Search

Does political power sharing foster or inhibit democratisation in post-civil war states? Previous research dedicated to the study of power sharing and democratisation has been limited to the early post-conflict period and used minimalistic definitions of democracy. This thesis uses a wider definition of democracy and hypothesise that the empowerment of elite actors from relevant communities would strengthen democratisation in the short-term, as these groups would gain a patron that could protect their democratic liberties. Meanwhile, a digression was expected in the longer term as power sharing would equip these elite patrons to avoid accountability and suppress opposition. Democracy score changes were analysed using an OLS regression on 127 cases of civil war settlement between 1945-2006. Findings suggest that political power sharing promotes democratisation in the short term. Moreover, no negative long-term effects were found. Practitioners should therefore host no hesitations against introducing political power sharing when resolving conflicts. The absence of negative long-term effects could be attributed to criticisms not recognising the different setups that power-sharing institutions can take which promote accountability. Possibly, there are also other mechanisms which facilitates interaction between elite actors and their communities at play, counterbalancing the negative effects that power sharing would otherwise entail.

Post-conflict societies struggle with several interlocking problems that often relate to securityand legitimacy. To address these issues, the international community has often turned to Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs) or Security Sector Reform (SSR) programs. In this article, the authors present different aspects of these evolving concepts and what theoretical problem seach tool aim to resolve. Furthermore, a symbiosis is found to exist between the abilityof PKOs to provide protection in the immediate aftermath of conflict and the long-termbenefits that SSR provides through the creation of accountable, efficient and professional security institutions. PKOs contribute to creating necessary preconditions successful SSR implementation, namely a safe environment. However, four additional preconditions must bemet: a common vision, external support, local ownership and donor collaboration. Inability to provide these conditions will lead to a sub-optimal implementation and a security sector reform failing to deliver legitimate and professional institutions. Las sociedades post-conflicto se enfrentan a una serie de problemas entrelazados queen general se relacionan a la seguridad y la legitimidad. Para abordar estos problemas, la comunidad internacional recurre a las Operaciones de Mantenimiento de la Paz (PKO- acrónimo en inglés) o a programas de Reforma del Sector de Seguridad (SSR). En este artículo, los autores presentan diferentes aspectos de estos conceptos en evolución y los problemas teóricos que cada uno pretende resolver. Además, demuestran la simbiosis entrela capacidad de las PKO de proporcionar protección tras el conflicto y los beneficios a largo plazo que brinda la SRR a través de la creación de instituciones de seguridad responsables,eficientes y profesionales. Las PKO contribuyen con la creación de condiciones necesarias a la implementación exitosa de SSR, es decir, un entorno seguro. Sin embargo, se deben cumplir cuatro condiciones previas adicionales: una visión común, apoyo externo, ownership localy colaboración de donantes. La incapacidad de proporcionar estas condiciones conducirá a una implementación incompleta y una falla de la reforma del sector de seguridad en la entrega de instituciones legítimas y profesionales. Sociedades pós-conflito enfrentam vários problemas interligados que geralmente se relacionam à segurança e à legitimidade. Para resolvê-los, a comunidade internacional frequentemente recorre às Operações de Manutenção da Paz (PKOs – acrônimo em inglês) ou a programas de Reforma do Setor de Segurança (SSR). Neste artigo, os autores apresentam diferentes aspectos desses conceitos em evolução e os problemas teóricos que cada ferramenta pretende resolver. Além disso, demonstram a simbiose existente entre a capacidade das PKOs de oferecer proteção após o conflito e os benefícios a longo prazo que a SSR fornece com a criação de instituições de segurança responsáveis, eficientes e profissionais. As PKOs contribuem para a criação de condições prévias necessárias à implementação bem-sucedidada SSR, ou seja, um ambiente seguro. Entretanto, quatro pré-condições adicionais devem ser atendidas: uma visão comum, apoio externo, ownership local e colaboração de doadores. A incapacidade de fornecer essas condições levará a uma implementação incompleta euma reforma do setor de segurança que não conta com instituições profissionais e legítimas.