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I. What’s new?current events: primary sources
II. Do words matter? debate
III. How we got here? (start here?)in-depth group projects on specific countriessimulations; documentaries and feature films
IV. Who does what and how?the “reconstruction stimulation”role playing
V. To what end? progress reports on countries; utube
Since early 1990s, “statebuilding” has become centerpiece of international efforts to stabilize violent conflicts
US involved in Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq “International community” involved in
numerous other war torn countries
US domestic and foreign policyImportant countries and ongoing eventsWorld Affairs
Post-WWII history Germany/Japan “nationbuilding”
The Cold War US-Soviet stalemate
The post-Cold War “Western mission”
The development and changes in the UN
Agenda for Peace (1992)shift from peacekeeping to peace operations
Contemporary cases Foreign Affairs
EU since 2000: leading efforts in the Balkans
Other international actors: World Bank, IMF
International nongovernmental organizations
Statebuilding= reconstruction of polities and economies (McMahon & Western)
Nationbuilding= the use of armed forces in the aftermath of conflict to underpin an enduring transition to democracy (Dobbins)
Empire building =tendency of a country to acquire land/resources to increase own power
Peacebuilding Post-conflict reconstruction and
development Stabilization Neocolonialism
Debate: What should “it” be called and why it matters?
1. Surge in demand: The Cold War’s end 1989/91 and then post
9/11 “idealism”
1989-2000: 111 conflicts, 104 internal conflicts
1990-1994: 26 deadly conflicts
The role of the media: Robert Kaplan, “Coming Anarchy” (1994)
2. The CasesFormer Yugoslavia, 1992-1999“ethnic” natureSurprising number of killingsNo superpower or institution to respond“Not again”: European genocide
3. The Failed State Phenomenon
During the 1990s, the rise of “failed states” or states which cannot or will not safeguard minimal civil conditions”
Why might states fail? Why is the US not considered the “most stable of states”?
Foreign Policy index12 social, economic, political and military indicatorsRank states, compare different areas and to note changes.Weakest states: Africa, Asia, EE and Latin America
4. Changes in Global Institutions and Norms
New structure: bipolar to multipolarChanges and developments in UNNew norms about “humanitarian intervention”New ideas about security, peace and “new world order”
How has the world changed? Is it a good thing for the US and Americans?
5. The Events of 9/11
After 9/11: foreign policy shift to “idealism”: missionary role of U.S.
Link made between need for nation building and terrorism, failed states and terrorists, WMD
Post CW period: US involved in (roughly) about one new NB every other year
Reconstructing North Korea
When to act?
Who should act? Role playing
How should it be done? What should be first? Who is in charge? What are the outcomes sought? What are the 4 central tasks?
1. Security Prevent violence Take guns out of
the hands of individuals
Create “transparency”
Reintegration strategy: “golden parachutes”
Law and Order
2. Political Transition/Institutional Development
Deciding the “rules of the game” Interim administration: temporary
governance, often shared with the international community (UN)
Elections: quickly or wait? Emphasis on being inclusive and
representative Help to create institutions
Belquis Ahmadi
If so, how should these ideals be promoted ?
Civil society = public space that allows a variety of actors to mediate (stand between) relations between citizens and state authorities
How to promote/encourage this space?
How to promote a free but also responsible media?
3. (Economic) Development
Overcome the legacy of war economy Need for civil service to help Establish economic priorities Community development Development of state functions: public good
Refugee/displaced persons: Kosovo 1998: almost ½ Albanian population became refugees
(population of 1.7 m)
4. Reconciliation and Rehabilitation/Justice Strengthening/renewing social networks Empowering individuals and rebuilding
socially and psychologically
What should the goals be? Justice? Forgiveness? Reconciliation?
Can we expect that individuals will ever heal and move forward?
How much force is necessary?
Does money make a difference?
What kinds of external involvement matters the most?
How do you evaluate outcomes?
The Agents The UN “system” (4) The US NATO EU Non-government Organizations: NGOs Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) Certain actors more than others?Recent research by Rand: UN better at
learning/statebuilding than the US
Defining success Stable country Human security: are people better off No relapse w/in 5 years Democratic Pro US
How to pick and choose “cases” The problem of civil war/failed states
No “exact” formula/blueprint One interested country matters the most
Key to success: domestic (rather than external) actors, conditions, will
Benchmarks for success? Develop a bill for the cost of statebuilding
and debate its worth What are the alternatives to statebuilding
or helping rebuild war torn countries? When should the US be involved? When – if ever – should it lead these
international effort?
Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy The New York Times, International Herald
Tribune, Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) U.S. Department of State European Union Country website UN websites: UNMIK. Org NGO networks
Invite serviceman/woman to talk Watch a movie:
Welcome to Sarajevo No Man’s Land Hotel Rwanda Triumph of Evil (great documentary) The Hurt Locker Kandahar
Invite member of the community from one of these countries
