Title: FES international - Global Policy and Development
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Civil Conflict Management: Project Activities

Political Plattform
Destroyed bridge in Bosnia and Hercegovina; Photo: DPA

The possibility to exert external influence on domestic conflicts is often overestimated. After all, solutions cannot be forced on the parties. The conflict parties themselves ultimately bear the responsibility for the prevention or resolution of crises and conflicts. However, third parties can help to restore the balance or can act as facilitators and possibly as mediators in a balancing of interests. With these constraints, political dialogue can be used as an instrument of civil conflict transformation. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung has in numerous cases organised dialogue processes or made itself available as a platform for an exchange of views and dialogue. These measures aim to reduce tensions, to create a climate of trust and to promote mutual understanding and tolerance, in order ultimately to achieve an understanding between the conflict parties. It can also be useful to bring together experts from the various parties to collaborate on specific projects of general interest, such as water management, regional planning, health, etc. Such projects can impact beyond their technical aspects, helping to build trust and serving to identify mutual interests.

Democratic legitimization by election processes
Presidential Elections in Afghanistan 2009; Photo: UN

The political institutions in a democracy are legitimised by free and fair elections. Elections which are ominated by violence, intimidation of political opponents and persecution of the free press not only destroy the credibility of the institutions but lead increasingly to sanctions by the international community, as can be seen from the example of the recent presidential elections in Zimbabwe. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung therefore supports efforts aimed at enabling the citizens to make unimpeded and responsible use of this most important of the rights of democratic participation, without having to fear electoral fraud or other impediments to the voting process.

Capacity Building

In order to resolve violent conflicts from their structural core, a strong civil society as well as efficient and transparent public institutions are needed, where clientelism and corruption are unknown. Third parties can support that by capacity building: for example by training in methods of civil conflict transformation or knowledge transfer in the area of democratic and constitutional principles. As such, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung organizes seminars where trade unionists, members of NGOs and representatives of political parties learn appropriate strategies of communication in order to better respond to conflict situations. These seminars are to sustain the competence of relevant players for a concrete local peacebuiling work. For the stability of a state and the sustainability of a peace process it is also crucial for the youth - as an essential part of development in society - to be involved in activities of education and capacity building. Therefore the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung systematically fosters Young Leaders and Young Professionals with different programmes like for example the „Young Leaders Forum“ in Afghanistan. In addition to the development of social responsibility these fora offer the opportunity to exchange experience and needs.

Security Sector in fragile states
Domestic security issues are often resolved violently; Photo: DPA

Ensuring domestic and external security is one of the key tasks of the state. It has a monopoly of force to achieve this, and exerts this via its security agencies. The military, police, customs and border authorities, as well as the justice and prison authorities, are entrusted with security functions. In weak states or in crisis situations, the security agencies frequently assume such a degree of power that this results in substantial risks for the rule of law and democracy. Abuse of power can easily happen in such cases, either with the military undertaking a coup d?état or acquiring material and other privileges, or with the police, for example, being used as an instrument for certain interest groups. Especially after conflicts, the prominent position taken by the security agencies as a consequence of the conflict impedes a normalisation of the situation and confidence-building between groups in society and the state. If such undesirable developments are to be prevented or corrected, the security agencies must be integrated into the democratic structures. The government and the parliament must be in a position to exert civil control over the armed forces and the police, and to define their respective tasks clearly. The internal constitution of the security agencies needs to correspond to the requirements of the rule of law. Expenditure must remain within the limits of what is needed to meet the security needs, and it must be transparent.

Empowerment and Qualification
Empowerment and qualification of the civil society is crucial; Photo: AFP

Civil conflict transformation needs players who are capable of providing conciliation and mediation and who can negotiate peaceful solutions. The better qualified such actors are for their tasks, the more likely it is that their proposed solutions and strategies will be accepted. For their part, they act as multipliers propagating the concept of civil conflict transformation. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung therefore helps to give training in the field of civil conflict transformation to individuals and institutions who, in view of their position in society, can act as multipliers.

Regional Co-operation and Integration
Roubtable during Kosovo peace talks; Photo: AFP

Regional co-operation is increasingly becoming an important instrument of conflict transformation. It contributes towards the reduction of tensions between states and thus towards the prevention of conflicts. The promotion of intergovernmental institutions of ooperation, as well as the cross-border interlinkage of forces of civil society, are approaches being supported in order to build confidence and thus to facilitate the resolution of other problems. If domestic conflicts threaten stability in the region, on the other hand, regional co-operation is needed to limit or remove the risks to regional peace. In this context, it is helpful for states to orient themselves towards common principles and rules, and these particularly include respect for human rights and the rule of law, but also the principle of good-neighbourliness. In a community of states which respect these principles, problems such as the reintegration of refugees or the reduction of discrimination are easier for the individual governments to resolve. Economic co-operation also contributes towards prosperity in the countries of the region, and thus improves the prospects for lasting peace, both within and between the states.

Gender, Security and Conflict
A female member of the UN peacebuilding troops in the Republic of Congo; Photo: UN

Women respond to conflicts in different ways. It is sometimes said that they are always victims who have a natural interest in acting in a mediating and peace-fostering manner, and thus in contributing to the end of violent clashes. However, this is not always true. History, and particularly more recent history, has numerous examples of women being actively involved in violent conflicts. This is particularly true when one party to the conflict also advocates the right of women or when women wish to liberate themselves from their role as victims as a reaction to violations of their human rights. Whether or not women can play an effective role in conflict transformation depends on the overall situation. If women are marginalised in society, they lack the necessary clout to influence a policy which leads to violent conflicts. The empowerment of women is a necessary corollary to the efforts to get them more involved in civil conflict transformation. In particular, women therefore need to be more involved in political decisions. Their capacities to organise themselves and to represent their interests effectively need to be strengthened.

Media as an instrument of conflict management
Media in Kosovo; Photo: AFP

Fair, accurate and full reporting can contribute considerably towards reducing the potential for conflicts and towards reconciliation following a conflict. Distorted or one-sided information can heighten tensions and accelerate an outbreak of violence. Media controlled by the state or by interest groups often spread hatred and propaganda in a particular manner in order to strengthen the position of one party to the conflict. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung advocates freedom of the press and of information and supports the establishment of a media structure which is based on the rule of law and oriented towards democracy, and it has included in its activities the particular significance of the media in conflict situations. It tries to ensure that the media recognise their role and their responsibilities in civil conflict transformation and engage in the peace-building process.

Social Integration
Social rights are human rights; Photo: AFP

Extreme poverty, unfair distribution of wealth, a lack of resources and an exclusion of any kind rise the possibility for conflict in every society. Inadequate state institutions as instruments to steer the balancing of economic and social interests are factors which exacerbate the tendency of a society to engage in conflicts. Their significance particularly tends to increase during times of political, social and economic upheaval. Long-term development co-operation aims to remove these structural causes of conflicts. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung makes substantial contributions towards this via its work on social policy. Especially through its socio-political work with trade unions and progressive civil society or political forces, the FES contributes to reducing such conflicts.

net-edition:Monika SchneiderFES | 2009
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