Academic literature on the topic 'Missions, sierra leone'

AbstractContemporary peacebuilding operations are often mandated to rebuild ‘collapsed’ or weak states and provide unique opportunities for internationals to exert far reaching influence in their reconstruction. The responsibility to help secure peaceful transformations and longer term stability is profound. This article explores the issue of efficacy and propriety in reconstruction programming and draws from field work in Sierra Leone – a rare example of ‘success’ for international partners in peacebuilding missions. The assertion is made that, despite the euphoria over the mission in Sierra Leone, the peacebuilding operations were more about the mechanics of statebuilding than the local politics of building peace, and that there was a distinct disconnect between the policy rhetoric and the policy practice. The argument is put that the pressing local concern of giving citizens a stake in government was not best served in the reconstruction project because the wider and more influential objectives of the peacebuilding mission were about meeting international goals not local aspirations. This reality has come at the cost of exploiting a unique opportunity for creative thinking about the kind of state structures which can better address the main challenges for sustainable peace facing post-war states like Sierra Leone.

AbstractUnder what conditions does peacekeeping reduce one-sided violence in civil wars? This article argues that local sources of violence, particularly ethnic geography, affect peacekeeping effectiveness. Existing studies focus on the features of individual missions, yet curbing one-sided violence also depends on peacekeepers’ capacity to reduce the opportunities and incentives for violence. Moving from the idea that territorial control is a function of ethnic polarization, the article posits that peacekeepers are less effective against one-sided violence where power asymmetries are large (low polarization) because they (1) create incentives for escalation against civilians and (2) are less effective at separating/monitoring combatants. The UN mission in Sierra Leone from 1997 to 2001 is examined to show that UN troops reduce one-sided violence, but their effectiveness decreases as power asymmetries grow.

Abstract Entrepreneurship has been advocated as a path to self-reliance for refugees, but little scholarship has been produced about refugee entrepreneurs operating in their country of origin during reintegration. In 2003–04, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) implemented a group of ‘entrepreneurial ventures’ in urban and peri-urban locations in Kambia, Sierra Leone. Fifteen years later, 20 per cent of these ventures were still operating—a figure comparable with the success of start-ups in the United States. This paper examines the reasons for the sustainability of some ventures and the limited lifespan of others, using five interrelated metrics: ownership, management, mission and activities, financing and physical capital. It will be argued that, in the start-up phase, the UNHCR had a positive impact on the formation of entrepreneurial ventures by negotiating rules about property rights and credit, and by adopting a bottom-up approach to promote innovation among returnees. In the transition phase, however, the UNHCR’s planned handover to other UN agencies as part of the 4 R’s process largely failed because of inadequate attention to transition funding. In the mature phase, refugee enterprises survived if they could secure property rights to their facilities and adapt their management structures, activities and financing, while still preserving their social missions.

This article examines the peacekeeping experience of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS). It traces the entire evolution of the union in peacekeeping – from the first missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone to the operation in the Gambia. The advantages and disadvantages of the ECOWAS security mechanism, established in 1999, the principles of its peacekeeping activities and the experience of carrying out operations are analyzed. A comprehensive assessment of ECOWAS as a provider of peacekeeping assistance in Africa is given, taking into account the remaining problem areas and objective achievements of the organization in the conflict settlement.

Andrew Walls, a pioneering historian of Christian missions, was the architect of the study of World Christianity. Trained as a patristic scholar, he went to Sierra Leone in 1957 to teach at Fourah Bay College. There and at the University of Nsukka in Nigeria (1962–66) he became a student of the growing churches of Africa. At the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh (1966–97), he became a scholar of renown, establishing the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, and supervising students who became leaders in church and academy. His legacy is preserved in institutions across the globe, a host of articles, and his former students.

