What is Peace in a World of Terror

What is Peace in a World of Terror?

What is peace in a world of terror? n n Just more than 85% of all “global” terrorism from the US Dept. of State data bank occurs in situations of protracted internal war. The implication: you end the conflict and bring peace, you end the terror (except for the “spoilers”!!) The other 12 -15% is from the “new terror” which is reinforced by communal dislocations and lack of effective systems of inclusion in the political and economic orders of nations.

So the challenges are: n n To get the 12 -15% isolated and dealt with, without turning them into all out civil war; To find ways to avoid spoilers (terrorists) from winning; To do this all with methods applied from the outside that don’t intensify and worsen the situation. Difficulty: avoid being sidelined when combatants in an internal war are declared terrorists (and thus the UN and US won’t let you speak to them)

What is peace in a world of terror? n Some of it is no different than the puzzle of peace in past historical phases in the global order. Except where it is different: n n n Peace, for many, is security (in this case, Western security) Peace involves dispute resolution before or during violence (but this implies negotiable issues) Peace often involves justice, or conditions that lead to justice, and this IS more difficult in our era. Why?

Two differences: n n Justice seen as a luxury…or at least as a desired end-state of affairs in a world that already might be unrealistic because it appears violence-free or something else Justice as part of the diminish strategy …which ironically sees the bottom of the period as far away and/or attainable only after defeat and deny have occurred

Peace as security… n n n Peace is still the role and rule of law Peace is a set of institutions and processes that ensure that grievances can be heard and dealt with satisfactorily Peace is mechanisms with decreasing reliance on militarism for security

Peace is relative to the threats to peace (or violence) that exists: n n n Peace before violence is different than peace during violence, or peace after the end of violence. Peace for non-governmental groups is always different – and more dissident – than for nations. The “rewards” for peace are more difficult to come by. Peace during terror violence often isolates the terrorist from the start…and through the rest of the violence has no place for terror. BUT you must distinguish between terror as technique vs. other

Role of Law and Rule of Law n n There is behavior law and normative law – both are needed Law implies accountability and rejection of violence, crime, and cheating Law demands that various institutions exist and are effective in the society Law is often a good conflict resolution mechanism

Institutions: Key to the development of an effective civil society n n What institutions “work” and why? What ones have key processes tied to them that can be mobilized? What institutions operate to condemn terror violence and uphold justice and peace? How to ensure the permanence of these as mechanisms for conflict resolution, grievance articulation, restorative justice, and new mechanisms?

Locating the challenge: n n n Special emphasis on post-conflict peacebuilding. The ideas of Ekaterina Stepanova helpful here. And we need to understand how the end relates back to the beginning…Collier’s “war trap” cycle

Stepanova’s SIPRI booklet: n n Good distinction between “terrorism of conflicts” or “conflict-generated” & super-terrorism Within each we now see the crosscutting reality of what happens at the end of the curve: n n International peacebuilding in failed or weak states National stabilization programs

Key areas n n She discusses the challenge of the superterrorism to our traditional notions of statebuilding, good governance and rule of law: In the “old days” the choices were: n n Import a governance model. This generated some hate and some benefited from it; Fix part of the dysfunctional old state. This is likely to still be dysfunctional.

Key areas (cont. ) n n Because new terror groups don’t need or want a state, some of this, and the level of attack on the state, becomes very complicated. The greatest “threat” posed by these groups when they are not violent is that they are outside of or are an alternative to the state.

Yes, rule of law is good but…. n n n In post-conflict situations enforcement may be collective punishment which reduces the govt. legitimacy and the rule of law In general, in guerilla war, even with terror tactics, you can often have a phase where we integrate the “bad guys” into the new govt. /laws/institutions for the future of the nation. But not in new terror situation. UGH!!! Those spoilers…. .

A real, but tough goal…. . n n Can you return to a state of “ordinary, decent crime”? Stop the cycle of violence from repeating itself… Rehab, restore, and recreate DDR: disarm, demobilize, reintegrate

Thus: n n Our ability to get to peace in any given phase depends on the strength of the rule of law, the institutions, and the uniqueness of this terror situation. Often – on the way – we aim for (or settle indefinitely on) security. Thus we destroy, deny, and diminish support for terrorists, but in truth our premium is on destroy. We forget that there always is some type of real negotiation with terrorists (however indirect or denied!). Spoilers come in different sizes and shapes.

Key for the Bush view & those who want real peace – a convergence? n Where does a lot of terror unfold? n n In unstable/rogue states…which were probably within states. We deal with terror as part of politics or crime. In places coming out of war/violence In – or aided by – despotic (terror) regimes In places in a war stalemate or under occupation

SO, we need to work on…. n As above n n n Adapting to the threat to peace situations we find Building what sustains the rule of law Creating new institutions for grievances, conflict resolution, justice provision, security Taking special care in post-conflict peacebuilding in which the goal is aiming for justice which diminishes terror’s underlying causes Having an informed “global” view so as to know where and when to balance