From Soldiers to Politicians: Transforming Rebel Movements After Civil War

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In the transition from war-torn societies to stable multiparty democracies, what is the role of former rebel leaders? Can rebel movements effectively transform themselves from military to political organizations? ""From Soldiers to Politicians"" explores when and how militias succeed in reorienting their goals and practices toward legitimate political activities, and how external actors can support that practice.The authors present eight theoretically grounded country studies, focusing in each on the historical background of the rebel movement, its (attempted or successful) transformation into a political party, and the factors explaining success or failure. Bridging the academic-policy divide, they identify concrete lessons from previous transformations processes, as well as options for future international involvement. Cover Title page copyright page Contents Acknowledgments ch1-Understanding the Political Transformation of Rebel Movements Rebel Movements: A Short Background A Framework for Analyzing Rebel-to-Party Transformation Factors Influencing the Rebel-to-Party Transformation Process A Special Context Factor: The Role of the International Community Research Background and Case Study Selection Structure of the Book Notes ch2-El Salvador: The Success of the FMLN Conflict Background and the Origins of the FMLN Making Peace FMLN Party Politics After the War (1994–2006) Explaining the Successful Transformation Remaining Challenges Conclusion Notes ch3-Mozambique: RENAMO’s Electoral Success Background: War and the Transition to Peace The Move from Armed Opposition Group to Political Party The Role of International Actors Future Prospects and Challenges Lessons and Recommendations Notes ch4-Sierra Leone: Marginalization of the RUF Country Context: The War in Sierra Leone and How It Ended Transformation from Armed Movement into Political Party The RUFP Today: Leadership, Organization, and Support Conclusion Notes ch5-Burundi: The Deficient Transformation of the CNDD-FDD Background to the Conflict Burundi’s Present Political Context Obstacles to Political Transformation of the CNDD-FDD Factors Enabling Political Transformation of the CNDD-FDD Ongoing Problems Lessons and Recommendations Notes ch6-Palestine:Hamas’s Unfinished Transformation The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict and the Origins of Hamas The Intifada and the Oslo Period (1987–2000) The Al-Aqsa Intifada and Palestinian Elections (2000–2006) The Elections of 2006 and International Boycott of the New Hamas Government The Truce Hamas and the Transformation of Armed Nonstate Actors Future Prognosis Notes ch7-Sudan: The Incomplete Transitionfrom the SPLA to the SPLM The SPLM/A as an African Liberation Movement Origins of the SPLM/A Problems of Political Development Garang’s Leadership of the SPLM/A Current Challenges for the SPLM/A’s Political Transformation Conclusion Notes ch8-Afghanistan:Political Parties or Militia Fronts? Background to the Conflict The Bonn Agreement The Complex Political Landscape of Post-Taliban Afghanistan The Struggle for Power The Flawed DDR Process Different Approaches to Militia-to-Party Transformation Incentives and Obstacles to Transformation The Role of International Actors Lessons, Prospects, and Future Challenges Notes ch9-Sri Lanka: The Continued Armed Struggle of the LTTE Background to the Conflict The Short-Lived Peace Process War Returns Who Are the Liberation Tigers? Failure of Transformation Future Prospects Notes ch10-International Involvement in Rebel-to-Party Transformations Comparing Rebel-to-Party Transformations Explaining the Varying Nature of Transformation Remaining Problems and Dilemmas for International Actors Recommendations for International Actors Notes Acronyms Bibliography The Contributors Index About the Book