Research on women and post-conflict reconstruction tends to focus primarily on women as victims and passive targets for aid rather than conceptualizing peacebuilding as a process where greater participation by women may help increase the prospects for success. Here, I argue that women’s social status is a dimension of social capital that is largely independent of general economic development. Societies and communities where women enjoy a relatively higher status have greater prospects for successful peacebuilding, as cooperation by the local population with peacebuilding policies and activities increases. Thus, in the presence of a UN-led peacebuilding operation, women’s status has a direct and independent impact on post-conflict reconstruction. The theoretical claims are empirically assessed by looking at variation in levels of cooperation and conflict during the UN peacebuilding missions within the countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Thesis (MMil (Military Sciences. School for Security and Africa Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the feasibility of the concept Developmental Peace Missions (DPMs). It seeks to answer the question whether DPMs is an ambitious construct or a feasible ideal and whether DPMs could be effectively applied during peace missions. The study takes the form of a descriptive analysis of the theoretical underpinnings of the concept of DPMs, and includes the analysis of various relevant case studies in terms of the application of the concept of DPMs. The study further explores the evolution that has taken place in terms of United Nations peace missions, in that most modern peace missions include both peacekeeping and peacebuilding initiatives. The study also illustrates the modern approach to peace missions, based on an integrated systems-thinking approach by means of which the activities of all relevant role-players are integrated and fused towards a common end state: that of sustained security and development. In order to analyse the concept of DPMs, the theoretical underpinnings of the concept human security, the security-development nexus and peacebuilding were researched in depth. These concepts were then coupled to the concept of DPMs in terms of their utility during current complex peace missions, both internationally and on the African continent. The concept of DPMs was studied in the context of contemporary peacekeeping in terms of three case studies, namely the peace missions in Kosovo, Sierra Leone and the DRC. The DPMs concept was applied to these case studies and analysed in terms of the extent to which the peace interventions in these countries were conducted in accordance with the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of DPMs. The study concludes that DPMs, in terms of its theoretical basis, is indeed a feasible ideal for peace missions, as it is based on and in line with the approved current UN- and AU-integrated planning processes. However, in terms of its practical utility in Africa, it currently remains an ambitious construct, given the limited capacity and resources of the AU and regional organisations. Therefore, DPMs should not be viewed as a short-term solution to, or panacea for, all intra-state wars. The study proposes that the UN, the AU, as well as relevant regional organisations will have to adjust and make changes in terms of their institutions, structures, funding and the provision of resources in order to operationalise the concept of DPMs successfully. This is especially true as far as the AU is concerned, as the AU currently experiences severe limitations in both material and human resources. However, the fact that both the UN and the AU have adopted the Integrated Mission Planning Process concept as planning tool for their respective missions is an indication that progress is being made towards the achievement of establishing a more holistic and integrated approach to finding sustainable solutions to global conflict. Ultimately, the success of DPMs will be determined by the will and commitment of all the relevant role-players involved in finding a lasting solution to intra-state conflicts. The concept itself cannot provide sustainable peace and development.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dié tesis verken die lewensvatbaarheid van die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings. Daar sal gepoog word om ‘n antwoord te kry op die vraag of Ontwikkelingsvredesendings ‘n ambisieuse konstruk of ‘n haalbare ideal is. Verder sal gepoog word om te bepaal of dit effektief tydens vredesoperasies toegepas kan word. Die studie neem die vorm aan van ‘n beskrywende analise van die teoretiese grondbeginsels van die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings en sluit die analise van verskeie relevante gevallestudies ten opsigte van die begrip in. Die studie ondersoek die evolusie wat plaasgevind het ten opsigte van vredesendings wat deur die Verenigde Nasies (VN) onderneem word, naamlik dat die meeste moderne vredesendings, vredesbewarings, sowel as vredesbou (nasiebou) inisiatiewe insluit. Die studie illustreer ook die moderne benadering wat ten opsigte van vredesendings toegepas word, naamlik dat die aktiwiteite van al die betrokke rolspelers geïntegreer word en op ‘n gedeelde einddoel gefokus word. Die teoretiese grondstelllings van die begrippe veiligheid en ontwikkeling, die veiligheid-ensekuriteit- neksus, sowel as die begrip van vredesbou (nasiebou) is in diepte ondersoek ten einde die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings te analiseer. Hierdie begrippe is daarna in verband gebring met die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings soos wat dit tans tydens moderne komplekse vredesendings toegepas word – beide internasionaal sowel as op die Afrika kontinent. Die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings is bestudeer teen die agtergrond van eietydse vredesbewaring ten opsigte van drie gevallestudies, naamlik die intervensies in Kosovo, Sierra Leone en die Demokratiese Republiek van die Kongo. Hierdie drie gevallestudies is gekies aangesien dit die eerste sendings was waartydens die VN die nuwe geïntegreerde benadering tot vredesendings, soos in die Brahimi-verslag aanbeveel, toegepas is. Die studie het bevind dat Ontwikkelingsvredesendings, wat betref die teoretiese grondstellings inderdaad uitvoerbaar is, aangesien dit gebaseer is op en in ooreenstemming is met die huidige aanvaarde beplanninsprosesse van die VN en die AU. Maar, wat betref die praktiese bruikbaarheid van die begrip in Afrika, bly dit tans ‘n ambisieuse konstruk, gegewe die beperkte vermoë en hulpbronne van die AU en streeksorganisasies. Die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings moet dus nie as ‘n korttermynoplossing vir alle interne oorloë beskou word nie. Die studie het bevind dat die VN, die AU, sowel as die betrokke streeksorganisasies, ingrypende veranderings sal moet ondergaan ten einde die begrip Ontwikkelingsvredesendings suksesvol te kan toepas, veral ten opsigte van strukture, befondsing en die voorsiening van hulpbronne. Dit is veral waar in die geval van die AU, aangesien die AU tans geweldige uitdagings in die gesig staar wat betref menslike sowel as materiële hulpbronne. Ten spyte van laasgenoemde uitdagings dui die aanvaarding van die Geïntegreerde Sendingbeplanningsproses as besluitnemings-meganisme deur beide die VN en die AU op die vordering wat gemaak word ten opsigte van die daarstelling van ‘n meer holistiese en geïntegreerde benadering vir volhoubare oplossings vir konflik. Die sukses van Ontwikkelingsvredesendings sal uiteindelik bepaal word deur die wil en toewyding van alle betrokkenes by die soeke na langdurige vrede – die begrip op sigself kan nie volhoubare vrede en ontwikkeling bewerkstellig nie.

