It is when fear becomes part of the social fabric of society that the spoils of abused power become most lucrative. Amidst reports of decreased levels of physical violence in the run up to the 31 March election in Zimbabwe…
In this presentation, Graeme Simpson addresses some of the simplistic myths about solutions to social conflict, and then reflects on problems that he has experienced with aid efforts organised by the international community, through the United Nations. He does this by focusing on Bosnia. The second part of his presentation addresses what he sees as the flawed assumptions that often underlie the emphasis on economic reconstruction in the wake of war and conflict.
Since the beginning of the negotiation process in South Africa, the civic movement has moved away from a culture of resistance towards one of development. This paper argues that development projects, even in coherent communities, can serve as a catalyst for a great deal of internal conflict. It also argues that the way forward is to recognise the conflictual nature of development, and to negotiate within the "community" on this basis.