Separating Belligerent Populations: Mitigating Ethno-Sectarian Conflict

2008-05-22

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MILITARY STUDIES
Scott, Leonard B.

Most of the conflicts occurring in the past 20 years and on-going today have been internal wars between rival groups with ethnic or sectarian identities. Though its causes vary, the brutal nature of this conflict and its far-reaching consequences make it a threat that the international community cannot ignore. By its actions, the international community has demonstrated its willingness to intervene, often with military force, to mitigate ethnic conflicts. Two peace enforcement operations that multinational forces may want to consider are separating belligerents and establishing protected areas. During such conflicts, the rival populations separate as people flee or are forcibly expelled from their homes. Intervention into such situations can apply variations of the two peace enforcement operations to maintain the separation of the rival populations and thereby lessen the conflict. The approach an intervention force pursues is largely dependent on the degree and geographic extent of separation that it encounters. Situations where populations that have separated completely, either regionally or locally, lend themselves to a separation zone being established between the sides. The Bosnian War is an example of a regional separation using a separation zone, while the city of Mitrovica in Kosovo is an example of a divided city. Situations where rival populations are intermingled, either regionally or locally, lend themselves to the establishment of protected areas for the ethnic enclaves. The United Nations safe areas in the Bosnian War are regional examples of protected areas, while the Baghdad "gated communities" established by Multi-National Corps-Iraq are local examples. Though military forces can effectively separate rival populations to mitigate ethnic conflict, there is much debate over whether it is acceptable to do so. However, the increasing trend of many countries resorting to separation measures to mitigate conflict demonstrates separation's utility.

Sociology and Law; Unconventional Warfare; CONFLICT; SECTARIAN VIOLENCE; PEACEKEEPING; INTERVENTION; ETHNIC GROUPS; SEPARATION; PROTECTION; KOSOVO; BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA; INTERNATIONAL LAW; COUNTERINSURGENCY; JOINT MILITARY ACTIVITIES; MILITARY DOCTRINE; STRATEGY; IRAQ; ETHNO-SECTARIAN CONFLICT; SEPARATION ZONES; PROTECTED AREAS; ETHNIC CONFLICT; SECTARIAN CONFLICT; MILITARY INTERVENTION; PEACE OPERATIONS; BELLIGERENT POPULATIONS; POPULATION SEPARATION; STABILITY OPERATIONS; Text

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DTICE ADA485458
832023995

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