A broad overview of the “internationalization” of peacebuilding in Sri Lanka is given in the beginning of this essay. An analysis of relevant actors and stakeholders is necessary to facilitate understanding of the international involvement while the Conflict Tree tool is used to visualize roots and effects of the difficult situation. Also the relevance of Track I and II approaches during the peacebuilding process and its effects on the conflict dynamics are discussed. Failures made by organizations during and after the Tsunami can be seen as the last straw to a non-reversible critical stance towards international engagement in Sri Lanka. Some of the main flaws will be discussed in detail, as well as organizational tactics to cope with the difficult situation caused by the flawed Tsunami aid response. As a conclusion, there will be a short needs analysis for changes in organizational practices.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 International involvement in a (post) conflict setting
2.1 “Internationalization” of Peacebuilding
2.2 International Stakeholders in the Peace Process
2.3 Tracks
2.4 Conflict Tree
2.5 Tsunami and international aid response
2.5.1 Volunteers
2.5.2 Language barriers & lack of cultural sensitivity
2.5.3 Unbalanced distribution
2.5.4 Media & representation
2.5.5 Politicized and ethnicized context
2.5.6 Competitive situation
2.5.7 Corruption and misappropriation of funds
2.6 Organizational tactics to cope with the situation
3 Conclusion
Objectives & Core Themes
This essay examines the critical stance of Sri Lankan society toward international peacebuilding and humanitarian aid efforts in the context of the country's civil war and the 2004 Tsunami. It seeks to understand the circumstances that led to this skepticism, analyzing the failures and organizational challenges inherent in international intervention.
- The impact of internationalization on peace processes.
- The role and effectiveness of various international stakeholders.
- The limitations of top-down (Track I) vs. grassroots (Track II) approaches.
- Consequences of Tsunami aid, including corruption and cultural insensitivity.
- Organizational strategies and the need for conflict-sensitive programming.
Excerpt from the Book
2.5.1 Volunteers
One of the main problems was the massive amount of unqualified and inexperienced staff employed by INGOs. Young, well-meaning volunteers came from Europe and the US to assist and provide support, whereas “each one of their air tickets and per diems may have paid for the rebuilding of a couple of Tsunami-devastated houses” (Senanayake 2005: 5). Problematically, they lacked development experience and local expertise (cf. ibid.: 8; Gaasbeek 2010: 126).
The initial local response to the disaster was effective: people knew what to do as they used to live in violent conflict and with annual floods for many years (cf. Gaasbeek 2010: 125). There was a pre-existing NGO coordination mechanism and efficient sharing of resources and the government managed to restore roads, fuel and electricity supply within days (cf. ibid.). But as some of the staff working for INGOs were used to operating in “failed states”, they lacked the necessary sensitivity to cooperate properly with the functioning governmental institutions (cf. ibid.).
Additionally, international emergency relief specialists replaced people in several organizations who had worked on the ground for years (cf. ibid.: 134; Fraser 2005: 39-40). International staff took over the leadership rather than being technical advisers. It was very disappointing for Sri Lankan staff to recognize that there was no trust in local knowledge and capacities (cf. Fraser 2005: 40). The foreign experts knew little about Sri Lanka and its people, their social structures and the conflict (cf. ibid.). This led partly to the critical stance of locals to foreign “experts” telling them how to manage their disaster or conflict. Furthermore, INGOs were accused of not consulting local community workers and civil society. A significant part of the population saw the employment of international experts as a waste of money, as the foreigners stayed in expensive accommodations (Mulligan/Nadarajah 2012: 41). The former local mechanisms, which worked well, were replaced when INGOs arrived from the second week onwards.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the civil war in Sri Lanka and outlines the critical reception of international aid, establishing the essay's focus on the failures of post-conflict and Tsunami relief interventions.
2 International involvement in a (post) conflict setting: This core chapter explores the challenges of peacebuilding, the roles of various international actors, and the specific negative impacts of Tsunami aid, including corruption, cultural insensitivity, and organizational mismanagement.
3 Conclusion: This section synthesizes the findings, suggesting that "donor-driven" approaches often exacerbate inequality and calling for conflict-sensitive, participatory programming in future humanitarian crises.
Keywords
Peacebuilding, Sri Lanka, International Aid, Tsunami, Humanitarian Response, Civil War, INGOs, Conflict Transformation, Cultural Sensitivity, Aid Corruption, Stakeholder Analysis, Organizational Tactics, Track Diplomacy, Donor-driven Aid, Reconciliation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The essay explores the critical attitudes of the Sri Lankan population towards international peacebuilding initiatives and humanitarian relief efforts, particularly in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The key themes include international intervention strategies, the effectiveness of aid organizations, the impact of professionalized volunteers, cultural insensitivity, and the political economy of disaster relief.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to understand the factors—such as mismanagement and a lack of local involvement—that have led to the skepticism of the Sri Lankan public toward international organizations and the peace process.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a literature-based analysis and visual tool analysis, specifically applying the "Conflict Tree" model to identify root causes and structural issues within the conflict environment.
What does the main part of the document discuss?
The main body examines the "internationalization" of peace efforts, the roles of global stakeholders, the contrast between official and grassroots diplomacy (Tracks), and the specific flaws identified in the post-Tsunami reconstruction phase.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include Peacebuilding, Humanitarian Response, INGOs, Cultural Sensitivity, Conflict Transformation, and Donor-driven Aid.
How did international staff affect the local disaster response?
The influx of international staff often undermined local expertise, as foreign "experts" frequently bypassed existing local coordination mechanisms and showed insufficient cultural sensitivity, leading to resentment among the affected population.
Why was there a competitive situation among humanitarian organizations?
The author describes a "mushrooming" of organizations driven by the need to secure funding and establish reputations, which often led to the duplication of efforts and an emphasis on "spending funds" rather than meeting real needs.
What is the author's stance on the future of aid in such regions?
The author advocates for "Do No Harm" principles, conflict-sensitive programming, and an exit strategy that favors local participation over neo-liberal, donor-driven approaches.
- Quote paper
- B.A. Michaela Harfst (Author), 2013, Peacebuilding and Aid in Sri Lanka. Consequences of International Intervention in a (Post)Conflict Setting, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/215758
