Search

This study examines the psychological repercussions of the April 15th conflict in Sudan, addressing a gap in existing literature on severe mental health issues in post-conflict settings. It emphasises the impact beyond individual experiences, highlighting broader societal dynamics and the need for culturally tailored mental health interventions. This study used a quantitative approach through a cross-sectional design. This study analysed online survey responses from 134 participants (61.9% male, 32.1% female; Mean Age = 26.66, SD = 4.67). It employed the Arabic version of the Lovibond and Lovibond (1995) DASS-21 questionnaire. The findings reveal significant psychological impacts, with "extremely severe" levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive mental health strategies in post-conflict recovery efforts in Sudan.

rgency of the research. In the conditions of modern military challenges, which Ukrainian society has withstood with dignity for a long time, engineering thinking acquires special significance. The intentionality of engineering thinking has a completely different direction in the horizons of peaceful life and in conditions of war. In war options, the technical and creative creativity of engineering thinking is mainly manifested in the development of effective weapons of mass destruction, as well as countermeasures and protection. Accordingly, there is a growing public demand for military engineers and creative workers in the military industry, and especially for a creative engineer who creates vital devices in extreme conditions. Target setting. High-tech confrontations, security and defense capabilities, the role of engineering in humanitarian missions and rehabilitation, ethical issues of the development of military technologies, the impact of globalization and the role of engineering thinking in post-conflict reconstruction are gaining special importance in modern philosophical discourse. The purpose of the research is to determine the functional potential, social significance and role played by engineering thinking in the creation of state-of-the-art technologies in the conditions of war, as well as to reveal the ambivalence of the impulses of engineering thinking in the options of war and peace. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The works of S. Winchester, E. Meyers, K. Mitch, K. Smythe, A. Ustundag, E. Chevikkan, E. Schatzberg, and others are devoted to the study of the role of technology and engineering in the human life space. Axiological and cultural-anthropological aspects of engineering thinking are considered in the works of Ukrainian researchers. First of all, this is the research of V. Voronkova, I. Goliad, I. Markus, and O. Shulga. Discussions about the responsible use of technology in the context of military operations and the creation and development of more peaceful innovations are of particular importance. The statement of basic materials. Philosophy of technology is an important area of study because it examines the impact of technology on human existence, society, and the future of humanity. Technologies have a significant impact on human life and international relations, creating new challenges and fundamental questions about the ethics of their use, the responsibility of developers and users, as well as possible consequences for the future world. Issues related to establishing a balance between technological capabilities and general values of society require special attention. The question of the genesis of the definition of engineering success requires special attention, which can conditionally occur depending on the context where the project is carried out. In peacetime, the success of this project is evaluated according to the criteria of efficiency, economy and innovation, since the task is to improve technologies, optimize processes and ensure sustainable development. Engineering thinking in the conditions of a globalized world and long-term geopolitical claims must be ready for such challenges. First of all, it is about responsibility in ensuring the ethical and safe use of their developments. It is about supporting international efforts to control and regulate the export of military equipment, developing principles and standards for the ethical development and use of technologies for military purposes. In addition, engineers can play an active role in the development of technologies aimed at peaceful purposes and limiting the possibility of using technology in military conflicts. The functional potential of engineering thinking in the creation of state-of-the-art technologies in the conditions of war is specified through the ability to develop, implement and adapt technical solutions capable of responding to complex military challenges. This covers the following aspects: innovativeness, adaptability, cooperation. Conclusions. The prospects for the development of engineering thinking in the context of war depend on many factors, which include scientific and technological progress, the political situation, economic opportunities, social requirements, ethical values, and environmental constraints. Scientific discoveries and technological progress open up new opportunities for the application of engineering thinking in the context of war, in particular through the development of new materials, communication systems, weapons and control technologies. Applying engineering thinking as a problem-solving tool allows you create a positive impact on society while minimizing negative consequences. In addition, engineers can contribute to the development of technologies for intercultural communication, the promotion of dialogue and understanding between diverse groups, and the development of technologies to provide access to education and information that can help reduce tension and conflict. Therefore, through their technological achievements and engineering thinking, creative engineers can actively contribute to the development of the philosophy of peace and contribute to ensuring stability and harmony in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. This paper studies the role of the monetary policy in the economy of the state, as one of the main instruments to support it’s financial potential, both at the period of military conflict as well as in the period of recovery after it. Methodological bases are general and special methods of scientific research, including synthesis, analysis, modeling, comparison, etc. The main information sources were the resources of World Bank Open Data, the data of National Bank of Ukraine and state statistics service of Ukraine. Purpose. The main purpose of this paper is to study and analyse macroeconomic methods and instruments, which were used by different countries in the post-conflict recovery period and theoretical implementation of using these instruments in Ukrainian reality. Results: The strategy of synchronizing the actions of the central bank and the government must be adjusted according to the peculiarities of post-conflict economic recovery of each country separately. The studies of macroeconomic indicators of countries, that successfully overcame the consequences of military actions show the main role of the central bank in stimulating economic growth of the country. Conclusions: To further solve the problem of post-conflict recovery of state's economy, the perspective direction would be to build effective strategies of cooperation for the institutes, that perform monetary and fiscal policies, that would have a direct impact on the effectiveness of economic growth and the development of national security of the country.

