PAPER ON "CONSENSUS: A CHALLENGE FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION?" B
Conflict occurs normally and continually in human society. It is not always violent, and it may not even be a problem. It is one means through which we express our diversity or bring about change. When conflict in society is properly managed and transformed, it may even help produce growth. On the other hand, when opposing groups do not have the skills to keep the conflict in check, and where other factors such as injustice, inequality or unfilled aspirations are present, conflict can become violent and protracted. These conflicts destroy the lives of their victims and the quality of life for the survivors. Their legacy is widespread social breakdown and lawlessness. They set back economic development by decades. And who can calculate the cost to society of the loss of doctors, teachers and other professionals when schools and infrastructure are destroyed. Natural disasters can be explained scientifically, but it is far more difficult to understand the causes of war. Social behaviour is not subject to physical laws in the same way as cyclones or earthquakes. People make their own history, sometimes violently and sometimes inexplicably. The forces at work can be very complex. And yet, if we are to be successful at preventing deadly
Inequality. Countries afflicted by war often suffer from inequality among domestic social groups. This inequality may be based on ethnicity, religion, national identity or economic and social class. Its effect is to block equal access to political power and close the road to peaceful change. Sometimes, violent conflict breaks out as the result of the deliberate mobilization of grievances. "Identity politics"-the promotion of ethnic, religious or nationalist myths and dehumanizing ideologies-provides political demagogues with easy targets of opportunity to mobilize support for chauvinist causes. This is particularly so since fewer than 20 per cent of all States are ethnically homogeneous. conflicts, we must have a clearer understanding of what brings them about. Based on the articles that I read, I was able to identify some conditions that increase the probability of war. Discussions on integration must, however, be preceded by a measure of devil's advocacy. In this debate it is not enough argue that, once again, northern discourse and action has disregarded the important contributions of the south and on this basis advocate for a more inclusive approach. Such a conclusion immediately begs the question, namely that if conflict prevention mechanisms exist and function so well, why then have they, in certain situations, failed to prevent or resolve violent conflict? Furthermore, we must be careful not to romanticise and take for granted that a monograph written on traditional conflict resolution techniques within a particular group necessarily means that it actually exists and operates effectively within that group's present day to day reality. Where it is identified that mechanisms actually exist and are adhered to at a grass roots level, what then?
Some common words found in the essay are:
United Nations, Security Council, Inequality Countries, , Special Envoys, Kofi Annan, conflict prevention, united nations, preventive diplomacy, international regional, articles read, poor countries, conflict resolution, role conflict prevention, light weapons, role conflict, arms light weapons, violent conflict,
Approximate Word count = 2310
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
