Modeling Stability and Reconstruction Operation ... - Cornwallis Group

226 THE CORNWALLIS GROUP XI: ANALYSIS FOR CIVIL-MILITARY TRANSITIONSSTABILITY AND RECONSTRUCTION OPERATION (2)Though the scope can vary on a case by case basis, stability and reconstruction operations is abroad brushed approach to stabilizing and reconstructing conflict-ridden regions and/orregions devastated by endemic poverty and natural disasters. According to USAID, stabilityand reconstruction operation consists of three interrelated objectives:• Stability that is advancing a degree of stability and personal security foraffected individuals sufficient enough to assure their survival and be able toengage in basic economic activity. These include micro interventions such ashumanitarian assistance such as food, water, shelter and a secure environmentfor the people as well as an environment conducive to the repatriation ofInternally Displaced Persons and refugees, and more often than notdiplomatic, political, and military interventions to bringing warring parties toagreement.• Reform that is addressing issues of institutional reform thereby increasingstate’s effectiveness and legitimacy.• Capacity that is developing capacity of institutions and infrastructurefundamental to advancing lasting recovery. Capacity building targetsdeveloping institutions at the local, regional and national levels.While the first objective may be short term, reform and capacity building are considerableundertakings requiring long-term commitment and resources from aid agencies.In recent years agencies have undertaken various mix of approaches to ensure maximumsuccess. Two dominant approaches are the minimalist aid versus the maximalist effort.According to Goodhand (2004) the maximalists argue that aid should be consciously used asan instrument of peace building. It should be comprehensive strategy with the goal ofproviding a mixture of humanitarian, rehabilitation and development assistance that would inturn affect the behavior of various actors. Minimalists question the broadening of the aid’smandate and assume a clear distinction between humanitarian aid and development goals.While normative debate is extensive, scholars agree that there is clearly a lack ofempirical evidence that would support either of these methods. Due to the paucity of realworld examples, challenges of data collection, issues with level of analysis and time frames,and measurement gaps, very little is known about the linkages between aid and the dynamicsof violence, as well as its direct linkages with development and state-building.SYNTHETIC ENVIRONMENT FOR ANALYSISAND SIMULATION (SEAS) (3)Synthetic Environments for Analysis and Simulation (SEAS) (Chaturvedi et al. 2004, 2005)provides an agent-based framework that is unbiased to any specific school of thought,scenario, model, or system paradigm.