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Improving International Responses to Armed Conflict

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This report summarizes the key points that emerged from the 2008 IPI New York seminar, situates them in recent research on international responses to armed conflict, and provides some thoughts on how to strengthen the multilateral architecture for mounting an improved response. Discussions at the seminar highlighted two core challenges that, while recognized in international policy circles, are not effectively addressed by the institutional mechanisms at our disposal. The first of these is that all conflicts are fundamentally rooted in political dynamics, which highlights the critical importance of understanding local context and finding solutions that resonate with local actors. Although this theme is often repeated as a mantra, international efforts continue to operate without a nuanced understanding of context and tend to marginalize local actors, preventing them from becoming the true drivers of their own recovery. The second is a lack of a coherent and strategic approach by international actors in any given conflict or postconflict situation. Departments, agencies, and organizations within and beyond the UN continue to operate in silos, often at crosspurposes, and fail to fully leverage their collective strength. The proliferation of actors and interests that results from the growing multidimensionality of peace operations and peacebuilding activities seems only to exacerbate the problem.

The first section of this paper explores these two challenges. The second section highlights recent reform efforts and reflects on shortcomings in current practice. The third section analyzes the core obstacles faced by these reform efforts. The final section offers suggestions for overcoming these obstacles.