National Conference as a Strategy for Conflict Transformation and Peacemaking: The Legacy of the Republic of Benin Model

Description

Events in the post Cold War era have challenged the notions of realism and realpolitik, with an upsurge in intrastate conflicts involving other actors than just the state. During this period, the international community has witnessed the limitations of the tenets of realism for addressing disastrous civil wars or ethno-political conflicts internal to the states. Largely because of this, and alongside the emerging field of conflict resolution in western countries, transitional conflict resolution mechanisms emerged with characteristic multi-track diplomacy orientations for solving national problems within African countries. By the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, several African countries, including South Africa, Burundi and Sierra Leone resorted to either a Truth and Reconciliation Commission or an international tribunal to handle violence and restore peace and justice. In the same period, other African countries opted for what was called 'national conference' to solve their national problems and transform conflict into an opportunity for structural change. In February 1990, the Republic of Benin, a small nation-state in West Africa, achieved peace through a national conference. The national conference in Benin was a national gathering for crisis resolution through social debates on critical issues facing the nation, and political decision making for constructive changes. As a pioneer, Benin led the political change movement of the national conference and was later followed by eight other African countries namely, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Mali, Niger, Togo, the Central African Republic, and the former Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. To date, most of the existing literature on the subject explores the phenomenon of national conference as something of a prelude to political transition to multipartyism and democracy. Part of the literature depicts the national conference as a civil coup d'état, and recommends its institutionalization as a system for democratic transitions. This book takes a different approach by conceptualizing the national conference phenomenon as a multi-track diplomacy tool or as a process for conflict transformation and peacemaking. Building upon theories of conflict and conflict resolution, the author analyzes the national conference as a unique diplomatic approach to transforming national crisis, which expands the scope of strategies for peacemaking. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacques KOKO is an Adjunct Professor in the Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA, where he teaches "Peacemaking and peacekeeping", "Conflict and Displacement in Africa", and "Ethnopolitical conflict". A Beninois, Professor Koko has worked as a Senior Social Analyst with the Institut Africain pour le Développement Economique et Social (INADES) in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and as an Associate Researcher with the Université Nationale d'Abomey Calavi in Cotonou (Benin). Correlatively with his teaching position at Seton Hall University, he currently serves as a Senior Political Analyst for Americans for Informed Democracy. He publishes in both English and French. Cover TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS GENERAL INTRODUCTION Brief Country Profile Structure of the Book and Methodological Framework Clarification of Concepts Part I Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Part II Chapter 3 UNDERSTANDING THE CRISIS: ANALYSIS OF THE CRISIS STORY USING THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS Crisis Nature: Actors and Goals in Benin’s 1989 crisis The Government as State Actor: Kérékou and his Regime Civil Society: Students and Teachers, Workers and Trades Unions The National Army Religious Leaders and Intellectual Elites Benin’s Diaspora, Civilian Leaders, and Opposition Groups International Actors: the IMF, the World Bank and France The Benin Crisis seen through Hegelian Dialectic Benin’s Crisis through the Lenses of Karl Marx The Benin Case in the Light of Critical Theory Relative Deprivation and Need Theory in Benin’s Crisis Benin’s Crisis through the Lenses of Galtung’s Conflict Triangle: Crisis Diagnosis Contradictions in Benin’s 1989 Crisis: Goals Incompatibility Attitudes in Benin’s 1989 Crisis Behaviors in Benin’s 1989 Crisis Conflict Spaces Benin’s Crisis and Systems Theory Part III Chapter 4 GENERAL APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING SOCIO-POLITICAL CONFLICT Use of Violence for Conflict Resolution: Philosophical Assumptions Power-Based, Right-Based and Interest-Based Approaches to Conflict Resolution Negotiation as an Interest-Based Approach to Conflict Management and Resolution Some Strategies or Tactics in Negotiation Steps and Use of Integrative Negotiation Cultural Anthropological Perspectives on Negotiation in Africa Use of Mediation for Conflict Management Some Advantages and Challenges of Mediation Towards an Emerging Literature on Indigenous Third Party Interventions in Africa African Cultural Assets for Negotiation and Mediation: Non Exploited Resources Chapter 5 NATIONAL CONFERENCE AS A MULTI-TRACK DIPLOMACY MODEL FOR CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND PEACEMAKING Genesis of the National Conference Epiphany of the National Conference Characteristics of the National Conference The Process of the National Conference The Pre-Conference Phases Recognition of a Problem or Critical Conflict Issue Willingness to Repent or Abandon One’s Low Socio-Political Will (or a Single Party’s Socio-Political Agenda) and Do the Higher Socio-Political Will of the Nation Confession of Wrongdoing Call for a National Conference The Immediate Preparation Phase of the National Conference The In-Conference Phases Introduction or Opening of the Conference Identification of Conflict Issues through Information Gathering Information Collection over National Interests and Aspirations through Debates and Reflective listening Identification of Possible Solutions Declaration and Recognition of the Sovereignty of the Conference, Which Results in Binding Resolutions Design of Criteria for Selecting the Best Resolutions Selection of the Best Resolutions for the Wellbeing of the Citizens General Report Adoption and Recognition of the Resolutions The Post-Conference Phases Referendum on a New Constitution Legislative Elections Presidential Elections The National Conference Compared with Negotiation and Mediation On the Nature of the National Conference On the Objectives of the National Conference On the Process of the National Conference Criteria for Selecting the President of the National Conference Insider Elderliness ‘Spiritualliness’ Integrity and Trustworthiness Emphasis on the Functions of the President of the National Conference Coordination Monition Communication Spiritual Support Facilitation A Checklist for the President’s Daily Review Chapter 6 TRANSFERABILITY OF THE BENIN MODEL: PROMISE AND CHALLENGES Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in Togo Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in the Republic of Congo Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in Gabon Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in Niger Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in the Former Zaïre Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in Mali Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in Chad Socio-Political Crisis and National Conference in the Central African Republic DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS IN THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE National Conference: Effectiveness and Limitations Determinants of Success Recommendations for Divided Societies