Scholars have found that nonviolent resistance is more effective than violence at promoting post-campaign democratization. We explore whether this relationship extends to judicial systems, specifically. Courts have been shown to be important for promoting and protecting economic development and political rights, yet they have been largely ignored in quantitative studies of post-conflict democratization. We posit that leaders who hold power after domestic unrest will be more inclined to use independent courts as a mechanism to prevent future campaigns–but they do so primarily when fearing a significant mobilization threat and when expecting legal action to be an acceptable channel for dispute resolution by dissidents. As such, we anticipate that levels of judicial independence are higher following nonviolent campaigns as compared to violent conflicts. Using quantitative data from violent and nonviolent campaigns globally, we find that judicial independence is indeed higher in the aftermath of nonviolent, as compared to violent, resistance campaigns. Furthermore, a campaign's outcome does not matter; post-conflict judicial independence appears to be associated with tactics, not dissident success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do some towns recover faster than others after intrastate conflict? Many important decisions about post-conflict recovery are made at the substate level, but little empirical work has investigated what causes differences in recovery outcomes within a country. This article suggests that proximity to ethno-religiously diverse neighbors slows a town's post-conflict recovery. A town has 'diverse neighbors' if towns with different plurality ethno-religious groups are nearby. This hypothesis is tested by exploring variation in recovery speed among Iraqi towns after the 2014–17 Islamic State insurgency (ISIL). The article constructs 81-month panels of economic activity for 379 Iraqi settlements occupied by ISIL by using satellite-observed nighttime light emissions as a proxy for economic activity. The panels reveal large variation in post-conflict recovery among towns during the first year of peace. Village-level survey data are then used to construct a measure of neighbor diversity, which is combined with lighting-based recovery scores in spatial autoregression. The results show that greater neighbor diversity is robustly associated with slower settlement recovery. The neighbor diversity penalty cannot be fully explained by cleavages between groups 'on opposite sides' of the conflict; proximity to out-group neighbors appears to slow recovery even between wartime allies. Several explanations are considered, and this article suggests that the types of post-liberation controllers that arise in diverse areas – which tend to be substate militias rather than the government – may be one important mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy sector is a main driver of African growth, particularly in regions with geopolitical conflicts like Sudan and South Sudan. The oil and gas industry notably influences these regions' economy, politics, humanitarian situation, and social stability. This study seeks to investigate how the Khartoum War affected the energy sector of both Sudan and South Sudan, particularly looking at the disruptions caused by recent conflicts and their impact on oil production, economic stability, and environmental conditions. The study employs a multi-disciplinary approach, utilising different sources such as regional legal agreements, government reports, academic articles, and press releases from international organisations. The key methodology includes qualitative analysis of several documents and quantitative assessment of production data and economic reports. The study's key findings show a significant decline in oil production and transportation due to the shutdown of key oilfields and pipelines, intensifying economic and humanitarian crises. Additionally, the damage to oil infrastructure has presented serious environmental risks, highlighting the delicate balance between resource management and regional stability. In conclusion, the study's findings underscore the intense impact of the Khartoum War on the energy sector of Sudan and South Sudan, and the urgent need for policy recommendations to mitigate these effects and foster sustainable development., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Waleed Isameldin Alasad reports a relationship with Sudanese Ministry of Energy and Petroleum that includes: employment. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Reporting on ongoing research, this paper reviews stories, drawn from recent literature as well as gathered through ethnographic research, that people tell about records and recordkeeping during and since the Yugoslav Wars. It focuses on what these stories reveal of the agency and affect of recordkeeping in individual and community lives, particularly in Croatia. The paper concludes with a contemplation of what might be learned from such an approach for the development of recordkeeping infrastructures that can anticipate, avert or alleviate some of the ways in which records and recordkeeping continue to traumatize or target the vulnerable, and frustrate and prevent the human and societal need to "move forward," if not "move past." © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Countries emerging from armed conflict face tremendous challenges in restoring peace and development. One of the most serious challenges in this regard is mobilizing adequate resources for financing the reconstruction process. In many post-conflict countries, the resort to external financing resources becomes inevitable. This paper aims to understand how conflict intensity shapes the financing modalities in the post-conflict phase. The study uses statistical inference to compare the differences in key financing resources between two