Exploring analytical avenues for agonistic peace
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Exploring analytical avenues for agonistic peace Lisa Strömbom1
© Springer Nature Limited 2019
Abstract The main contribution of this article is a rethinking of the peace concept, geared towards the creation of a framework for the analysis of agonistic peace. The literature on agonistic peace has thus far been elaborate in terms of theoretical sophistication. However, the dearth of empirical research on the concept is quite remarkable. This study takes that lacuna as a starting point for the grounding of the agonistic peace concept in empirical research and the creation of an analytical tool which can be utilised in the analyses of peace processes in disparate contexts such as Bosnia–Herzegovina, Israel–Palestine and Northern Ireland. The literature on agonistic peace envisions peace as the creation of a political space where former relations of enmity are reframed into being legitimate adversaries. This article forwards an understanding of two fundamental building blocks for understanding agonistic peace—institutional inclusion and identity change, the two theoretical strands which have rarely been interconnected in peace research. Through a cross-fertilisation of these fields, an analytical framework suited for the analyses of peace processes and their aftermaths in terms of agonistic peace is carved out. As such, this study serves as a stepping-stone in furthering empirical as well as conceptual understandings of the viability of peace processes over time. Keywords Agonistic peace · Dialogue · Identity change · Institutional change · Peace processes · Recognition
Introduction This article is borne out of discontent with the state of current peace research, which acknowledges the problems inherent in contemporary peace practices, yet fails to come up with alternative understandings and analytical approaches to peace theory. Furthermore, liberal peace-building practices which have often been prescribed to create stability after violence tend to fail to deliver expected results. As demonstrated * Lisa Strömbom [email protected] 1
Department of Political Science, Lund University, Box 52, 22100 Lund, Sweden Vol.:(0123456789)
L. Strömbom
by previous research, peace accords are seldom durable (Licklider 1998), and peace is thus often characterised as fragile and precarious (Mac Ginty 2008b; Yordán 2009). In many studies, efforts have been made to track peace accords and their aftermaths, and it has often been proven that these, even though conflict might seem to be moving towards a more peaceful development, often relapse into violence (Hampson 1996, p. 6). One of the most striking trends in post-Cold War peace processes is thus the high recidivism rates for civil wars (Westendorf 2015), with more than 45% of all peace deals signed after the cold war experiencing a return to violence within 5 years after the agreement (UCDP and PRIO 2009; Walter 2010). International actors have hence in more cases than not failed to establish legitimate and stable political orders and violence tends to be recurring (
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