The post-Cold War change in political priorities brings with itself incompatibilities. Market competition and free trade have increased prosperity for some nations and groups but left others behind. Peace and human rights do not always go hand in hand. Democratisation and increased popular participation in government can lead to minority rights abuses. Economic development and democratisation cannot always be achieved simultaneously; in the long run, these values may be reconcilable, but in the short run, they can generate tensions. Conflicts around the world have not declined, despite the end of the Cold War. From 1989 through 1993, a total of 90 large and small-armed conflicts occurred. At any given time, the number of violent conflicts fluctuates around 50 each year. That′s why in the post cold-war era, it has become more important than ever that the three actors in conflict prevention and resolution - governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and intergovernmental organisations - went hand in hand. The crucial lesson learned from the previous peace processes had been that there could be no peace without the participation and the will of the parties and the populations involved, for which participation of civil society was fundamental.
Table of Contents
1. Conflict: issues and types, reasons and causes
1.1. Conflict issues
1.2. Conflict types
1.3. Reasons of national conflicts broken out after the Cold War
1.4. Socio-economic and political causes of national conflicts
2. Procedures for resolving national conflicts
2.1. Negotiations
2.2. Mediation
2.3. Adjudication and arbitration
3. Organisations for resolving national conflicts: peace by piece
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the nature, origins, and resolution mechanisms of national and intra-state conflicts in the post-Cold War era. It explores how governments, non-governmental organizations, and international bodies collaborate to address the challenges posed by ethnic tensions, socio-economic disparities, and political instability.
- Theoretical definitions of conflict and its diverse classifications
- Root causes of post-Cold War national and ethnic conflicts
- Primary procedures for conflict resolution, including negotiation and mediation
- The evolving role of civil society and NGOs in peacebuilding processes
- The systemic impact of socio-economic factors on state stability
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Conflict issues
According to K.J.Holsti, we can denote the following 6 types of the conflicts:
1. Limited territorial conflicts, where there are incompatible positions with reference to possession of a specific piece of territory or to rights enjoyed by one state in such as Israel's conquest of the Golan Heights and the Sinai peninsula in 1967, is fairly common. The issue of sovereignty over ethnic minorities is often related to the claim by one state to control territory held by another and, therefore, will also be classifies under the limited territorial conflict. Recent examples include a limited Ugandan invasion of Tanzania in 1978 to fulfil; a territorial claim; Somalia's 1978 "war of liberation" in the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, claimed on historical grounds and on the fact that the region was populated by ethnic Somalis; and the Iraqi attack on Iran in 1980, with the objective of establishing full Iraqi authority over the commercially and strategically important Shatt-al-Arab waterway dividing the two countries.
2. Conflicts concerned primarily with the composition of a government. These types of conflict often contain strong ideological overtones; the purpose is to topple one regime and install in its place a government more favourably disposed to the interests of the intervening party. Examples would include the American efforts to "destabilise" the socialist Allende regime in Chile, 1970-1973; the Warsaw Pact's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 to restore to authority the orthodox communists who had been replaced by the social reformers led by Alexander Dubcek; and Tanzania's invasion of Uganda in 1979 to drive out Idi Amin, whose tyrannical regime had been denounced throughout the world as genocide.
Summary of Chapters
1. Conflict: issues and types, reasons and causes: This chapter categorizes various forms of conflict and analyzes the socio-economic and political drivers that trigger violence, particularly after the Cold War.
2. Procedures for resolving national conflicts: This section outlines the formal mechanisms available for conflict resolution, specifically focusing on negotiations, mediation, and legal adjudication.
3. Organisations for resolving national conflicts: peace by piece: This chapter evaluates the collaborative efforts of states and non-state actors, emphasizing the importance of civil society participation in achieving sustainable peace.
Keywords
Conflict Resolution, Mediation, Negotiation, Ethno-political Conflict, Civil Society, Human Rights, Peacebuilding, Cold War, Statehood, Sovereignty, Diplomacy, Ethnic Minorities, United Nations, NGO, Political Stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the causes of national and intra-state conflicts and the various mechanisms, both state-led and civil-society-driven, used to resolve them.
What are the central thematic areas covered?
Key themes include the typology of conflicts, the historical causes of post-Cold War ethnic strife, and the procedural frameworks for peace, such as mediation and adjudication.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The primary goal is to understand the complexity of modern conflicts and demonstrate that sustainable peace requires the integration of efforts between governments, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study utilizes a theoretical framework based on political science literature, complemented by case analysis of historical conflicts and an empirical review of conflict issue fields.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the definition and classification of conflicts, reasons for conflict emergence post-Cold War, formal resolution procedures, and the strategic importance of multi-actor involvement in peacebuilding.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as conflict resolution, ethnic conflict, mediation, civil society, and peacebuilding strategies.
How does the author categorize conflicts involving government composition?
The author identifies these as conflicts driven by ideological overtones, where the intervening party seeks to topple an existing regime and install a government favorable to its own interests.
What role does civil society play in peacebuilding according to the author?
Civil society is presented as a fundamental force that complements state actors, particularly in states on the verge of collapse, by providing local insights and raising moral stakes in the peace process.
- Quote paper
- Nataliya Gudz (Author), 2004, National Conflicts: Prevention, Management and Resolution, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/32692