Pour mettre fin aux vieilles traditions sanguinaires des Africains, des missions protestantes entreprirent au dix-neuvième siècle, la conquête spirituelle des autochtones. Grâce aux efforts des esclaves affranchis, les valeurs victoriennes, le commerce légitime, et le Christianisme trouvèrent de fervents partisans parmi les Africains. Grâce aux institutions des missions chrétiennes en Afrique de l’ouest, plusieurs esclaves affranchis eurent la chance d’apprendre une formation professionnelle. Certains devinrent missionnaires. Ils partirent ensuite dans leurs villages respectifs afin de prêcher le Christianisme aux autochtones. Si la politique que prônait le philanthrope anglais rencontra beaucoup d’obstacles après 1861, c’est à cause de la politique coloniale du gouvernement britannique qui voulait à tout prix imposer son influence en Afrique. Vraisemblablement, le rôle que jouèrent les missionnaires anglicans et africains dans la transformation de la pensée nègre ne doit pas être sous estimé. Malgré les conflits, les missionnaires européens et les Africains s’étaient aidés mutuellement. A vrai dire, la politique que prônait le philanthrope anglais Thomas Fowell Buxton, la Bible et la Charrue, en Afrique connut un grand triomphe en Afrique de l’ouest. Elle avait permis l’abolition définitive de la traite des esclaves, l’introduction du Christianisme, l’établissement d’un commerce légitime et l’éducation des Africains
To put an end to the old bloodthirsty traditions of Africans, Protestant missions began in the nineteenth century, the spiritual conquest of Aboriginal people. Through the efforts of freed slaves, Victorian values, legitimate trade, and Christianity found enthusiastic supporters among Africans. With the institutions of the Christian missions in West Africa, many freed slaves had the chance to learn vocational training. Some became missionaries. They then went to their respective villages to preach Christianity to Aboriginal people. If the policy advocated the English philanthropist encountered many obstacles after 1861, it is because of the colonial policy of the British Government who wanted at all costs impose its influence in Africa. Likely, the role that played African and Anglican missionaries in the transformation of the nigger thought should not be under estimated. Despite the conflicts, European missionaries and Africans is were helped each other. Indeed, the policy advocated the English philanthropist Thomas Fowell Buxton, the Bible and the plough, in Africa has been a great triumph in West Africa. It had enabled the final abolition of the slave trade, the introduction of Christianity, the establishment of a legitimate trade and the education of Africans

This dissertation develops an exit strategy for missions, drawing upon the experience of the Wesleyan Church in Africa. This is approached in four sections: a literature review, a summary of Wesleyan mission work in Africa, a model for mission work that has been developed within the Wesleyan Church, and applications of the model. The model proposes five stages through which the work of missions progresses: the development of converts, disciples, pastors, leaders and partners. The fourth chapter includes a discussion of related models: the Three Eras of Missions and the Two Types of Missions. At the completion of the 5 Stages of Missions the establishment of a mature national church, fully engaged in international missions and international church leadership, has been achieved. This dissertation concludes that final departure may not be necessary for all missionaries. However, complete handover of leadership is essential.
Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
M.Th.