groups of post-conflict developing countries with different conflict intensity. The results show that countries severely affected by the conflict rely more heavily on external financing resources compared to countries moderately affected by the conflict. In particular, foreign aid, foreign investments, and external debt were significantly higher in the severely affected countries relative to moderately affected ones. The differences in most external financing resources between the two groups become more obvious when accounting for major income categories differences. The results were robust for different levels of conflict severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of fiscal and monetary components of state`s financial policy and their coordination after the completion of hostilities. The urgency of the topic is determined by the need to find an optimal (in terms of economic system) strategy of interaction between the government and the central bank in the conditions of post-conflict recovery. The purpose of the article is to summarize the world experience of formation of fiscal and monetary policy as well as their coordination in order to effectively overcome the consequences of military conflicts. The author analyzes the data on the post-war development of 12 countries that succeeded in restoring their national economies during the first decade after the end of hostilities (Angola, Cambodia, the Republic of Congo, Croatia, Georgia, Indonesia, Liberia, Macedonia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan) As a result, the author discovers a gradual transition from the fixed and regulated exchange rate regime to the floating exchange rate in the long-term perspective, reduction of inflation and interest rates on loans, as well as a gradual increase of GDP and the net inflow of foreign direct investments, while the share of tax revenues and public expenditures in GDP remained stable. On the basis of generalization of the world experience the conclusion was made about the key role of central banks in ensuring economic growth in the context of post-conflict recovery by ensuring price stability and stimulating lending. In addition, the importance of geographic location and availability of natural resources in the restoration of the national economy of some countries was emphasized.

Abstract: In the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, the crippled formal judicial system failed to administer justice in a timely manner. A modified version of the traditional Gacaca courts was introduced to hear cases from the backlog of over 100,000 genocide suspects. We find that the Gacaca courts performed well relative to the formal justice system, given the constraints faced. The Gacaca courts generated valuable information about the genocide suspects and increased access to the justice system. The introduction of the Gacaca courts improved the performance of the formal justice system and facilitated post‐conflict recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a fairly solid economic performance, and thus classification as a middle-income country, Colombia struggles with the legacies of uneven development. Macroeconomic success and the end of internal conflict have led many donors to plan exit strategies; however, with the new “fragile peace” and the impact of slow international economic recovery, Colombia has a unique opportunity to forge development partnerships to address its historic social and territorial deficits. This article suggests what partnerships might already be emerging, how principal actors could foster inclusive and sustainable development within the country and what Colombia’s new role in South-South cooperation could be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Northern Uganda experienced violent conflict for over 15 years, resulting in the internal displacement of over 1,800,000 Ugandans. In the five years that followed a cease fire agreement in 2006 nearly all the displaced persons returned home. The difference in the growth of consumption between returnee households and a comparison group of non-displaced households is estimated using propensity score matching. After an initial shock to consumption and assets upon return, returnee households experience a period of catch-up growth. These results contribute to understanding the dynamics of recovery from displacement and have implications for the policy response during recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disarmament and demobilisation of ex-combatants often involve politicised sequence of activities, and, in turn, they can affect national and local politics and the peace process in question in one way or other. Understanding the interface between transitional politics, and disarmament and demobilisation of ex-combatants is, therefore, vital to explore scope and limitation of how ex-combatants are managed as part of post-conflict recovery in a post-conflict society. Building on this proposition, this paper investigates the impacts of transitional politics to disarmament and demobilisation (D&D) of the Maoist ex-combatants as part of management of the Maoist arms and armies in Nepal. Analysing how a consensus-based political culture between major political parties, including the Maoists, which was a driving force behind the peace negotiation, deteriorated over time, and further exploring strategic needs and interests of key political actors towards D&D, this paper shows that disarmament of the Maoists People's Liberation Army followed a 'blanket disarmament' approach which had limitations to fully disarm the force. Similarly, demobilisation process appeared to be encampment of the force rather than complete demobilisation. This paper warns that faulty disarmament and demobilisation in Nepal can have serious security implications in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social funds and large-scale