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states. 33 For example Kaufmann claims in this direction that one of the best solutions
Additionally, the attempts to (re)-build civil and political institutions and the
efforts to create workable and self-sustaining structures go beyond a simple reform.
Peace-building is a process which occurs through “defining, shaping and creating
new processes rather than merely reforming existing structures.” 31 It is a
comprehensive and broad task which involves political, economic and social aspects.
In short, for target state, it implies a fundamental restructuring of the societal
structure. For intervening states it is a long-term, costly, risky and controversial
operation. It requires a major commitment of money and personnel.
Peace-building is a very difficult task but not impossible as long as the effort
has clear objectives and enough resources. Nevertheless, “the goal of peace-building
should not be to impose common identities on deeply divided peoples but to organize
states that can administer their territories and allow people to live together despite
differences.” 32 When the establishment of a new state within the previous borders
can not be achieved, then the international community should accept that peacebuilding
may necessitate the dissolution of former states and the creation of new
to many of the most intense ethnic conflicts could be the “separation of warring
populations”; discussing the idea on the four famous twentieth century partitions
Ireland, India, Palestine and Cyprus. He furthermore argues that “events in Bosnia
have supported this trend, as observers note that the more the warring parties have
separated, the more peaceful their relations have become, while proposals to
thoroughly integrate them command less and less support.” 34 However, while the
Dayton Accords somehow acknowledged the separation of warring populations
international community tried to do the opposite in Cyprus with the Annan Peace
Plan.
31 Andrea K. Talentino, ‘Intervention as Nation-Building: Illusion or Possibility?’, p. 28.
32 Marina Ottaway, ‘Nation Building’, Foreign Policy, issue 132, September/October 2002, p. 17.
33 Ibid., p. 17.
34 Chaim Kaufmann, ‘When all else fails: ethnic population transfers and partitions in the twentieth
century’, International Security, vol. 23, no. 2, Fall 1998, p. 120.
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