Faith-Based Mediation?
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Faith-based Mediation? Sant’ Egidio’s peace efforts in Mozambique and Algeria Nikolai Hegertun Master Thesis Peace and Conflict Studies UNIVERSITETET I OSLO May 2010 ii Faith-based Mediation? Sant’ Egidio’s peace efforts in Mozambique and Algeria Nikolai Hegertun Master Thesis Peace and Conflict Studies UNIVERSITETET I OSLO May 2010 iii © Nikolai Hegertun 2010 Faith-based Mediation? http://www.duo.uio.no/ Trykk: Reprosentralen, Universitetet i Oslo iv Summary The objective of the study is threefold: first, to describe in what ways, if any, the Catholic community of Sant’ Egidio contributed to the conflict resolution of the Mozambican civil war and the negotiation for the Algerian crisis in 1994-95. Second, analyze to what extent Sant’ Egidio’s contributions in Mozambique and Algeria were expressions of faith-based mediation. Finally, to analyze why this form of mediation worked in Mozambique and failed in Algeria. The insights from theories and research on religious actors’ potential and efforts in peacemaking indicate that these actors’ views on how to reach an agreement differs from some of the traditional interest-based theories on negotiations derived from rational actor models. The faith-based approach emphasises the psychological factors of a conflict to a stronger degree than more traditional approaches, whose emphasis lies on the incompatible goals and issues of the conflict. On the basis of the research question the thesis discusses two hypotheses: first, that the hallmarks of faith-based mediation were salient in the resolution of the Mozambican conflict and in the negotiations for Algeria. Second, that religion played a key role in the negotiation and that it played out positively for the mediators in Catholic Mozambique and negatively in Muslim Algeria. The findings indicate that Sant’ Egidio’s contribution was limited, but important, in both cases. Further, certain of the hallmarks of faith-based mediation were present in both cases, thus the evidence supports the idea that faith-based mediation was salient for the negotiations. However, religion did not play a key role in either of the two cases. The outcome of both cases must therefore be attributed to causes beyond religious factors. Religion played a more indirect, albeit positive, role in both cases through the mediators and their approach, most explicitly seen in the initial phases of the negotiations. v Acronyms AIS Islamic Salvation Army ANC The African National Congress ANP The Popular National Army of Algeria FFS The Front of Socialist Forces FIS The Islamic Salvation Front FLN The National Liberation Front FRELIMO The Liberation Front of Mozambique GIA Armed Islamic Group of Algeria IMF The International Monetary Fund JMC Jeunesse Musulmane Contemporaine LADDH The Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights MDA The Movement for Democracy in Algeria ONUMOZ United Nations Operation in Mozambique PRA The Party for Algerian Renewal RCD The Rally for Culture and Democracy party RENAMO The Mozambican National Resistance ZANU The Zimbabwe African National Union UN United Nations vi Foreword In what better ways can a student spend his formative years during one’s education than to study conflict resolution? I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend the most important weeks and months of my academic career scrutinizing and learning about how people can meet the appalling, but none the less, constant challenge of conflict. The academic realm of conflict resolution, negotiation and mediation is a vast area of research. My modest hope was to find a small piece within this realm with aspects still uncovered, and nuances still worth analysing, in order to contribute to our knowledge in the field. vii Acknowledgements Jon Hovi for patient, quick and concrete guidance, The Oslo Center for Peace and Human rights for providing contacts, inspiration and good reputation, Ingrid Vik for the tough, but necessary questions, My informants for participating in interviews and thus realizing my thesis, Aashild, Karin and Anne Julie for all the essential nuts and bolts, Ingrid and my family for advice, financial support and encouragement – Thank you. Lørenskog, May 2010 Nikolai Hegertun viii List of contents 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background and research questions............................................................................... 1 1.2 Literature review and knowledge-gaps .......................................................................... 2 1.3 Research Method............................................................................................................ 8 1.3.1 Case Studies ............................................................................................................... 8 1.3.2 Qualitative interviews ................................................................................................ 9 1.3.3 Triangulation............................................................................................................ 10 1.3.4 Challenges................................................................................................................ 11 1.4 Thesis Outline .............................................................................................................. 11 2 Empirical background............................................................................................... 13 2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Sant’ Egidio.................................................................................................................. 13 2.3 Mozambique................................................................................................................. 15 2.3.1 Independence............................................................................................................ 15 2.3.2 African summits........................................................................................................ 17 2.3.3 The Catholic Church................................................................................................ 18 2.3.4 Sant’ Egidio and Mozambique................................................................................. 19 2.4 Algeria.......................................................................................................................... 22 2.4.1 Algerian power structure ......................................................................................... 22 2.4.2 Democratic reforms and coup d’ état ...................................................................... 24 2.4.3 Sant’ Egidio and Algeria.......................................................................................... 25 2.4.4 The Talks .................................................................................................................. 27 2.5 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 29 3 Theoretical background and new approaches......................................................... 31 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 31 3.2 Mediation ..................................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Faith-based mediation .................................................................................................. 33 3.3.1 The new vision and increased common ground based on religious principles........ 34 3.3.2 The mediator’s position and identity........................................................................ 37 3.3.3 Healing of relationships and collective wounds ...................................................... 38 3.3.4 Informal Track Two approaches.............................................................................. 39 3.4 The «Human» approach ............................................................................................... 39 3.4.1 Attitudes, perceptions and faith................................................................................ 40 3.4.2 Lack of manipulative means..................................................................................... 42 3.4.3 Contextual caveat..................................................................................................... 45 3.4.4 Hypotheses ............................................................................................................... 45 3.5 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 46 4 Analysis of faith-based aspects.................................................................................. 47 4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 47 4.2 The new vision and increased common ground based on religious principles............ 47 ix 4.2.1 Religious legitimacy................................................................................................. 48 4.2.2 Preliminary findings................................................................................................. 49 4.3 The mediator’s position and identity...........................................................................