Recognizing Patterns Within
Deeply Divided Societies
Evaluating Peace Processes to Create a Solution to
Conflict
Chrystine Lake
December 1, 2008
Capstone 499
Dr. Jeremy Lewis
An Introduction to Conflict…
Many societies are divided by ethnic, religious, and nationalistic
issues…
The process by which a nation hopes to eliminate these conflicts
and create stability and security is referred to as the ‘peace
process’.
The Purpose of this Research…
Evaluating the peace process of a deeply divided
society can help to illuminate patterns within that
process that can help other countries facing
similar issues.
By analyzing these process, I hope to establish why
certain methods work and if a universal method
of resolution can be established.
Evaluating the Peace
Process…
Three case
studies are
analyzed:
South Africa
Northern Ireland
Palestine
South Africa
The Conflict
The result of decolonization, 1948.
The system of apartheid.
Life under the National Party.
Violence within the movement.
The Origins of the Peace
Process
The 1970’s…
The Nationalism Movement.
The International Community.
The Peace Process
F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.
1990’s legislation repeals.
Forming a new government.
Ideological Solutions.
Northern Ireland
The Conflict
The Fight for Irish Independence.
Unionist v. Nationalist, Protestant v. Catholic.
Partition.
British and Irish Influences.
Deaths in Northern Ireland Conflict, 1969-1983
Year
Unionist
British
Nationalist
Civ.
Total
1969
1
0
1
0
0
0
12
13
1970
2
0
2
0
0
0
23
25
1971
11
0
11
43
5
48
115
174
1972
14
3
17
103
26
129
321
467
1973
10
3
13
58
8
66
171
250
1974
12
3
15
28
7
35
166
216
1975
7
4
11
14
6
20
216
247
1976
13
10
23
14
15
29
245
297
1977
8
6
14
15
14
29
69
112
1978
4
6
10
14
7
21
50
81
1979
9
5
14
38
10
48
51
113
1980
3
6
9
8
9
17
50
76
1981
13
8
21
10
13
23
57
101
1982
8
4
12
21
7
28
57
97
1983
9
9
18
5
10
15
44
77
Origins of the Peace Process
The 1960’s…
The Sunningdale Agreement of 1973
The International Community
The Hume-Adam’s Talks
The Peace Process
Legislation in the 1990’s…
The Frameworks Documents
Self-Determination, Decommissioning,
the Irish Dimension, and Direct Rule
The Belfast Agreement of 1998.
Palestine
The Conflict
Creating a new state in 1947…
The International Dimension.
Religious and ethnic tension.
The Origins of the Peace Process
Resolution 242.
International Influence.
How to approach it…
Questions to ask…
What similarities in conflict
are apparent between these
societies?
What similarities in conflict
resolution are apparent
between these societies?
Can these similarities create a
consensus to form a
universal method of
conflict resolution in deeply
divided societies?
Similarities in Conflict
Marginalization
Nationalism
Cultural Tension
Inequality
Violence
Similarities in Resolution
The International Dimension
Power-Sharing
Decommissioning
Self-Determination
The ‘Last Resort’
Creating a Universal Method
Applying these similarities to
Palestine…
– Can it work?
Conclusions…
Resources
Byrnes, Rita M.1997. ‘South Africa: A Country Study.’ Washington D.C: Federal
Research Division.
Hennessey, Thomas.2001. ‘The Northern Ireland Peace Process: Ending the
Troubles?’ New York: Palgrave Publishers Ltd.
Lea, David. 2002. ‘A Survey of Arab-Israeli Relations 1947-2001.’ London:
Europa Publications, Ltd.
Mitchell, Paul and Rick Wilford. 1999. ‘Politics in northern Ireland.’ Boulder, CO:
Westview Press.
Taylor, Alan R. and Richard N. Tetlie. 1970. ‘Palestine: A Search for Truth,
Approaches to the Arab-Israeli Conflict.’ Washington D.C.: Public Affairs
Press.