Conflict and peace building in divided societies : responses to ethnic violence / Anthony Oberschall.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Oberschall, Anthony.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Peace-building.

Peace-building--Case studies.

Ethnic conflict.

Ethnic conflict--Case studies.

Genre:

Case studies.

Physical Description:

x, 260 pages : maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Routledge, 2007.

Summary:

This groundbreaking book provides an integrated account of ethnic, nationality and sectarian conflicts in the contemporary world, the causes of civil war and insurgencies. It explains how collective myths and threat propaganda promote violence and block conciliation, shows the dilemmas of counterinsurgency in the Occupied Territories, Balkan wars, Afghanistan, Iraq, highlights the shortcomings of humanitarian intervention (Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur) and showcases peace negotiations and their inmplementation. Oberschall analyzes: peace building through constitutional design, power sharing governance, disarming combatants, post-accord security and refugee return, transitional justice (truth and reconciliation commissions, war crimes tribunals), economic and social reconstruction in a multiethnic society.

In addition to many examples from the last two decades, Oberschall provides a comprehensive overview of the conflict and peace processes for Bosnia, Northern Ireland, and Israel-Palestinians. He argues that insurgency creates contentious issues over and above the original root causes of the conflict, that the internal divisions within the adversaries trigger conflicts that jeopardize peace processes, and that security and rebuilding a failed state are a precondition for lasting peace and a democratic polity. This book will be essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics interested in the fields of peace studies, war and conflict studies, ethnic studies and political sociology.

Contents:

The dynamics of ethnic conflict

Insurgency, terrorism, human rights, and the laws of war

Peace intervention

War and peace in Bosnia

The Israeli-Palestinian peace process

The peace process in Northern Ireland

Peace building.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [242]-256) and index.

ISBN:

0415411602

9780415411608

0415411610

9780415411615

OCLC:

71146304