An Operational Framework for Media and Peacebuilding - Montreal ...

Analyzing the Conflict EnvironmentEvery conflict and peacebuilding situationis different and thus requires a specificexamination, especially today when mostconflicts are internal, not international. Mostconflict has complicated roots and there israrely a single determinant. Ethnicity,religion, economic or resource scarcity, forexample, may be at play. A decision to considermedia-related initiatives needs to beinformed by a prior country and regionalconflict analysis. The analysis of conflict willinevitably produce indications of impactsupon media. For example, a pre-conflict climateof intolerance, human rights abuses andbiased state authority may be reflected insevere stereotyping, including gender typingin reporting, and in a self-censoring media.However, the media is more than a passiveindicator of conflict conditions, and theanalytical process should also seekopportunities for contributing to the media’spotential for positive influence in any conflictresolution process.Table 1 offers a number of indicators thatreflect some consequences of internal conflictupon the local or indigenous media in pre-,overt and post-conflict environments. Thetable reflects general experience, keeping inmind that all conflicts have uniquecharacteristics. Some conflicts do not fit anyone stage neatly. For example, long-term,low-intensity conflicts involving multipleactors can exhibit elements of all three stagesof conflict. Some warning signs overlap thesestages, as do the impacts on media. Otherconflicts, although internal by nature, haveinternational implications. These situationsinvite outside actors into the political arenafollowed by interested involvement byinternational media.6