[TimorLesteStudies] Dissertation on Post-Conflict Peacebuilding - Lessons from UNTAET (and Cambodia)

[Jennifer Drysdale]

Contact Mark Giffard-Lindsay for a copy - mgl at alumni.ids.ac.uk

Post-Conflict Peacebuilding:  Lessons from UN Transitional 
Administrations in Cambodia and East Timor

By Mark Gifford-Lindsay, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex.

Summary

During the past 15 years, the international community has played an 
increasingly assertive role in post-conflict peacebuilding.  Yet the 
lack of long-term success in this critical area suggests that there 
is still much to be learned for improved practice.
This paper seeks to address this need for policy research by studying 
two unprecedented test-cases in peacebuilding: the UN transitional 
administrations in Cambodia (1992-1993) and East Timor 
(1999-2002).  The paper distinguishes the 'cosmetic' causes of each 
mission's flaws from the fundamental or 'root' causes of failure, 
which have arguably contributed towards problematic outcomes in each 
state.  The root causes of mission failure are highly influenced by 
structural conditions, including legacies of conflict, and in the 
conception and design of international intervention.
The paper suggests priorities to improve the design of peacebuilding 
missions.  Further studies in how to involve the early participation 
and consensus of domestic actors in the conception, design, planning 
and implementation of peacebuilding structures are recommended.

Contents
Summary 
2
Acronyms 
5
Preface 
6
1.0  Introduction 
                                   7
2.0  Peacebuilding and Transitional 
Administrations:                                   9
Theory and Discourse
3.0  Introduction to Case 
Studies                                                              14
4.0  Evaluation of the UN Transitional Authority in 
Cambodia                    18
4.1  Political 
Context 
18
4.2  Assessment of UNTAC's 
effectiveness                                              19
4.21  The Paris Agreement Goals and UNTAC's 
Mandate                       19
4.22  UNTAC's 
Achievements                                                                 20
4.23  Cosmetic Causes of 
Failure                                                              22
4.231  Cantonment, Disarmament and 
Demobilisation                               23
4.232  Supervise and Control SoC 
Adminstration                                     25
4.24  Root Causes of UNTAC's 
Flaws                                                    26
4.241  Unreconciled Intra-Elite Power 
Struggles                                       26
4.242  Flaws in the 
PPA 
27
4.3  Section 
Conclusion 
31
5.0  Evaluation of the UN Transitional Administration in East 
Timor           33
5.1  Political 
Context 
33
5.2  Assessment of UNTAET's 
Effectiveness                                            34
5.21  Resolution 1272 and UNTAET's 
Mandate                                      34
5.22  UNTAET's 
Achievements                                                               35
5.23  Cosmetic Causes of 
Failure                                                              38
5.231  Accountability and Legitimacy of 
UNTAET                                    38
5.232  Public 
Administration 
40
5.233  The Rule of Law and Security Sector 
Reform                                 41
5.24  Root Causes of UNTAET's 
Flaws                                                   44
5.241  Peacekeeping over 
Peacebuilding                                                   44
5.242  Inadequate State-building Capacity Within the UN System             46
5.3  Section 
Conclusion 
49
6.0  Priorities for Improved Peacebuilding 
Practice                                    51
6.1  The Peacemaking Process and Mission 
Design                                   51
6.2  The Rule of Law and Security Sector 
Reform                                     53
6.21  The Rule of 
Law 
53
6.22  UN 
Police 
53
6.23  Demobilsation, Disarmament and 
Reintegration                                 54
6.3  Institution-Building and 
Capacity-Building                                           54
7.0  Conclusion 
                                  56
Bibliography 
58
Appendix 
A 
66
Appendix 
B 
73
Appendix 
C 
75
Appendix 
D 
77
Appendix 
E 
81
Appendix 
F 
83
Appendix 
G 
85