Disarmament vs. Demilitarization

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A Conflicts Forum Monograph by Alastair Crooke

In 2006, the United States Institute of Peace generously provided a grant to Conflicts Forum to conduct a research study on “Disarmament vs. Demilitarization” in the context of the current Lebanese political environment. The goal of the study is to research and determine what set of strategies were followed by diplomats in previous conflicts — from the civil war in Namibia to the crisis in Northern Ireland. Does the practice of requiring resistance groups to “disarm” prior to negotiations work? How stringently has such a policy been followed? In keeping with this research project, Conflicts Forum Director Alastair Crooke has completed a study of the Namibia conflict. His monograph, “Disarmament and Demilitarization in Namibia” is published here. It is supplemented by an interview with Chester Crocker, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 1981 to 1987. Ambassador Crocker is the architect of the U.S. policy of “constructive engagement”and is credited with setting the terms of Namibian independence. Alastair Crooke’s monograph and Chester Crocker’s reflections on the issue of disarmament vs. demilitarization highlight the issues involved in the debate over how to engage Islamist resistance movements in the Middle East.