Syftet med uppsatsen har varit att genom en fallstudie av kriget i Sierra Leone (1991-2002) sökaefter konventionella inslag i aktören Revolutionary United Fronts (RUF) våldsbeteende ochdärigenom undersöka huruvida krigets natur kan beskrivas utifrån ett rationellt eller irrationelltperspektiv. För att uppfylla syftet med uppsatsen har två frågeställningar använts; ”Finns detkonventionella inslag i aktören RUF:s våldsbeteende?” och ”Kan krigets natur i Sierra Leonebeskrivas utifrån ett rationellt eller irrationellt perspektiv?”. Teorianknytningen utgörs av Carl vonClausewitz teorier om krigets natur.Resultatet av undersökningen visar att konventionella inslag i form av åtskillnad mellankombattanter och icke-kombattanter, konventionella medel och metoder samt politiskt syfte går attfinna i RUF:s våldsbeteende.Sammantaget visar fallstudien på att RUF:s våldsbeteende inte kännetecknades av ett enda kaos,ett allas krig mot alla på etniska, religiösa eller ideologiska grunder och därför inte kan beskrivassom ett irrationellt fenomen. I stället menar jag att krigets natur som det gestaltade sig under krigeti Sierra Leone går att beskriva utifrån ett rationellt perspektiv, typiskt för konventionella krig, medgrund i Clausewitz teorier om krigets natur. / The aim of this essay has been to search for the presence of conventionalfeatures in the violent behaviour of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)through a case study of the war in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) and therebyexamine whether the nature of war can be described from a rational orirrational perspective.To interpret and achieve the aim of the essay I have used Carl von Clausewitztheories on the nature of war. In order to analyse the presence of conventionalfeatures in the violent behaviour of the RUF, three indicators are used;a distinction between combatants and non-combatants, conventional meansand methods and a political purpose. These indicators are derived fromClausewitz trinity of war (people, army and government).The essay concludes that there are indeed presences of conventional features inthe violent behaviour of the RUF.The essay further concludes that the behaviour of the RUF was notcharacterized by total chaos, a war by all against all, caused by ethnic, religiousand ideological reasons. The behaviour of the RUF can therefore not bedescribed as an irrational phenomenon.Instead, the essay argues that the nature of war as it turned out in Sierra Leonecan be described from a rational perspective, typical for conventional wars,based upon the theories by Carl von Clausewitz on the nature of war.Keywords: Sierra Leone, Revolutionary United Front (RUF), low-intensityconflict, new wars, Clausewitz, rational perspective. / Avdelning: ALB - Slutet Mag 3 C-upps.Hylla: Upps. ChP 02-04

The recruitment, enlistment and use of children younger than fifteen to participate actively in hostilities is prohibited in customary international law as well as in several international legal instruments. The use of child soldiers is, despite of the prohibition, a widespread phenomenon with 300 000 as the estimated number of child soldiers in national armies as well as in various rebel and insurgent groups in the world today. Although the problem is world-wide; most recent focus have been on Africa where children have served and still serve in ongoing conflicts in various functions including but not limited to front line soldiers, messengers, guards and sex-slaves. Many of the world‟s child soldiers are girls that are facing the risks of sexual abuse and discrimination. In this thesis the 1996-2002 civil war in Sierra Leone will serve as an example of a conflict were children were used as soldiers.Prohibition against the use of child soldiers can be found in international legal instruments in both human rights law and international humanitarian law. It can also be found in instruments in the fields of international labor law and prohibition against slavery. The provisions differ in their definition of a child soldier; concerning age limit as well as the child‟s function during the conflict. There are also differences in the responsibility of states to protect children against being used as soldiers. This particularly affects girl soldiers since they often have their primary tasks behind the front line and thus are not usually included in the more narrow definitions of child soldiers.Two courts; the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) are used as examples of enforcement mechanisms. The SCSL as being the first court to deliver convictions for the use of child soldiers as well as thoroughly discussing the illegality of the use of child soldiers has been of importance in the fight against the use of child soldiers. The ICC will be the enforcement mechanism of the future and it has already prosecuted for the use of child soldiers. The SCSL has raised the awareness and started the struggle against impunity for those responsible for using child soldiers but it is the ICC that will have to continue the fight, although with some obstacles to overcome.

Diss. Uppsala : Univ., 2008.

The trade in human beings, or Trafficking in Persons (TiP) is global and affecting every country. In the last years, increasing attention has been paid to TiP for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This led to a growing need to tackle this phenomenon. Only recently, the relationship between TiP and armed conflict has been acknowledged but remains under-studied. Cameron and Newman (2008) have outlined a framework in which structural factors linked to proximate factors could have explanatory value on the relationship between armed conflict and TiP. This thesis analyzes two cases of armed conflict, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sierra Leone, attempting to explain the increase in TiP of women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation by applying this theoretical framework. In this qualitative research a comparative method is used in applying the framework to two case studies, aiming to identify the explanatory value of Cameron and Newman’s (2008) framework. It is found that the general explanatory value of the framework is high and the proximate factors can be classified as: a fully explanatory proximate factor, case dependent proximate factors, and conflict-phase proximate factors. In addition, this thesis is identifying some elements that could influence TiP of women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation during conflict and post-conflict that could be of added value to this framework, namely: the implementation of government strategies, corruption of non-government officials, economic deterioration as a consequence of migration, and involvement of peacekeepers and members of the international community in TiP of women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

This study provides an analysis of the experience of persons disabled by war in the peace processes of Sierra Leone such as the Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Program, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Special Court and the electoral process. The research findings are a result of participant observation and qualitative interviewing methodologies carried out over two months of intensive in-country field research. The main themes that resulted from the research are: Inclusion and Participation in Decision Making, Utilizing Unique Initiatives, Dissension among the Disabled, Justice Unfulfilled, Recognizing the Unintended Consequences of Peace Building, and Experiences with Policy Makers. The results of these findings are discussed in relation to current notions of peace, reconciliation, justice and retribution. Particular attention is paid to the current relationship between the international community and persons disabled by war in Sierra Leone, and recommendations are made by participants regarding ways to strengthen and build on that relationship.

Zugl.: Bremen, Univ., Diss., 2005

Thesis (M.A.)--Texas State University--San Marcos, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-121). Also available on microfilm.

Thesis (M.A.)--Flinders University, School of Political and International Studies. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 221-238) Also available online.

Based on the author's Thesis (doctoral)--University of Lagos. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 309-332) and index.

Based on the author's Thesis (doctoral)--University of Lagos. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 309-332) and index.