What is reconciliation? Definitions, scope,
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slide2. What is reconciliation? Definitions, scope, actors, theoretical debates and the role of international organizations Reconciliation in the post-conflict environment in the Western Balkans as a precondition for the efficient implementation of the EU enlargement policy
Dr. Ružica Jakešević<br>
slide3. Lecture overview Introduction – reconciliation as a proces/goal
Definitions of reconciliation
Aspects of reconciliation
Actors and processes in reconciliation<br>
slide4. Introduction Reconciliation aims at creating durable peace
Reconciliation as a process – takes place over a period of time
Reconciliation as a goal – outcome to be reached
Reconciliation as part of conflict resolution – overcoming the structural injustices
Life cycle of a conflict: difference, contradiction, polarisation, violence, war, ceasefire, agreement, normalisation, reconciliation (Ramsbotham et.al)<br>
slide5. Definitions of reconciliation 1 Reconciliation is:
„...restoring broken relationships and learning to live non-violently with radical differences” (Ramsbotham, Woodhouse, Miall, 2011)
„…an overarching, inclusive process, including the key instruments of justice, truth, reparation and so on, by which a society moves from a divided past to a shared future” (IDEA, 2003: 4)
„…the process of relationship (re)building in a post-conflict setting” (Roter, 2015: 140)
„…societal process that involves mutual acknowledgment of past suffering and the changing of destructive attitudes and behaviour into constructive relationships toward sustainable peace” (Brouneus, 2003: 3)<br>
slide6. Definitions of reconciliation 2 „... part of a forgiveness process characterized by truth telling, redefinition of the identity of the former belligerents, partial justice, and a call for a new relationship” (Long and Brecke)
Reconciliation as the process that focuses on psychological elements (Bar-Tal and Bennink)
Reconciliation consists of „stable peace and an amicable atmosphere—that cover both intergovernmental and people-to-people relationships” (He)
“…intellectual process, which can be enhanced through economic and other contacts, but which has to be conceptualized by intellectuals in a completely free discussion” (Goldstein)
Reconciliation „as a focus and a locus” (Lederach):
Focus – is about building relationships
Locus – as a place/space of encounter<br>
slide7. Aspects of reconciliation 1 Four aspects of reconciliation (Kreisberg):
Truth
Justice
Regard
Security
Heo – distinction between ideal reconciliation and reconciliation in practice
Three dimensions of ideal (inter-state) reconciliation: 1. international; 2. regional; 3. domestic
Two foundations of democracy in post-conflict environment/both important for reconciliation (IDEA):
Fair structures and procedures
Working relationships<br>
slide8. Aspects of reconciliation 2 Reconciliation:
means by which a society or community transitions from a divided past to a shared future;
involves the rebuilding of trust and social relationships;
a long-term process, sometimes over generations;
cannot be imposed, only chosen;
operates across at least five different social strata:
a. Political society
b. Institutional
c. Community
d. Interpersonal
e. Individual (Keyes, 2019: 7).<br>
slide9. Actors and processes in reconciliation Multiple actors from domestic and international environment (local
Government and non-government actors
Individuals and groups
International organizations and states (facilitators, donors)
Actors at three levels:
Top level – natonal/international criminal tribunals; respected leadres, prominent individuals,
Middle-range – media, truth commissions
Grassroots – people, whole population<br>
slide10. Scope of reconciliation Trauma healing
Truth telling
Reparations to victims
Forgiveness
Transitional justice
Trust & dialogue
Eliminating the use ov violence
Shared vision of society 4 meanings of reconciliation:
Accepting the status quo
Correlating accounts
Bridging opposites
Reconstituting relations (Ramsbotham et al)
3 stages of reconciliation:
Non-violent coexistence instead of fear
Confidence and trust
Towards empathy (Bloomfield)<br>
slide11. Theoretical debates on reconciliation Conflict resolution and conflict transformation – context for reconciliation
Conflict resolution – ending conflicts in a relatively short timeframe
Conflict transformation – transforming conflict into something desired in longer timeframe
J.P.Lederach – conflict transformation is a way of looking as well as seeing
Reconciliation in post-conflict societies:
long-term
Deep
Broad
Unique<br>
slide12. Reconciliation and international organizations 1 International organizations, alliances, integrations – grounds for reconciling enmities between states
