CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2022
| Author | Abi Ghanem Nassim |
|---|---|
| Title | Civil Society Organizations in Demobilization and Reintegration: the Ties and Lives of Ex-combatants in Lebanon |
| Summary | The efforts of local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) often go unnoticed in the process of Disarmament, Demobilization and Registration (DDR). In theory and in practice, activities that local CSOs in DDR are tasked with are limited to dialogue sessions between ex-combatants, with community members in conflict and enhancing vocational skills of ex-combatants in preparation for the job market. Nevertheless, research conducted on CSOs as designers and implementers of DDR processes is limited. Namely, the scholarly work in this area lacks the conceptualization of the conditions and mechanisms that allow local CSOs to emerge as a significant actor in the design and implementation of activities that are sustainable in demobilizing and reintegrating ex-combatants. The central question this research posits is: what role do CSOs have in demobilizing fighters away from the battlefield and reintegrating them into larger society? This research builds on a case study in the city of Tripoli where local CSOs were active in designing and implementing DDR programs during the violent clashes between the Sunni’s and Alawittes’ militant groups between 2011 and 2014. Utilizing Social Network Analysis (SNA) to unpack the relational ties that local CSOs foster in conflict contexts, I focus on the concept of brokerage as an essential component for effective DDR programs whereby CSOs forge ties between members of both fighting camps. To triangulate this work, I adopt life course analysis using biographical narrative interviews with the ex-combatants to follow the impacts that the activities conducted by the CSOs’ networks had on their lives. The findings of this research show that: first, as highlighted by the SNA, the local CSOs were successful in DDR by being the brokers between the two warring factions. Brokerage was highly effective in demobilizing and aiding ex-combatants in reintegration through slowly bridging ex-combatants from both communities. In turn, the CSOs’ activities encouraged ex-combatants to work together for the city. Second, the CSOs’ bridging network activities were essential to put ex-combatants back on the civilian life path. The CSO’s network and operations were a turning point in the lives of ex-combatants, moving them away from a militant life trajectory into a civilian life. The network’s activities strengthened the network further, allowing for an even more robust nudge of ex-combatants towards peace. Third, both analytical frameworks explain how the CSOs’ network broke the ties of ex-combatants with their commanders, prohibiting the latter from maintaining the leverage to remobilize them in the future. The presence of the network allowed ex-combatants to rebuild their social capital with the CSOs, other ex-combatants and members of the community. Finally, this research draws out a set of practical strategies for CSOs to be effective in DDR. These strategies do not necessarily apply to all contexts but form a solid base that CSOs can build on. Furthermore, this research contributes to developing a conceptual framework that would lead to more successful CSO-based DDR programs based on the CSOs’ prioritization to bridging across fighting factions and creating spaces for ex-combatants to express themselves. |
| Supervisor | Jenne, Erin Kristin |
| Department | Political Science PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2022/abi_nassim.pdf |
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