community driven development (CDD) programmes are a popular policy instrument in post-conflict situations. This is partly because they are seen to alleviate pressure on governments to deliver development and reconstruction outcomes by transferring resources and responsibilities to community actors. However, part of their popularity can also be explained by claims that social funds and CDD programmes have the (transformative) potential to generate impacts beyond meeting basic needs, such as creating more peaceful societies at the local level and promoting trust in government. Drawing on a rigorous, evidence focused literature review, which began with researchers following a formal systematic review protocol, this practice note assesses the performance of 13 programmes against three distinct sets of impact indicators: (i) incomes, enterprise and access to services; (ii) social cohesion, stability and violence; and (iii) state-society relations. It is concluded that, although our understanding of the effectiveness of social funds and CDD in conflict-affected environments is limited by a low number of rigorous evaluations across a diverse range of contexts, as well as by an insufficient investigation of the relevant causal mechanisms, the findings so far suggest cause for cautious optimism.

Since Timor-Leste regained independence in 2002, there has been a revival of customary practices across the country. In the village of Funar, this has taken the shape of intensive investment in death ceremonies. This article takes death as a lens through which to examine changing social and political relations in Funar during the post-independence period. It analyses how exchanges that occur upon death serve to sever relations between house groups that are indebted to one another through marriage exchange, and how funerary practices enable people to renegotiate status differences that have become more contested since independence. While death confronts people with tragedies from the past, it also provides occasions for dealing with the aftermath of the Indonesian occupation. Moreover, reburial allows local residents to re-inscribe themselves in nationalist discourses, from which they have been largely excluded due to the region's ambiguous role during the Indonesian occupation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

‘Coaching and mentoring for capacity’ is becoming increasingly important in the state-building toolbox. If executed properly, this instrument is believed to be significantly more effective than traditional technical assistance and would consequently seem to hold great promise for the state- and peacebuilding agenda. The latest offshoot of this development is the Initiative for Capacity Enhancement in South Sudan. The initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of the South Sudanese state apparatus by deploying civil servants from neighbouring nations to coach their South Sudanese counterparts. This paper explores this particular initiative with the aim of identifying insights about designing coaching and mentoring programmes for capacity development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article discusses how perceptions and practices of citizenship are experienced in the post-conflict situation of the Acholi region in northern Uganda. Here, the population lived through protracted conflict and long-term displacement into camps, caused by the Lord's Resistance Army. The article elaborates the lived experiences of Acholi women during and after the conflict and how their experiences shape their understanding and practices of citizenship at present. It thus attempts to discuss the intersection between gender, conflict and citizenship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legitimation of power through institutions is not new in world politics. Yet, the dynamics of the conferment or withdrawal of legitimacy through the work of international administrations in the context of contemporary statebuilding policies remains - to date - insufficiently explored. This article aims to narrow such a gap by analysing attainment of legitimacy and its deficit through the work of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo following the ending of hostilities in 1999. Emphasising the political complexities involved in domestic-international exchanges, the analysis shows that the international administration and the local elite have pursued alternative views with conflicting implications for the local society. The resulting disaccord related to priorities and expectations of the international administration and those of domestic actors has hindered the local population's acceptance of the international mission and benefited claims for self-governance. The dynamics of domestic-international interactions in the context of Kosovo resonate with those in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Timor. Given that domestic circumstances have had a key impact on the evolving relationship between the international and local actors, paying more attention to the domestic setting is likely to save more time, energy, and resources in achieving sought goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws parallels between interventions to restore water services in post-conflict Kabul, Afghanistan and Monrovia, Liberia. Its aim is to show that, in addition to aid agencies and water utilities, communities of consumers have important roles to play in the delivery of water in an environment transformed by war. The interventions in this study were measured in terms of their sustainability and coverage and provide several lessons learned for other post-conflict contexts, including the importance of involving the private sector, coordinating aid interventions, considering context and engaging stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Violent conflicts claim lives, disrupt livelihoods, and halt delivery of