Political Science Intervention and Post-Conflict Growth - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated Bibliography, Political Science Intervention and Post-Conflict Growth Armstrong, Nicholas and Chura –Beaver, Jacqueline. Harnessing Post- Conflict Transitions, (2010): 1-91. The authors explain the political science intervention in post-conflict situations like in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Sources of information include the military officials of the United States Army. The tones of the article include the importance of transitions in political, security, and economic in post-conflict countries will be a key to a peaceful society. The changes seen in Iraq and Afghanistan both political and economic have not achieved much in the post-conflict growth. Transitions are important in post-conflict situations in that they bring out flexible environment for political, social and security reforms in the affected country. The point of debate is as to whether these transitions have achieved their goals in the long-term or not. The perspective analyzed in this article has a different approach from other articles because in majors in transitions. Collier, Paul. “Development and,” Centre for Study of African Economies, Department of Economics, Oxford University, (2007): 1-12. Accessed on September 30, 2014. http://www.un.org/esa/documents/Development.and.Conflict2.pdf. Collier has drawn his attention to development intervention and post-conflict by analyzing civil wars that occurred from 1965-1999. In his view, civil wars are caused by various reasons including unequal allocation of resources and ethnicity. Hence, during the intervention, different methods can be used to end the conflict. Such interventions include dialogue or diplomacy, sanctions, and military intervention. The post-conflict consequences are, usually, enormous in that it retards the economic growth of the affected country and leads to massive loss of life and property. Consequently, I found this source critical to the topic as it shows how post-conflict situations leads to serious problems like increased military spending that can lead to suspicion and outbreak of another civil conflict. Furthermore, what we can learn from this source is that conflicts are disastrous, and various governments should put in place mechanisms that promote democracy and equality amongst its citizens to prevent the outbreak of a civil conflict. Collie has used a systematic, methodological approach and case studies to authenticate his work like the civil war in Zaire and Sri Lanka. The sources of data that Collier relies on including journal of African economies, European economic review and print media from the Oxford University press. He is speaking from the analytical point of view where he addresses the reduction of civil war like extending trade opportunities and improving the governance of the natural resources. Additionally, in post-conflict situations a good political design should be drawn, and economic recovery put in place to ease tension between warring parties. Collie is addressing the causes and the consequences of a civil conflict and their solutions. I agree with his design in that conflict are caused unequal allocation of resources, and they can be prevented if governments adapt good governance across the world. There is an excellent connection of this source with other sources in that it addresses both sides of the problem like causes, intervention, and solutions of conflicts across the world. There are various observations concerning causes of conflicts. An example of observation is that low-income countries have been highly hit due to poor management of resources. Hence, this source adequately addresses the intervention measures of a conflict and measures that should be put in place for the post-conflict growth. Collier, Paul, Hoeffler, Ankle and Soderborn, Mans. “Post conflict Risks.” Center for Study of African Economies, Department of Economics, Oxford University. Accessed on September 29, 2014. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTCONFLICT/Resources/PCP3797CollierHoefflerSoderbom.pdf. The authors are concerned with the risks associated with post conflict situations. In their view, aid and policy reforms in the affected countries help to reduce the risk of conflict. This is helpful in that economic development can significantly reduce the risk of conflict. From this article, I learn that if there is a steady and equal economic development conflicts across the world, conflict could be reduced. The authors have used 74 post conflict occurrences to support their claims. Research has shown that increase of military spending after a conflict can lead to the recurrence of the conflict. Sources of data include the UN expenditure data and the CPIA. The scholars are speaking from an economic view on the economic effects those conflicts have on the economy. From the above scenario, countries emerging from conflicts should practice democracy and reformation of their institutions thus lowering the occurrence of another conflict. My point of agreement with the authors is that conflict damage the economy of the country. Additionally, post conflict situations peace is fragile, and support of the World Bank is necessary for funding in quest for conflict reduction. The authors of this source have similar thoughts with others in that they predict that in post conflict situations peace is weak and strong transformation processes are crucial in support of a stable economy. Moreover, this source has used models and equations, which are not used in other sources to give their predictions on post conflict situations. Consequently, the source contains critical information on economic scenarios in post conflict situations supported by models equations thus a real source for the literature review. Feigs, Florian. “Post-Conflict development in Bosnia Harzegovinia.” The hindrances to the Local Social Economic Development in Mostar, (2006): 1-128. Feigs article features the situation in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and harzegovinia ten years after the end of the civil war. The source is helpful in this topic in that it addresses a case study in a post-conflict environment. In this scenario, we learn that the local economy is still faced with challenges as the result of the transition from socialist to a market economy. The methodological approach applied in this research study is a series of interviews carried out in the city of Mostar concerning the economic wellbeing ten years after the end of the conflict. The sources of data in this research study involves interviews. After analysis it was found that economic, internal and external political interference including social factors affect the local development. The author is speaking from an economic