying on state cooperation.
3. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
- UN’s principal judicial body.
- Settles disputes between states.
Case study
Gambia v. Myanmar (2020–ongoing)
- Gambia brought a case against Myanmar at the ICJ for allegedly committing genocide against the Rohingya.
- The ICJ issued provisional measures ordering Myanmar to protect the Rohingya population.
- Highlights the ICJ’s role in state-to-state accountability.
Common Mistake
- Confusing the ICC with the ICJ
- ICC prosecutes individuals for crimes
- ICJ settles disputes between states.
Restorative Justice
- Focuses on healing, not punishment.
- Involves community dialogue, rebuilding trust.
- Based on five guiding questions:
- Who was hurt?
- What are their needs?
- Who is responsible?
- Who else is affected?
- What is the right way to make things right?
Case study
New Zealand’s Youth Justice System
- Young offenders (14–17) attend Family Group Conferences (FGCs) instead of court. Offenders, victims, families, and social workers meet to discuss the harm caused and agree on a plan for reparation (e.g. apology, community service).
- Focus: Accountability, healing, reintegration
Outcome: Lower reoffending, victim satisfaction, stronger community ties
Common Mistake
- Believing legal justice alone is sufficient
- Remember that emotional healing and social repair are equally crucial.
Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs)
- Investigate past injustices and promote healing.
- Emphasize truth-telling, recommendations, and reconciliation.
Case study
The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
- Established in 1995 after apartheid, South Africa’s TRC aimed to reveal the truth about human rights abuses and promote national healing.
- Led by Desmond Tutu, the TRC allowed victims to testify and perpetrators to seek amnesty if they fully disclosed politically motivated crimes.
- Key features:
- Fact-Finding: Collected over 21,000 statements, with public hearings exposing systemic violence.
- Recommendations: Final report proposed reparations, legal reforms, and memorials.
- Timebound: Operated from 1995–2002, producing a comprehensive report on apartheid-era abuses.
- The TRC is seen as a model of restorative justice, prioritizing truth and reconciliation over punishment to rebuild a divided society.
Self review
- What is peacebuilding, and how does it differ from peacemaking and peacekeeping?
- How does Ramsbotham’s hourglass model explain the stages of conflict escalation and resolution?
- What are the main goals and limitations of international criminal tribunals, the ICC, and the ICJ in peacebuilding?