essential services, such as health care and education. Health systems are often devastated in conflicts as health professionals flee, infrastructure is destroyed, and the supply of drugs and supplies is halted. We propose that early reconstruction of a functioning, equitable health system in countries recovering from conflict is an investment with a range of benefits for post-conflict countries. Building on the growing literature about health systems as social and political institutions, we elaborate a logic model that outlines how health systems may contribute not only to improved health status but also potentially to broader statebuilding and enhanced prospects for peace. Specifically, we propose that careful design of the core elements of the health system by national governments and their development partners can promote reliable provision of essential health services while demonstrating a commitment to equity, strengthening government accountability to citizens, and building the capacity of government to manage core social programs. We review the conceptual basis and extant empirical evidence for these mechanisms, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest a research agenda. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

What befalls the economy in countries that descend into violence? Using the case of Liberia, I argue that the effects of civil war on the private sector, while overwhelmingly disastrous, can, especially for infant firms that manage to survive, convey many of the benefits (and liabilities) that ISI and SLI policies have had elsewhere. Specifically, the war economy in Liberia mimicked import tariffs, localized the staffs of many companies, raised local content in products, and even spurred technical learning and knowledge accumulation. The intention in calling attention to ways in which the status quo of crisis benefited some companies is not to downplay the horror of the war years, nor to suggest that the war was in any way desirable. Rather, this paper aims (1) to dispel the discredited but persistent misimpression of the post-conflict economy as virtual tabula rasa, and (2) to emphasize the importance of protecting local industries in post-conflict economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to provide both a visual and written commentary of the post-Tsunami health and community-driven recovery strategies within conflict affected zones in Northern Sri Lanka. It explores examples of the impact of unsolicited, culturally inappropriate and conflict insensitive interventions initiated by both local and international teams, and how displaced communities attempted to mitigate the effects of inequitable aid practices. Though challenging, engaging communities early in the recovery process becomes necessary in order to reduce vulnerability and prevent 'aid-mediated' communal tensions. Hence the dictum 'hands in relief, eyes on 'development" applies for post-disaster interventions. Asia Pac J Public Health 2007; 19(Special Issue): 25–34. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-timber forest products have often been held out as potential tools for conservation and sustainable development, but sustainability assessments are frequently difficult and time-consuming, especially in conflict areas. Thus, rapid assessments can be useful in providing a broad overview of the harvesting system in order to generate meaningful conservation or development recommendations. Here, we use rapid assessment methodology, including semi-structured interviews and direct observations, to examine the frankincense harvesting system in Somaliland in 2010 and again in 2016 and 2017. We identified significant levels of overharvesting, driven by a breakdown of the traditional management system. Demand for resin and resin prices increased dramatically from 2010 to 2017, at the same time as the tree populations were declining, resource tenure security was weakening, drug use was increasing, and the supply chain was becoming more complex. These factors combine to incentivize short-term unsustainable practices, and the lack of traceability and transparency prevents international buyers from meaningfully engaging with the system. However, new technologies and approaches being employed mean that buyers will soon be able to clearly direct their purchasing in order to incentivize sustainable practices and purchase resin in an ethical manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Algerian civil war, 1992–2002, affected all aspects of life in the country. Major development efforts were therefore initiated in the post-conflict era. Almost 20 years later, the economy remains fragile, and the country's large hydrocarbon revenues have not been used to develop the infrastructure for sustainability, support energy transition or reduce structural vulnerabilities. This paper provides an overview of Algerian development strategies before and after the conflict, examining in particular the orientation of major development projects involving foreign financing. Two rural development programmes are described to illustrate the outcomes of such projects. The results show that the conflict stopped or hindered many ongoing and planned development projects in the country, especially in the agriculture sector, while new investments in industry started after the conflict. The review of individual development projects further revealed that many projects between 1980–2017 had doubtful benefits with respect to long-term development goals. Initiatives tended to be discontinued once the funding period closed, and the involvement of the private sector was low. It is therefore concluded that additional attention needs to be devoted to long-term and structural impacts of development projects, including considerations regarding sustainability, demographics, and climate-related future changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]