UNISCI - Universidad Complutense de Madrid

More documents

Recommendations

Info

UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (Octubre / October 2013) ISSN 1696-2206influence. This situation contributed also to direct violence which mostly affectedcommunities in Greater Upper Nile and particularly Jonglei where the state had littleconstructive presence and the GoSS and the SPLM/A were only one actor among a number oflocal violent entrepreneurs. By 2011, the external intervention based on the hierarchicalpeace-through-statebuilding, and the intimate relationship with the SPLM/A-GoSS leadershipas the source or security, had failed in delivering an end to direct and structural violence, asarmed confrontations particularly in Greater Upper Nile continued.This stagnation in building peace can be explained by the lack of legitimacy of theprevailing political and economic state order. In a post-war situation, as in the case ofSouthern Sudan, statebuilding based on a partnership with the leadership of the dominantlocal actor alone is not enough to generate local legitimacy, and significantly and sustainablyimprove the conditions rife with direct and structural violence.As a result, the short-term peace-through-statebuilding in Southern Sudan during 2005-2011 failed to match the set expectations. Rather, it is suggested here that in order toeventually achieve conditions of positive peace a consistent long-term commitment tonationbuilding to bring unity and legitimacy to the state is necessary. As argued by others,such nationbuilding should draw from neutral but complex enough symbols with room formeaningful inclusive interpretations. This should accompany state policy focused oncooperation and inclusivity, instead of exclusion and confrontation, specifically targetingmarginalized groups (i.e. through the provision of services and economic opportunities).Therefore, combining statebuilding with a clear and systematic approach of inclusivenationbuilding appears to be the strategegy that promotes the gradual transition towardssustainable peace and stronger and more legitimate state.34
UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (Octubre / October 2013) ISSN 1696-2206POST-CONFLICT DECENTRALIZATION:DYNAMICS OF LAND AND POWER IN UNITY STATE – SOUTHSUDANSara de Simone 1University of Naples L’OrientaleAbstract:Decentralized state-building in post-conflict settings is believed to bring about a number of positive outcomes that rangefrom increased government accountability and local participation, to internal stability thanks to higher opportunity ofpolitical engagement. South Sudan is currently undertaking a decentralization process supported by internationalorganizations through the institutionalization of the local administration system shaped during the war in SPLM controlledareas. Through the analysis of Unity State case study, this article shows how, despite being at a very initial phase, localgovernment reforms in South Sudan are producing new localized disputes over access to resources that articulate themselvesas border disputes. These disputes ultimately revolve around the access to resources, but also keep a tribal characteristic dueto the overlapping of customary and administrative domains that entrenches local perceptions of access to land and servicesbeing granted based on tribal affiliation.Keywords: South Sudan, Decentralization, Internal Borders, Resources Access.Resumen:Se cree que la construcción estatal descentralizada en escenarios post-conflicto trae consigo, gracias a la mayoroportunidad de participación política, una serie de resultados positivos que van desde un aumento de los mecanismosgubernamentales de rendición de cuentas y de la participación local hasta la estabilidad interna. Sudán del Sur estállevando a cabo actualmente, con el apoyo de organizaciones internacionales, un proceso de descentralización a través dela institucionalización del sistema de administración local configurado durante la guerra en las zonas controladas por elMLPS. Mediante el análisis del Estado de Unidad como estudio de caso este artículo muestra cómo, a pesar de estar en unafase muy inicial, las reformas del gobierno local en Sudán del Sur están produciendo nuevos conflictos localizados por elacceso a los recursos que se articulan como disputas fronterizas. Estas disputas giran en última instancia en torno alacceso a los recursos, pero también mantienen características tribales debido a la superposición de los ámbitosconsuetudinarios y administrativos, lo cual afianza la percepción local de que el acceso a la tierra y a los servicios seotorga en función de la afiliación tribal.Palabras clave: Sudán del Sur, descentralización, fronteras interiores, acceso a los recursos.Copyright © UNISCI, 2013.Las opiniones expresadas en estos artículos son propias de sus autores, y no reflejan necesariamente laopinión de UNISCI. The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors, and do notnecessarily reflect the views of UNISCI1 Sara de Simone is a PhD candidate in African Studies at University of Naples L’Orientale, Department of Asia,Africa and Mediterranean. She holds a Master Degree in Development Studies and started to work on localconflict management in South Sudan in 2010. Her main research areas are: local governance, decentralization,local conflict management. She can be reached at sara.desimone@gmail.com. Department of Asia, Africa eMediterranean, University of Naples L’Orientale, Palazzo Corigliano, Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore 12, 5 thfloor -80134 Napoli.35
Page 1 and 2: ISSN 1696-2206 Nº 33 Octubre /Octo
Page 3 and 4: Juan Emilio CheyreDirector, Center
Page 5 and 6: UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (O
Page 33: UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (O
Page 85 and 86:
UNISCI Discussion Papers, Nº 33 (O
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
Page 159 and 160:
Page 161 and 162:
Page 163 and 164:
Page 165 and 166:
Page 167 and 168:
Page 169 and 170:
Page 171 and 172:
Page 173 and 174:
Page 175 and 176:
Page 177 and 178:
Page 179 and 180:
Page 181 and 182:
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 189 and 190:
Page 191 and 192:
Page 193 and 194:
Page 195 and 196:
Page 197 and 198:
Page 199 and 200:
Page 201 and 202:
Page 203 and 204:
Page 205 and 206:
Page 207 and 208:
Page 209 and 210:
Page 211 and 212:
Page 213 and 214:
Page 215 and 216:
Page 217 and 218:
Page 219 and 220:
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
Page 225 and 226:
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229 and 230:
Page 231 and 232:
Page 233 and 234:
Page 235 and 236:
Page 237 and 238:
Page 239 and 240:
Page 241 and 242:
Page 243 and 244:
Page 245 and 246:
show all

UNISCI - Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?