point of view in that in Bosnia and Harzegovinia despite of the economic and social changes in the local level, not much has changed because the poverty and unemployment is still a challenge. The authors message implies that the cycle of poverty will still go on if major transitions do not occur in the local levels. It is evident that though there was a transformation in this society there are still challenges that are far worse than the ones that existed before the civil conflict. Consequently, the source agrees with other sources as it focuses on similar post-conflict problems and their mitigation measures. Hence, the source gives strong evidence on what has happened in the economic transformation in the City of Mostar, Bosnia, and Harzegovinia at large. This is because internal and external influences can derail the development of the country. Flores, Thomas E., and Nooruddin, Irfan. "Credible Commitment in Post-Conflict Recover." London: Edward Elgar. Accessed on 26th September 2014. http://politicalscience.osu.edu/faculty/nooruddi/research/floresnooruddin.handbook2011.pdf. The authors have given a picture of post-conflict situations. It claims that elections and inclusive governments are essential for long prevailing peace. Post-conflict growth depends on the policy initiatives implemented after the conflict. About 20 million, people have died in conflicts since 1945 according to World Bank figures. Scholars have used an economic perspective to verify their claims. The article highlights that civil wars are not necessary in that they worsen the situation through economic degradation. The source links with other sources in that it speaks from the same tone of the intervention to conflicts like inclusivity in government and use of elections to reduce conflicts. Power sharing and external interventions are shown to help in post-conflict economic growth. The source seems to give high points on matters related post-conflict mitigation including the use of elections, domestic solutions, external interventions and power sharing as the best intervention in the post-conflict situations. Haar, Rohini Jonnalagadda and Rubenstein, Leonard S. “Health in Post conflict and Fragile,” United States Institute of Peace. Accessed on 29 September 2014. http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/S+R_301.pdf. The authors focus on instability in United States and its primary cause being the health sector. The source is helpful in this topic because it does not involve an armed conflict, but a scarcity of health facilities can spark a conflict even in a stable economy. The author has used data from the United States Institute of Peace to show that depleting health systems can contribute to conflicts within the states. The authors speak from the clinical and public health perspective that non-provision of health services by relevant governments can spark a conflict. The authors have focused in public health and have shown that if the government does not provide excellent health facilities and services to its citizens a conflict can arise and affect citizens. They have emphasized that provision of good healthcare is essential for the coexistence of a society. From my perspective, it is not in all societies that have good healthcare that stability can prevail. This source has a great connection to other sources in that poor provision of health services to citizens of a country can spark a conflict in that country. This document can as well contribute to the final literature review in that it gives an alternative source of conflict in the society that does not directly use arms. In addition, it strengthens the final literature by emphasizing that a society conflicts can be reduced it good health services could be provided to people by the relevant governments. Kumar, Krishna. “Promoting Social Reconciliation in Post-conflict Societies.” U.S. Agency for International Development. Accessed 29 September 2014. http://www.oecd.org/derec/unitedstates/35112635.pdf. Kumar analyzes the political rehabilitation in post-conflict societies like Rwanda, South Africa, Middle East and Europe. The article is helpful in that it shows how conflict can be neutralized by the use of the media, political reconciliation, and internal assistance. The author has used various countries from the entire world and has shown clearly how conflicts brought down the economy and division amongst warring parties. There is a greater focus on political reconciliation. The source of information is the USAID report on operations. The author is speaking on the methods that can promote reconciliation in post-conflict societies. I agree with the author that post-conflict societies need reconciliatory programs to rebuild their economy and society. The text related to other sources as it also shows ways of resolving conflicts through elections and government inclusivity like the case of South Africa. The source connects well with others in that it touches issues related to healthcare whereby all citizens should equally access healthcare services. The article will be useful in the final literature review for its extensive coverage of the reconciliatory strategies in conflict zones. Patterson, William. “The Role of Internal Policing in Post Conflict Development: The Case of Liberia.” CEU Political Science Journal 4, no.1:103-125. Patterson focuses on the role of United Nations international policing contingents in building post conflict countries case study of Liberia. The article uses Colliers concept of "conflict trap" and how the UN peacekeeping forces have helped restore stability in conflict-hit countries. The primary sources of data include the UN Security Council Reports and Colliers data concepts of conflict trap. The author is speaking from a political perspective where claims that the UN peacekeeping missions have not been well featured in the contribution of peace and security in conflict hit countries. Conflict trap is a vicious cycle of poverty where conflict can lead to another conflict. The source has made it clear the International UN peacekeeping force has played a critical role in the stability and economic development in conflict hit nations. The source has similar observations with other sources because it highlights the role of the military in post conflict economic development. The article focuses on the Vicious cycle of poverty that has not been covered another article. There has been debate on the role of the policing contingents in their role on economic development from various political scientists and analysts. However, most of the writers have concluded that the policing contingents are crucial in the stability of a conflict-hit country. The source has strong arguments on the importance of peacekeepers and their role in economic development of a conflict-hit nation. Read More