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Pursuing human security in Africa through developmental peace missions : ambitious construct or feasible ideal?

Thesis (MMil (Military Sciences. School for Security and Africa Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the feasibility of the concept Developmental Peace Missions (DPMs). It
seeks to answer the question whether DPMs is an ambitious construct or a feasible ideal and
whether DPMs could be effectively applied during peace missions. The study takes the form of a
descriptive analysis of the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of DPMs, and includes the
analysis of various relevant case studies in terms of the application of the concept of DPMs.
The study further explores the evolution that has taken place in terms of United Nations peace
missions, in that most modern peace missions include both peacekeeping and peacebuilding
initiatives. The study also illustrates the modern approach to peace missions, based on an
integrated systems-thinking approach by means of which the activities of all relevant role-players
are integrated and fused towards a common end state: that of sustained security and
development. In order to analyse the concept of DPMs, the theoretical underpinnings of the
concept human security, the security-development nexus and peacebuilding were researched in
depth. These concepts were then coupled to the concept of DPMs in terms of their utility during
current complex peace missions, both internationally and on the African continent.
The concept of DPMs was studied in the context of contemporary peacekeeping in terms of three
case studies, namely the peace missions in Kosovo, Sierra Leone and the DRC. The DPMs
concept was applied to these case studies and analysed in terms of the extent to which the peace
interventions in these countries were conducted in accordance with the philosophical and
theoretical underpinnings of DPMs.
The study concludes that DPMs, in terms of its theoretical basis, is indeed a feasible ideal for
peace missions, as it is based on and in line with the approved current UN- and AU-integrated
planning processes. However, in terms of its practical utility in Africa, it currently remains an
ambitious construct, given the limited capacity and resources of the AU and regional
organisations. Therefore, DPMs should not be viewed as a short-term solution to, or panacea for,
all intra-state wars. The study proposes that the UN, the AU, as well as relevant regional
organisations will have to adjust and make changes in terms of their institutions, structures,
funding and the provision of resources in order to operationalise the concept of DPMs
successfully. This is especially true as far as the AU is concerned, as the AU currently
experiences severe limitations in both material and human resources. However, the fact that both
the UN and the AU have adopted the Integrated Mission Planning Process concept as planning
tool for their respective missions is an indication that progress is being made towards the
achievement of establishing a more holistic and integrated approach to finding sustainable
solutions to global conflict. Ultimately, the success of DPMs will be determined by the will and
commitment of all the relevant role-players involved in finding a lasting solution to intra-state
conflicts. The concept itself cannot provide sustainable peace and development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dié tesis verken die lewensvatbaarheid van die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings. Daar sal
gepoog word om ‘n antwoord te kry op die vraag of Ontwikkelingsvredesendings ‘n ambisieuse
konstruk of ‘n haalbare ideal is. Verder sal gepoog word om te bepaal of dit effektief tydens
vredesoperasies toegepas kan word. Die studie neem die vorm aan van ‘n beskrywende analise
van die teoretiese grondbeginsels van die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings en sluit die analise
van verskeie relevante gevallestudies ten opsigte van die begrip in.
Die studie ondersoek die evolusie wat plaasgevind het ten opsigte van vredesendings wat deur
die Verenigde Nasies (VN) onderneem word, naamlik dat die meeste moderne vredesendings,
vredesbewarings, sowel as vredesbou (nasiebou) inisiatiewe insluit. Die studie illustreer ook die
moderne benadering wat ten opsigte van vredesendings toegepas word, naamlik dat die
aktiwiteite van al die betrokke rolspelers geïntegreer word en op ‘n gedeelde einddoel gefokus
word. Die teoretiese grondstelllings van die begrippe veiligheid en ontwikkeling, die veiligheid-ensekuriteit-
neksus, sowel as die begrip van vredesbou (nasiebou) is in diepte ondersoek ten einde
die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings te analiseer. Hierdie begrippe is daarna in verband
gebring met die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings soos wat dit tans tydens moderne komplekse
vredesendings toegepas word – beide internasionaal sowel as op die Afrika kontinent.
Die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings is bestudeer teen die agtergrond van eietydse
vredesbewaring ten opsigte van drie gevallestudies, naamlik die intervensies in Kosovo, Sierra
Leone en die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo. Hierdie drie gevallestudies is gekies
aangesien dit die eerste sendings was waartydens die VN die nuwe geïntegreerde benadering tot
vredesendings, soos in die Brahimi-verslag aanbeveel, toegepas is.
Die studie het bevind dat Ontwikkelingsvredesendings, wat betref die teoretiese grondstellings
inderdaad uitvoerbaar is, aangesien dit gebaseer is op en in ooreenstemming is met die huidige
aanvaarde beplanninsprosesse van die VN en die AU. Maar, wat betref die praktiese
bruikbaarheid van die begrip in Afrika, bly dit tans ‘n ambisieuse konstruk, gegewe die beperkte
vermoë en hulpbronne van die AU en streeksorganisasies. Die begrip
Ontwikkelingsvredesendings moet dus nie as ‘n korttermynoplossing vir alle interne oorloë
beskou word nie. Die studie het bevind dat die VN, die AU, sowel as die betrokke
streeksorganisasies, ingrypende veranderings sal moet ondergaan ten einde die begrip
Ontwikkelingsvredesendings suksesvol te kan toepas, veral ten opsigte van strukture, befondsing
en die voorsiening van hulpbronne. Dit is veral waar in die geval van die AU, aangesien die AU
tans geweldige uitdagings in die gesig staar wat betref menslike sowel as materiële hulpbronne.
Ten spyte van laasgenoemde uitdagings dui die aanvaarding van die Geïntegreerde
Sendingbeplanningsproses as besluitnemings-meganisme deur beide die VN en die AU op die
vordering wat gemaak word ten opsigte van die daarstelling van ‘n meer holistiese en geïntegreerde benadering vir volhoubare oplossings vir konflik. Die sukses van
Ontwikkelingsvredesendings sal uiteindelik bepaal word deur die wil en toewyding van alle
betrokkenes by die soeke na langdurige vrede – die begrip op sigself kan nie volhoubare vrede
en ontwikkeling bewerkstellig nie.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4080
Date12 1900
CreatorsOlivier, Laetitia
ContributorsNeethling, T. G., Mokoena, B. P. O., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Security and Africa Studies.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
RightsStellenbosch University

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