Post-Conflict Power-Sharing Agreements: Options for Syria

202 Pages·2018·2.5 MB·English

by  Imad Salamey

Edited by IMAD SALAMEY,
MOHAMMED ABU-NIMER, AND ELIE ABOUAOUN
P O S T - C O N F L I C T
P O W E R - S H A R I N G
A G R E E M E N T S
OPTIONS FOR SYRIA
Post-Conflict Power-Sharing Agreements
Imad Salamey • Mohammed
Abu-Nimer • Elie Abouaoun
Editors
Post-Conflict
Power- Sharing
Agreements
Options for Syria
Editors
Imad Salamey Mohammed Abu-Nimer
Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Peacebuilding and Development
Resolution Institute
Lebanese American University American University
Beirut, Lebanon Washington, District of Columbia
USA
Elie Abouaoun
United States Institute of Peace
Washington, District of Columbia
USA
ISBN 978-3-319-60103-8 ISBN 978-3-319-60104-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-60104-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017945355
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F
oreword
This edition is composed of several contributions made by international
scholars and practitioners, some of whom presented their findings in
November 2016 at an international conference for Conflict Mitigation,
Dialogue and Reconciliation in Syria hosted by the Lebanese American
University (LAU) in collaboration and with the financial support of US
Institute of Peace (USIP) and the International Center for Dialogue
(KAICIID).
The book Post-Conflict Power-Sharing Agreements: Options for Syria
targets academic and a general readership, and serves as a guide for policy
leaders and diplomats examining innovative approaches to conflict resolu-
tion in Syria. The proposition of power-sharing is projected as one of the
key aspects for achieving political transition and conflict resolution in
Syria. Comparative case study analyses are presented in order to explore
power-sharing arrangements that can be applied in the political context of
Syria.
The book surveys comparative power-sharing models implemented in
societies that have faced identity conflicts, with attention given to post- -
conflict designs. It analyzes the success and pitfalls of each under different
circumstances before adopting a potential model for Syria. Several ques-
tions are advanced in order to help guide this research inquiry. What are
the post-conflict power-sharing arrangements that have helped yield polit-
ical settlements and achieve consensus in deeply divided societies? Which
among the set of power-sharing agreements were instrumental in settling
protracted armed conflict and providing a platform for dialogue, negotia-
tion, and conflict mitigation among the different groups contesting
v
vi FOREWORD
power? Which of these different power-sharing designs might be suitable
for Syria? These and other questions are addressed by the different contri-
butions provided in this volume.
The ability of this work to address the identity-conflict aspects of the
war in Syria and assess, from a comparative perspective, various applicable
power-sharing possibilities makes this collection stand out as a distinctive
undertaking in the field of conflict resolution. Its forward orientation that
focuses on the pathways toward conflict mitigation through the potential
construction of power-sharing in Syria helps bridge research with practical
policy outlooks. It, thus, moves the debate beyond what most published
works have offered in terms of conflict mitigation strategies in Syria
through projecting possible power-sharing scenarios.
Another attractiveness of this work lies in bringing together a multiplic-
ity of contemporary and comparative views derived from different interna-
tional perspectives. Hence, it places in the hands of the readers and analysts
a menu of options derived from an international comparative experience
that help inform mediation strategies and political preferences. This will
prove critical in the effort to attain a sustainable post-conflict agreement
in Syria.
C
ontents
1 Comparative Post-conflict Power Sharing Models for Syria 1
Imad Salamey, Mohammed Abu-Nimer, and Elie Abouaoun
The Dilemma of Post-“Arab Spring” Transition 1
Declining States and Rising Communitarianism 4
The Syrian Conflict and Prospective Resolutions 7
Peacebuilding in Syria 10
Power Sharing as Peacebuilding 13
Comparative Power Sharing Agreements 18
Conclusion 20
References 20
2 Resolving Identity Conflict in the Middle
East: A Theoretical Understanding 23
Chahine Ghais
Introduction 23
Theoretical Definition of Identity Conflict 25
Resolving Identity Conflict Through Power Sharing 33
The Syrian Conflict and Consociationalism 37
Conclusion 38
References 39
vii
viii CONTENTS
3 Bridging Elite and Grassroots Initiatives: The Road
to Sustainable Peace in Syria 43
Amal Khoury and Faten Ghosn
Introduction 43
The Syrian Conflict: Dilemmas for Mediators 44
Elite Level Process: Power Sharing Arrangements
and Non-retributive Justice Measures 46
Political Power Sharing + Non-retributive Justice Initiatives 48
Military Power Sharing + Non-retributive Justice Initiatives 50
Economic Power Sharing + Non-retributive Justice Initiatives 52
Local Level Process: Peacebuilding and Reconciliation 53
Conclusion 57
References 58
4 Peacebuilding in Syria Through Power Sharing:
A Study of Possibilities 63
Khairunnisa Aga
Introduction 63
The Consociational Model of Power Sharing 66
Peacebuilding and Power Sharing 68
Indian Power Sharing (1947–67) 69
Lebanese Power Sharing (1943–75) 72
Peace Processes Through Power Sharing in Syria 73
Power Sharing Possibilities in Syria 74
Overarching Loyalty 75
External Threat 75
Tradition of Accommodation 76
Small Population and Territory Size 77
Conclusion 77
References 79
5 Women Leading Reconciliation: A Paradigm Shift
in Conflict Resolutions 83
Sneha Roy
Gender Roles in Peacebuilding 83
Gender Violence in the Syrian Conflict 84
The Existing Debate on Conflict Resolution and Gender 85
Politics, Protection and Privilege 90
The Need for a Paradigm Shift 93
CONTENT S ix
Gender Role in Conflict Reconciliation Among the Syrians 94
Conclusions 96
References 99
6 Pathways to Reconciliation in Divided Societies:
Islamist Groups in Lebanon and Mali 101
Tine Gade and Morten Bøås
Introduction 101
Theological concepts: Meanings and Controversies 102
Reconciliation and Islamist Pathways 103
The Insufficiencies of Classical Approaches 106
Situational Logic and Power Issues 108
The Case of Lebanon: Salafism and the Constraints
of Realpolitik 110
The Case of Mali: Global Religious Cleavages 
or Local Grievances? 114
Conclusion and Some Tentative Lessons for Reconciliation
in Syria 119
References 121
7 Could Partition Be the Way to End the Syrian War? 125
Francisco Salvador Barroso Cortés
and Céline Merheb-Ghanem
Introduction 125
Burdens and Obstacles for the Success of Desecuritization
Strategies 127
The Prospect of Failure for Power Sharing as a Guide
to the Desecuritization of Ethnic Conflicts 132
Pros and Cons of a Partition Plan: A New Course of Action
Proposed by the International Powers: USA and Russia 137
Final Considerations 142
References 145
8 Ways Forward for Syria 149
Imad Salamey and Samuel Rizk
Crisis in Post-Arab Spring National Discourse 149
Conflict Mitigation in Syria 152
Multi-communitarian Consociationalism 153
Power Sharing for Syria: A Reconciliation Pathway 155
x CONTENTS
Peacebuilding Prerequisites for Power Sharing Agreements 159
Conclusion: The Challenges Ahead 161
References 163
Bibliography 165
Index 181