ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the concepts of state emancipation and societal pacification with respect to peacebuilding. It stresses that the emergence of state emancipation and societal pacification constitutes a necessary condition for sustainable and functional peace and peacebuilding. State emancipation is concerned with developments whereby a state stands above societal groups and retains its autonomy; meanwhile societal pacification refers to the sole right of the state to employ means of coercion, while society voluntarily abstains from possessing or using means of coercion. The emergence of these two phenomena indicates the full maturity of a state, indicating a relationship between state and society and the principles that govern that relationship. The rise of state emancipation and societal pacification is predicated on state penetration of society: a state incapable of penetrating society would not be able to bring about emancipation and pacification. This mutual development of state emancipation and societal pacification is informed by the sociological tradition that expounds the evolutionary historical transformation that lead to nation and state formation. It is also informed by the sociological assumption of checks and balances that regulate state–society relation, and that ultimately power emanates from the people. The chapter contends that state emancipation and societal pacification are products of evolution over a considerable period of time of nation and state formation, which is dictated primarily by domestic reality. The final section of the chapter provides some concluding remarks.
