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4. The Limits of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration
- Ohio University Press
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87 F O U R The Limits of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration PA u l o m A C H t H e d i S A r M A M e n t, d e M o b i L i Z At i o n , A n d r e i n t e G r At i o n ( d d r ) of ex-combatants and others associated with armed groups is widely accepted as an integral part of peacebuilding. international policy on ddr is influenced by the neoliberal discourse on the nexus of security and development. this discourse perceives poverty, underdevelopment, and poor governance to be at the root of violent crime and conflict. According to this view, conflict undermines development and deepens poverty, which in turn creates conditions for further conflict. this view justifies a range of programs to prevent, resolve, and recover from conflict, including ddr programs.yet these programs, including ddr, can also be seen as tools to exert control over the global South and maintain global order.1 the desire to prevent conflicts and create stable conditions for sustainable development has led to the increased involvement of actors such as the united nations (un), the World bank, international development agencies, donor states, and nongovernmental organizations (ngos) in supporting ddr programs. Support has been given to an array of national and local actors, including signatories of peace agreements , national governments, provincial and local authorities, communities where the ex-combatants are reintegrated, and the combatants and others associated with armed forces.the contexts of such programs have varied. for instance, ddr has been implemented during peace support operations as part of peace settlements to end civil wars. it has been carried out as part of peacebuilding processes where wars ended in 88 PAuL oMACH decisive military victory by one of the parties. ddr has also occurred in countries deemed to be at “peace,” as part of military downsizing, normally as part of macroeconomic and institutional reforms supported by the international monetary fund (imf) and World bank. the objective of many of these programs is to reduce military expenditure and redirect resources to social sectors and poverty eradication programs. Although the question of what to do about former combatants after the end of war is a question asked throughout history,more formal ddr programs have increased in number and in scope, and they have evolved over time. in 2004–5, un agencies, departments, funds, and programs drafted a series of integrated ddr standards (iddrS)—a set of policies , guidelines, and procedures for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of ddr programs in peacekeeping and nonpeacekeeping contexts. the iddrS guidelines and their rather technocratic “to do” lists are adaptable to specific conflicts and country contexts to ensure that ddr processes are flexible.2 outcomes have varied, and determining the success of ddr programs has not been easy, given the complexity of conflict contexts and the conflicting objectives of the actors involved. often, however, there is a disconnect between the approaches of the various international and national actors who use ddr programs for purposes that are at times out of touch with local realities and incompatible with peacebuilding. this makes it vital to analyze the approaches of various actors engaged in ddr, and to understand formal and informal processes of dealing with ex-combatants, including those that are rooted in traditional practices. this chapter examines the discourse and practice of ddr programs in sub-Saharan Africa. it highlights the complex interplay of conflict contexts, ddr objectives, and the diverse approaches of various actors to ddr processes, despite the un’s seemingly universal integrated standards. the chapter begins by examining the different elements of ddr, and why ddr is considered vital for peacebuilding. it next analyzes the various actors engaged in ddr, their different approaches, and the coordination of their activities, and then examines the unintended consequences and shortcomings of ddr programs, including difficulties in defining the term ex-combatant. the chapter argues that local contexts matter for ddr programs, but they are often overlooked. the different interests and understandings that guide ddr processes are subject to reworking in different local contexts and this may lead to unintended consequences for peacebuilding. [35.171.22.220] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 23:26 GMT) 89 the limits of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration ddr Programs and Peacebuilding As the name indicates, there are three main components of ddr.3 disarmament is “the collection, documentation, control and disposal of small arms,ammunition...