Anga R. Timilsina, "Getting the Policies Right: The Prioritization and Sequencing of Policies in Post-Conflict Countries"
Publisher: RAND Institute | 2007 | ISBN R20070921B | PDF | 185 pages | 10.3 MB
One of the most pressing issues in the post-conflict reconstruction field is how to prioritize and sequence political, social, and economic policies to enable post-conflict countries to sustain peace and reduce the risk of violence re-occurring. Analyzing three cases of post-conflict reconstruction (Cambodia, Mozambique, and Haiti) and expert opinions of 30 academicians and practitioners, this study identifies major reconstruction policies, outlines the preferred way to prioritize and sequence them, and develops a framework to help policymakers better navigate the complexities and challenges of forming appropriate policies. Security and development are interdependent: Development fosters security and security fosters development. However, in the early stages of reconstruction in most post-conflict countries, security must be achieved first. Without a sustained improvement in the security situation, other reconstruction efforts, such as relief efforts, political reforms, democratization, economic reform and reconstruction, are not possible. However, the question of how to achieve security is a contextspecific. After security, important policy priorities should be building effective, accountable, and inclusive governance institutions, institutionalizing democracy at the national and local levels through free, fair, participatory, and inclusive elections. Similarly, economic stabilization is needed to revive market, attract investment, generate employment opportunity, and create an environment for economic recovery and stability.