ABSTRACT

This book provides an analytical framework for understanding how the concept of quality peace can be used to evaluate post-conflict peacebuilding, using social science, statistics, and case studies.

Including contributions from more than 20 researchers and practitioners, it argues that the quality of the peace in a post-conflict state relates to the extent to which peace accords are implemented, the agreed-upon mechanism for the non-violent resolution of the conflict, and the available social space for civil and political actors. To arrive at the concept of 'quality peace', the authors evaluate the existing literature and identify a lack of a satisfactory means of measuring outcomes, and consequently how these might be researched comparatively. The volume problematizes the 'quality peace' concept as a way to understand the origins of armed conflict as well as problems deriving from the conflict dynamics and the need for social, political, and economic changes in the post-conflict periods.

The book emphasizes five dimensions as crucial for quality peace in a post-accord society. Negotiations and agreements not only aim at avoiding the return of war but also seek to: (1) promote reconciliation, (2) develop mechanisms for resolving future disputes, (3) provide for reliable security, (4) open economic opportunities for marginalized segments of the population, and (5) generate space for civil society. These five dimensions together provide for quality peace after war. They are studied in the context of internal armed conflicts in which multiple parties have signed a peace agreement.

This book will be of great interest to students of peace and conflict studies, civil wars, global governance, security studies, and International Relations in general.

part |25 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|23 pages

Understanding Quality Peace

Introducing the five dimensions

part I|32 pages

Post-war security

chapter 3|15 pages

Same Peace—Different Quality?

The importance of security equality for quality peace

part II|32 pages

Governance

chapter 4|14 pages

Governance and Negotiations

Whose quality standards?

chapter 5|16 pages

Quality Peace in Post-Civil War Settings

The role of local institutions

part III|28 pages

Economic reconstruction

part IV|42 pages

Reconciliation and transitional justice

part V|34 pages

Civil society

chapter 12|17 pages

Civil Society and Quality Peace

What happened in El Salvador?

part VI|80 pages

Case studies

chapter 13|15 pages

Quality Peace in Cambodia

20 years after the Paris Peace Agreement

chapter 14|23 pages

El Salvador 20 Years Later

Successful democratization but questionable peace

chapter 15|22 pages

Quality Peace

A Northern Ireland case study

chapter 16|18 pages

Mozambique

A credible commitment to peace

part |10 pages

Conclusion

chapter 17|8 pages

Developing Quality Peace

Moving forward