European project – peacebuilding project – example of „security community“ (K. Deutsch)
UN – focus on international peace and security / Chapter VI (pacific settlement of disputes) – conflict prevention (+ roles of Secretary General and UNSC)
Political missions - good offices, conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding
An agenda for peace (1992) – preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding
Peacebuilding commission (2005)
OSCE – confidence-building measures as both preventive and reactive
- Political/economic/environmental/cultral CBMs<br>
slide13. Reconciliation and international organizations 2 EU – perceived as a peacebuilding project itself and security community
External action and resources vital for reconciliation
CFSP and CSDP – civilian and military mission
Enlargement policy + Neighbourhood policy
Emphasis on intra- and interstate reconciliation in Western Balkans
4 key challenges for EU conflcit prevention and peacebuilding:
Early warning-response gap
Cooperation with other international partners
Civil-military coordination
Local ownership<br>
slide14. Reconciliation in the Western Balkans Heavy involvement of international actors in all phases of the conflicts in 2 distinctive periods:
1991-1999 – failed preventive diplomacy/conflict management and resolution/negative peace
2000 onwards – peacebuliding / civilian missions / positive peace building
Ramsbotham/Woodhouse/Miall’s “hourglass model” of conflict: difference, contradiction, polarisation, violence, war, ceasefire, agreement, normalisation, reconciliation
Limited capacities of external actors at the beginning of the crisis
Lessons learned in the Western Balkans – development of new instruments and capabilities
UN – peacekeeping reform
EU – ESDP/CFSP development
NATO – first out-of-area operations<br>
slide15. Conclusion Reconciliation:
tackled from different aspects
several useful definitions
academics, practitioners, organization – differences in conceptualization of reconciliation
intra- and interstate dimension of reconciliation
Multitude of actors across different levels<br>
slide16. Reading materials 1 Bloomfield, D. 2016. Rehabilitating reconciliation. Accord insight– an international review of peace initiatives. August 2016. https://www.c-r.org/accord/reconciliation-and-peace-processes/expert-opinion-rehabilitating-reconciliation
Bloomfield, D., Barnes, T., Huyse, L. 2003. Reconciliation after violent conflict – a handbook. IDEA. https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/reconciliation-after-violent-conflict-handbook
Brahm, E. 2003. Peacebuilding and reconciliation stage. https://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/peacebuilding_reconciliation
Brouneus, K. 2003. Reconciliation – Theory and Practice for Development Cooperation. SIDA. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257251588_Reconciliation_Theory_and_Practice_for_Development_Cooperation
Cambridge dictionary. 2021. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/reconcile (15. 01. 2021.)
DPPA. 2019. The UN’s Special Political Missions - A Key Part of Peace and Security Reform. https://dppa-ps.atavist.com/the-uns-special-political-missions
EEAS. 2021. Common Security and defence Policy-structures, instruments, agencies. https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/5392/common-security-and-defence-policy-csdp-structure-instruments-agencies_en
EEAS. 2021a. Conflict Prevention, Peace building and Mediation. https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/conflict-prevention-peace-building-and-mediation/426/conflict-prevention-peace-building-and-mediation_en
European Union. 2019. Reconciliation in the Western Balkans – The difficulty of emulating an EU model. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)637964
Goldstein, I. 1998. Srpsko-hrvatsko pomirenje u historiografiji – pretpostavka ili posljedica političkog pomirenja? RADOVI – Zavod za hrvatsku povijest. Vol. 31, 181-191.
Heo, Seunghoon Emilia. 2012. An Ideal Type of Interstate reconciliation. In Heo, S.E. Reconciling Enemy States in Europe and Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, London.
IDEA. 2003. Reconciliation after Violent Conflict – Policy summary. Stockholm. https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/chapters/reconciliation-after-violent-conflict/reconciliation-after-violent-conflict-policy-summary.pdf
Jakešević, R. 2019. Security Community Building in the Western Balkans – Wishful Thinking or an Inevitable Future? Teorija in praksa 56 (1): 30-52.
Jakešević, R. 2018. Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in the Western Balkans – the Role of External Actors. Teorija in praksa 55(1): 99-122.
