International studies, Vol. V No. 1, 2005.
Original scientific paper
Post-conflict Elections and the International Community: Principles and Experiences
Boško Picula
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Post conflict elections presents relatively new concept and practice in international relations. This article considers first elections in states after the conclusion of a large internal or international conflict. Post conflict elections bave constantly taken place since 1989, when OUN organized the elections in Namibia. They were followed by a range of post conflict elections like those in Cambodia in 1993, South Africa in 1994, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, Liberia in 1997 and East Timor in 2001, but with different outcomes. The majority of these states succeeded in avoiding open armed conflict, in most of the cases with the help of international community, but it is important to stress that elections per se do not express the beginning of the irreversible process of the reestablishment and maintenance of peace. The complexity and importance of post conflict elections qualifies the international community as their leading initiator and organizer, especially organizations like the OUN and OSCE.
Keywords
elections; conflicts; post-conflict elections; international community; OUN; OESS
Hrčak ID:
289599
URI
Publication date:
15.1.2005.
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