From combatant to civilian : The social reintegration of ex-combatants in Rwanda and the implications for social capital and reconciliation

摘要

In the reconstruction of war-tom societies, the successful reintegration of combatantsudinto the post-conflict environment is recognised to be a vital component in theudpeacebuilding effort. In order to achieve and sustain such reintegration Disarmament,udDemobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programmes are implemented. DDRudliterature advocates the importance of economic reintegration due to the fact it providesuda focus for ex-combatants and thus the possibility of a secure environment. However,udas DDR is studied in greater detail, the limitations of such a narrow focus are becomingudapparent. Moreover, the identified need for the effective social reintegration of excombatantsudis becoming an increasingly more salient issue; particularly whenudconsidering the reconciliation of war-affected communities. Nevertheless, whilst theudimportance of social reintegration may have been recognised, understanding as to theudways in which ex-combatants socially reintegrate, and the effects such reintegrationudmay have on the reconciliation process and the general peacebuilding effort, is in itsudrelevant infancy.udThis research, through fieldwork involving the life history analysis of 50 ex-combatantsudand 22 civilians, along with ethnographic studies of four rural communities and 26 eliteudinterviews with policy makers/implementers, sought to investigate this hiatus within theudcontext of Rwanda. Specifically, it examined the obstacles faced by ex-combatants inudtheir social reintegration and the mechanisms through which ex-combatants areudsuccessful in their endeavours. It then progressed to an elaborate consideration of theudeffects of the successful social reintegration of ex-combatants on the reconciliationudprocess within the peacebuilding environment. It does this by applying the c~ncept ofudsocial capital as a bridge between ex-combatant social reintegration and reconciliation.udThe findings from this research identify a number of significant elements that areudcrucial to the social reintegration of ex-combatants. Additionally, the thesis delineatesudthe importance of such reintegration for the reconciliation and peacebuilding processudand thus signifies the need for a significant reconsideration of the way in which DDRudprogrammes are designed and implemented.