Juncos, A. E., Blockmans, S. 2018. The EU’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding: four key challenges, Global Affairs, 4:2-3, 131-140. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23340460.2018.1502619?needAccess=true
Keyes, S. 2019. Mapping on Approaches to Reconciliation. The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.
Kmeč, V. 2015. The EU and Peacebuilding in CSDP Missions and Operations: Formulating Peacebuilding Policies. https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2015/Kmec%20The%20EU%20and%20Peacebuilding.pdf
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2021. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile (15. 02. 2021.)<br>
slide17. Reading materials 2 Nguyen Vo, Dan Sinh. 2008. Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation. https://www.beyondintractability.org/casestudy/vo-reconciliation
Opiłowska, E. 2017. Reconciliation through Europeanization: Secondary foreign policy in the German–Polish borderlands, Regional & Federal Studies, 27:3, 283-304. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13597566.2017.1343719?journalCode=frfs20
OSCE. 2011. Strengthening Local Ownership of Non-Military Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs). https://www.osce.org/cpc/77263
Ramsbotham, O., Woodhouse, T. and H. Miall. 2011. Contemporary Conflict Resolution. Third edition. Polity, Cambridge.
Roter, P. 2015. International-local Linkages in Multistakeholder Partnerships Involved in Reconciliation, Inter-communal Bridgebuilding and Confidence-building. Croatian International Relations Review. XXI(72): 139-165.
UN.org. 2021. Peacebuilding. https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/commission/mandate
UN.org. 2019. Peacebuilding commission. https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/repertoire/peacebuilding-commission
UN. 2021. UN Charter. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter
UN. 2013. United nations political missions. https://peaceoperationsreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/united_nations_report_secretary_general.pdf
UN. 2012. Building Just Societies: Reconciliation in Transitional Settings. https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/sites/www.un.org.peacebuilding/files/documents/12-58492_feb13.pdf (15.02.2021.)
UN. 1992. An Agenda for Peace. https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/files/A_47_277.pdf
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 2018. Overall policy matters pertaining to special political missions. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1642291?ln=en
Wu, C., Yang, F. 2016. Reconciliation and Peace Building in International Relations: An Empirical Analysis of Five Cases. Chinese Political Science Review. 1:645-669. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41111-016-0046-7<br>
Dr. Ružica Jakešević<br>
slide3. Lecture overview Introduction – reconciliation as a proces/goal
Definitions of reconciliation
Aspects of reconciliation
Actors and processes in reconciliation<br>
slide4. Introduction Reconciliation aims at creating durable peace
Reconciliation as a process – takes place over a period of time
Reconciliation as a goal – outcome to be reached
Reconciliation as part of conflict resolution – overcoming the structural injustices
Life cycle of a conflict: difference, contradiction, polarisation, violence, war, ceasefire, agreement, normalisation, reconciliation (Ramsbotham et.al)<br>
slide5. Definitions of reconciliation 1 Reconciliation is:
„...restoring broken relationships and learning to live non-violently with radical differences” (Ramsbotham, Woodhouse, Miall, 2011)
„…an overarching, inclusive process, including the key instruments of justice, truth, reparation and so on, by which a society moves from a divided past to a shared future” (IDEA, 2003: 4)
„…the process of relationship (re)building in a post-conflict setting” (Roter, 2015: 140)
„…societal process that involves mutual acknowledgment of past suffering and the changing of destructive attitudes and behaviour into constructive relationships toward sustainable peace” (Brouneus, 2003: 3)<br>
slide6. Definitions of reconciliation 2 „... part of a forgiveness process characterized by truth telling, redefinition of the identity of the former belligerents, partial justice, and a call for a new relationship” (Long and Brecke)
Reconciliation as the process that focuses on psychological elements (Bar-Tal and Bennink)
Reconciliation consists of „stable peace and an amicable atmosphere—that cover both intergovernmental and people-to-people relationships” (He)
“…intellectual process, which can be enhanced through economic and other contacts, but which has to be conceptualized by intellectuals in a completely free discussion” (Goldstein)
Reconciliation „as a focus and a locus” (Lederach):
Focus – is about building relationships
Locus – as a place/space of encounter<br>
slide7. Aspects of reconciliation 1 Four aspects of reconciliation (Kreisberg):
Truth
Justice
Regard
Security
Heo – distinction between ideal reconciliation and reconciliation in practice
Three dimensions of ideal (inter-state) reconciliation: 1. international; 2. regional; 3. domestic
