A regional approach to security: The political economy of conflict resolution in the Liberian and Sudanese civil wars

The recently concluded Liberian civil war and on-going phase of the Sudanese civil war reveal the destructive consequences of communal polarization. Both armed conflicts reflect the impact of colonial policies of communal discrimination or exclusion and the efforts of post-independence governments to extend state formation in a context of limited resources. These historical processes and belligerents' actions led to wars couched in ethnic and religious terms. Efforts to resolve these conflicts must address not only the short-term motivations of the warring parties, but also the long-term structural problems that are social, economic and political and the result of inequality and communal exclusion. It is important for governments, civil society, and donors to work toward effective power-sharing and a redistribution of resources in these societies. But of the many actors, this study focuses on regional mediators because they have familiarity with belligerents and greater potential for gaining the confidence of diverse parties. These factors are crucial in fostering a settlement and pacing the way for prolonged conflict management.