Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian- Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Larissa Sotieva and Juliet Schofield February Independent Peace Associates 2021 Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Authors Larissa Sotieva and Juliet Schofield Independent Peace Associates (Indie Peace) Published by Independent Peace Associates © Independent Peace Associates, 2021, all rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union under conditions. Independent Peace Associates Ltd is a company limited by guarantee, no. 12182214. Registered office 34b York Way, London N1 9AB, United Kingdom. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union under the European Union Responsive Resource Fund implemented by the United Nations Development Programme. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Independent Peace Associates and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union nor the United Nations Development Programme. Contents Contents About Independent Peace Associates 5 About the authors 6 Introduction 7 Background and purpose 8 Methodology 8 Limitations and reflexivity 10 Conceptual framework for conflict transformation 12 The emergence of peacebuilding: motivations and early initiatives 15 Impact and results of peacebuilding and conflict transformation 23 Immediate, accumulated and delayed impacts 24 Personal and individual level transformation 26 Relational level transformation 28 Political and societal level 29 1. The influence of civil society dialogue processes on policy 30 2. Preventing more serious violent escalations 31 3. Human rights and the humanitarian situation 33 4. Public and political discourse 34 5. Civil society development 35 Analysis of facilitating and hindering factors 39 Success factors 40 Hindering (f)actors (operational) 43 • Civil peacebuilding – areas for improvement 43 • International mediators/donors 46 Hindering factors (contextual) 49 • Part 1: Geo-politics, internal politics and public discourse 50 • Part 2: Trauma, insecurity and injustice 54 • Part 3: Nationalism as a source and driver of conflict 60 • Part 4: Education and intergenerational issues 65 The impact of the 2020 Karabakh war on the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian conflict contexts 71 Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Independent Peace Associates 3 Contents Conclusions and recommendations 81 The current state of the peacebuilding sector 83 A holistic approach to conflict transformation – broadening the parameters 85 Thematic recommendations 90 • Trauma, justice, and human security 90 • Public discourse 92 Afterword 97 Annex: Catalogue of initiatives facilitated by international civil society organisations 98 Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Independent Peace Associates 4 About Independent Peace Associates About Independent Peace Associates Independent Peace Associates (Indie Peace), is a conflict transformation organisation specialising in research and analysis, training and facilitation of dialogue to build confidence between communities affected by conflict. Our geographic expertise is mainly in the former Soviet Union, and our principle is to work inclusively in cooperation with all players and across the multiple conflict-divides in the wider region. We offer a transformational peacebuilding model that aims to build intellectual and emotional capital for peaceful social change. Our analysis acknowledges the role of perceptions, emotions and human subjectivity, and our interventions foster greater reflectiveness and critical thinking. We believe that transformation on an individual level can influence change on the social and political levels. Only by understanding all dimensions of a conflict – its psychological, social, political, economic, ethnic, historical, gendered, cultural and other roots – can we develop a conflict-sensitive vision, a strategy to build sustainable peace. Indie Peace is much more than its founders – we work with peace practitioners from around the world who share our vision and values. Our approach encompasses the following: • Researching and analysing conflict causes, consequences and dynamics • Facilitating dialogue processes and exchange between stakeholders in conflict • Consultancy on conflict transformation for conflict stakeholders, third-party mediators • Training in conflict-sensitivity, mediation, critical thinking, community engagement • Peacebuilding project management, monitoring and evaluation. Independent Peace Associates 34b York Way, Kings Cross, London N1 9AB [email protected] www.indiepeace.org Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Independent Peace Associates 5 About the authors About the authors Larissa Sotieva has over 25 years’ experience managing humanitarian, conflict transformation and civic engagement programmes in the former Soviet Union and has a wealth of expertise in political and conflict analysis, facilitation of research and cross-conflict dialogue processes, including high level policy dialogues. Larissa has worked for a number of international organisations in Russia in the North Caucasus and also in the South Caucasus, Central Asia and Ukraine. Between 2006 and 2019, Larissa worked as senior adviser for the Eurasia region with International Alert, after which she founded Independent Peace Associates. Juliet Schofield has over 20 years’ experience managing conflict transformation and civic engagement programmes in the former Soviet Union and western Balkans, working with organisations VSO and International Alert, bringing a wealth of expertise in programme management, design, monitoring and evaluation. She has managed research, dialogue, public education and advocacy initiatives, bringing together conflicting sides, fostering youth engagement, critical thinking and promoting social justice. Juliet also has a degree in Psychosocial Studies and recently has been exploring the use of arts and culture- based approaches for social change inspired by her engagement with cultural dialogue between writers, artists, musicians and public figures from across the Caucasus. Place names Place names and spellings are a source of contention in the Georgian-Abkhaz and South Ossetian contexts. In this paper we use neutral spelling where practical, with the exception of direct quotes which use the phrasing of the speaker in question. Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Independent Peace Associates 6 Introduction Introduction In this chapter Background and purpose 8 Methodology 8 Limitations and reflexivity 10 Notes 11 Analysis of 30+ years of working with conflict in the Georgian-Abkhaz-South Ossetian contexts Independent Peace Associates 7 Introduction Background and purpose The idea for this review of dialogue and conflict transformation initiatives in the Georgian Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetian contexts had been brewing for some time. It arose through a process of regular reflection and the need to understand and acknowledge the current state of peacebuilding in the region today and to explore future possibilities. “It is good that there’s no fighting, but it’s not peace.” The discourse on peacebuilding processes is not unambiguous. One often hears complaints of lack of progress, and there is a sense of exhaustion after years of trying to bring about tangible change in terms of conflict resolution. Peace initiatives appeared to be more defined by their limitations than their vision. Peace actors from all sides and from within the international community appeared to acknowledge that civil peace processes had become stuck, with earlier achievements feeling increasingly distant. There was a sense that something different was needed, but apart from ‘new ideas’, or ‘more/different people’, these peace actors struggled to articulate what. There was also a distinct feeling that with the passing of time, the first-generation peace actors should give way to the younger generations. However, neither group seem prepared for this at present. At the same time, institutional memory of peacebuilding seemed to be fading, along with an understanding of what peacebuilding involves. It was becoming harder to advocate the need for dialogue and articulate its benefits to an increasingly sceptical public. The narrative is that ‘peace’ had not been built, however that was interpreted. A reflection on past peacebuilding processes, going back to the early 1990s, felt necessary to enable people to take a step back, assess achievements, reflect on missed opportunities, understand what resources exist today, and better understand the conflict dynamics in order to identify strategic ways forward. It was also felt that such a reflection would help unlock new ideas, and inject energy, values and momentum into cross-divide dialogue. In this respect, both the process of reflecting on past dialogue and other peacebuilding initiatives was as important as the findings, which are presented here in analytical form and offer an opportunity for further dialogue and discussion on recommendations. Methodology The review began in the summer of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This had implications for the research methodology. What had originally been conceived as a series of in-depth, face-to-face interviews and focus groups supported by some desk review necessarily shifted online.