Two foundations of democracy in post-conflict environment/both important for reconciliation (IDEA):
Fair structures and procedures
Working relationships<br>
slide8. Aspects of reconciliation 2 Reconciliation:
means by which a society or community transitions from a divided past to a shared future;
involves the rebuilding of trust and social relationships;
a long-term process, sometimes over generations;
cannot be imposed, only chosen;
operates across at least five different social strata:
a. Political society
b. Institutional
c. Community
d. Interpersonal
e. Individual (Keyes, 2019: 7).<br>
slide9. Actors and processes in reconciliation Multiple actors from domestic and international environment (local
Government and non-government actors
Individuals and groups
International organizations and states (facilitators, donors)
Actors at three levels:
Top level – natonal/international criminal tribunals; respected leadres, prominent individuals,
Middle-range – media, truth commissions
Grassroots – people, whole population<br>
slide10. Scope of reconciliation Trauma healing
Truth telling
Reparations to victims
Forgiveness
Transitional justice
Trust & dialogue
Eliminating the use ov violence
Shared vision of society 4 meanings of reconciliation:
Accepting the status quo
Correlating accounts
Bridging opposites
Reconstituting relations (Ramsbotham et al)
3 stages of reconciliation:
Non-violent coexistence instead of fear
Confidence and trust
Towards empathy (Bloomfield)<br>
slide11. Theoretical debates on reconciliation Conflict resolution and conflict transformation – context for reconciliation
Conflict resolution – ending conflicts in a relatively short timeframe
Conflict transformation – transforming conflict into something desired in longer timeframe
J.P.Lederach – conflict transformation is a way of looking as well as seeing
Reconciliation in post-conflict societies:
long-term
Deep
Broad
Unique<br>
slide12. Reconciliation and international organizations 1 International organizations, alliances, integrations – grounds for reconciling enmities between states
European project – peacebuilding project – example of „security community“ (K. Deutsch)
UN – focus on international peace and security / Chapter VI (pacific settlement of disputes) – conflict prevention (+ roles of Secretary General and UNSC)
Political missions - good offices, conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding
An agenda for peace (1992) – preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping, post-conflict peacebuilding
Peacebuilding commission (2005)
OSCE – confidence-building measures as both preventive and reactive
- Political/economic/environmental/cultral CBMs<br>
slide13. Reconciliation and international organizations 2 EU – perceived as a peacebuilding project itself and security community
External action and resources vital for reconciliation
CFSP and CSDP – civilian and military mission
Enlargement policy + Neighbourhood policy
Emphasis on intra- and interstate reconciliation in Western Balkans
4 key challenges for EU conflcit prevention and peacebuilding:
Early warning-response gap
Cooperation with other international partners
Civil-military coordination
Local ownership<br>
slide14. Reconciliation in the Western Balkans Heavy involvement of international actors in all phases of the conflicts in 2 distinctive periods:
1991-1999 – failed preventive diplomacy/conflict management and resolution/negative peace
2000 onwards – peacebuliding / civilian missions / positive peace building
Ramsbotham/Woodhouse/Miall’s “hourglass model” of conflict: difference, contradiction, polarisation, violence, war, ceasefire, agreement, normalisation, reconciliation
Limited capacities of external actors at the beginning of the crisis
Lessons learned in the Western Balkans – development of new instruments and capabilities
UN – peacekeeping reform
EU – ESDP/CFSP development
NATO – first out-of-area operations<br>
slide15. Conclusion Reconciliation:
tackled from different aspects
several useful definitions
academics, practitioners, organization – differences in conceptualization of reconciliation
intra- and interstate dimension of reconciliation
Multitude of actors across different levels<br>
slide16. Reading materials 1 Bloomfield, D. 2016. Rehabilitating reconciliation. Accord insight– an international review of peace initiatives. August 2016. https://www.c-r.org/accord/reconciliation-and-peace-processes/expert-opinion-rehabilitating-reconciliation
Bloomfield, D., Barnes, T., Huyse, L. 2003. Reconciliation after violent conflict – a handbook. IDEA. https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/reconciliation-after-violent-conflict-handbook
Brahm, E. 2003. Peacebuilding and reconciliation stage. https://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/peacebuilding_reconciliation
Brouneus, K. 2003. Reconciliation – Theory and Practice for Development Cooperation. SIDA. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257251588_Reconciliation_Theory_and_Practice_for_Development_Cooperation
Cambridge dictionary. 2021. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/reconcile (15. 01. 2021.)
