This paper is set out to give a possible account of why so many peace processes concerning intra-state ethnic conflicts have produced „no war, no peace“ situations, hence states of negative peace where risks for resumed fightings are high, rather than an actual resolution fostering mutual understanding and recognition involving society at large.
The first section of this assignment is designed to point out the necessity to resolve conflicts by peaceful means as well as of conflict transformation and, thereby, deals with the wide-spread assumption first introduced by Zartman that conflicts require a “ripe moment” as the ideal entry point for eg. mediators to reach a peace agreement among the belligerents which I have argued only leads to a peace settlement and thus, more often to a flawed peace than to the conflict's resolution.
John Paul Lederach's approach of cultivating peace and Ramsbotham's ideas of conflict transformation both stressing the cruciality of a long-term approach to peace processes have underlined my argumentation. The second part then explores the fundamentals of the social psychological aspects of ethnic conflicts reflected upon so well by Herbert Kelman who builds upon Burton's research concerning the dimension of deep rooted conflicts - as ethical conflicts usually can be described! - emphasising human needs and fears over interests, since they can be seen as the root cause for the inadequacy of Zartman's theory of the “ripe moment”.
Moreover, the concept of work-shops designed by Kelman as a feature of track II diplomacy in conflict resolution shall serve as a successful example for an alternative in a long-term approach to peace processes. Altogether, it is to notice that the paper is based on the constructivist assumption of the ethnic concept in contrast to the primordialist thought. Furthermore, Zartman's “ripe moment”, should not in anyway be discredited in its contribution to conflict resolution as it can serve as a valuable turning point.
However, it should not be seen as the solution but rather as an initial/accompanying step in a long-term process that is essential for a sustainable peace. Finally, when taking these considerations in mind the core element needed in addition for a successful peace process is political and societal will in order to really overcome “no war, no peace” situations on the long-term!
At a glance
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. On the Importance of a long-term Approach to Peace Processes
2.1 On the Inadequacies of Zartman's „Ripe Moment“
3. The Social Psychological Dimensions of Ethnic Conflicts
4. Conclusion
Objective & Topics
This paper explores why numerous peace processes concerning intra-state ethnic conflicts result in unstable "no war, no peace" states, critically evaluating Zartman's "ripe moment" theory and advocating for a comprehensive, long-term approach centered on social psychological dimensions and conflict transformation.
- Evaluation of Zartman's "ripe moment" theory and its limitations
- Role of long-term conflict transformation and sustainable peace processes
- Social psychological dimensions of ethnic conflicts, including human needs and fears
- Constructivist views on ethnic identity versus primordialist assumptions
- Track II diplomacy and interactive problem-solving workshops as practical tools
Excerpt from the Book
On the Inadequacies of Zartman's „Ripe Moment“
Intra-state ethnic conflicts reaching an international dimension can be considered a phenomenon of the 20th as well as 21st century often threatening the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN Charter, therefore, stresses decisively in Chapter VI the importance of pacific settlements of disputes whereby Article 33(1) points out that “The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.”
Conflict resolution to solve ethical conflicts has taken many forms so far but has most often lead to what we would describe as a flawed peace. Roger Mac Ginty argues that these “no war, no peace” situations occur in three forms: 1. where “[...] a violent conflict has largely been contained in a geographic region of a larger state” (eg. the “two Ugandas”), 2. “[...] where a peace accord has been reached between the main antagonists in a civill war but the implementation of the accord becomes stalled and fails to move towards a truly transformative peace”, 3. where “[...] a peace process becomes established through a ceasefire and a routine of inter-group meetings.”
Chapter Summary
Introduction: Outlines the purpose of the paper, introducing the critique of Zartman's "ripe moment" and highlighting the relevance of social psychological factors and long-term peace processes.
On the Importance of a long-term Approach to Peace Processes: Analyzes the shortcomings of quick-fix settlements and examines concepts from Lederach, Ramsbotham, and Burton regarding structural and actor transformations.
The Social Psychological Dimensions of Ethnic Conflicts: Explores constructivist perspectives on ethnic identity, Burton's distinction between needs and interests, and Kelman's interactive problem-solving workshops.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the main arguments, reinforcing that sustainable peace requires addressing deep-rooted human needs and fostering genuine societal transformation rather than relying on temporary ceasefire agreements.
Keywords
Ethnic conflicts, peace processes, Zartman, ripe moment, conflict transformation, social psychology, human needs, identity, Track II diplomacy, problem-solving workshops, sustainable peace
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines why intra-state ethnic conflicts frequently result in persistent "no war, no peace" conditions and argues for the necessity of long-term conflict transformation strategies.
What are the primary thematic focus areas?
Key focus areas include the critique of Zartman's "ripe moment" theory, the social psychological dimensions of ethnic conflicts, constructivist views on ethnic identity, and interactive problem-solving workshops.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that conventional peace settlements relying on a "ripe moment" are insufficient without addressing underlying human needs and long-term structural changes.
Which academic methods and theoretical frameworks are applied?
The author applies a theoretical and literature-based analysis, contrasting constructivist and primordialist views and integrating theories from Zartman, Lederach, Burton, and Kelman.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the limitations of the "ripe moment" model, generic conflict transformers, primordialist versus constructivist perspectives on ethnicity, ontological needs, and Kelman's workshop concept.
Which keywords characterize the publication?
Keywords include ethnic conflicts, peace processes, ripe moment, conflict transformation, social psychology, human needs, identity, and Track II diplomacy.
Why does Zartman's "ripe moment" theory often lead to flawed peace?
The paper argues that the "ripe moment" focuses narrowly on power dynamics and the mediator as an actor, often resulting in superficial ceasefires rather than genuine societal transformation.
How do ontological needs influence ethnic conflicts?
Ontological needs such as security and identity are non-negotiable; when ignored or translated into bargaining interests, they perpetuate deep-rooted conflicts.
What role do interactive problem-solving workshops play in conflict resolution?
Workshops function as a microcosm for direct interaction among private citizens, facilitating actor and structural transformations and fostering win-win scenarios.
