Analysing Peacebuilding in Post-Conflict Societies: Lessons from Rwanda and Bosnia

Abstract

The problem of the post-conflict peacebuilding has been one of the most complicated issues in international security and development. Although the end of massive violence is a milestone, it is important to note that maintaining peace at the end of violence requires that structural, political and social is addressed at a structural level. This paper is a reflection on the experiences of peacebuilding in Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are two post-genocide and post-war societies, which developed as a result of extreme violence in the 1990s under high involvement of the international community. The article relies on a comparative qualitative methodology to examine the aspects of institutional reconstruction, strategy of reconciliation and governance reforms, as well as the participation of international actors in both instances. It claims that although Rwanda can be presented as an example of how effective centralized, state-driven peacebuilding can be, Bosnia can be used to show the shortcomings of externally-imposed, fragmented governance structures. The article indicates the lessons that can be learned by peacebuilding practice that include the issue of local ownership, institutional design that is sensitive to context, and stability, justice, and inclusivity balance. These findings help sustain the discussion on ways in which peacebuilding could advance beyond formal peace treaties to long-term and socially institutionalised peace.