DPPA. 2019. The UN’s Special Political Missions - A Key Part of Peace and Security Reform. https://dppa-ps.atavist.com/the-uns-special-political-missions
EEAS. 2021. Common Security and defence Policy-structures, instruments, agencies. https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/5392/common-security-and-defence-policy-csdp-structure-instruments-agencies_en
EEAS. 2021a. Conflict Prevention, Peace building and Mediation. https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/conflict-prevention-peace-building-and-mediation/426/conflict-prevention-peace-building-and-mediation_en
European Union. 2019. Reconciliation in the Western Balkans – The difficulty of emulating an EU model. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)637964
Goldstein, I. 1998. Srpsko-hrvatsko pomirenje u historiografiji – pretpostavka ili posljedica političkog pomirenja? RADOVI – Zavod za hrvatsku povijest. Vol. 31, 181-191.
Heo, Seunghoon Emilia. 2012. An Ideal Type of Interstate reconciliation. In Heo, S.E. Reconciling Enemy States in Europe and Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, London.
IDEA. 2003. Reconciliation after Violent Conflict – Policy summary. Stockholm. https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/chapters/reconciliation-after-violent-conflict/reconciliation-after-violent-conflict-policy-summary.pdf
Jakešević, R. 2019. Security Community Building in the Western Balkans – Wishful Thinking or an Inevitable Future? Teorija in praksa 56 (1): 30-52.
Jakešević, R. 2018. Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in the Western Balkans – the Role of External Actors. Teorija in praksa 55(1): 99-122.
Juncos, A. E., Blockmans, S. 2018. The EU’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding: four key challenges, Global Affairs, 4:2-3, 131-140. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23340460.2018.1502619?needAccess=true
Keyes, S. 2019. Mapping on Approaches to Reconciliation. The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers.
Kmeč, V. 2015. The EU and Peacebuilding in CSDP Missions and Operations: Formulating Peacebuilding Policies. https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2015/Kmec%20The%20EU%20and%20Peacebuilding.pdf
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 2021. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile (15. 02. 2021.)<br>
slide17. Reading materials 2 Nguyen Vo, Dan Sinh. 2008. Reconciliation and Conflict Transformation. https://www.beyondintractability.org/casestudy/vo-reconciliation
Opiłowska, E. 2017. Reconciliation through Europeanization: Secondary foreign policy in the German–Polish borderlands, Regional & Federal Studies, 27:3, 283-304. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13597566.2017.1343719?journalCode=frfs20
OSCE. 2011. Strengthening Local Ownership of Non-Military Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs). https://www.osce.org/cpc/77263
Ramsbotham, O., Woodhouse, T. and H. Miall. 2011. Contemporary Conflict Resolution. Third edition. Polity, Cambridge.
Roter, P. 2015. International-local Linkages in Multistakeholder Partnerships Involved in Reconciliation, Inter-communal Bridgebuilding and Confidence-building. Croatian International Relations Review. XXI(72): 139-165.
UN.org. 2021. Peacebuilding. https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/commission/mandate
UN.org. 2019. Peacebuilding commission. https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/repertoire/peacebuilding-commission
UN. 2021. UN Charter. https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter
UN. 2013. United nations political missions. https://peaceoperationsreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/united_nations_report_secretary_general.pdf
UN. 2012. Building Just Societies: Reconciliation in Transitional Settings. https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/sites/www.un.org.peacebuilding/files/documents/12-58492_feb13.pdf (15.02.2021.)
UN. 1992. An Agenda for Peace. https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/files/A_47_277.pdf
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). 2018. Overall policy matters pertaining to special political missions. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1642291?ln=en
Wu, C., Yang, F. 2016. Reconciliation and Peace Building in International Relations: An Empirical Analysis of Five Cases. Chinese Political Science Review. 1:645-669. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41111-016-0046-7<br>