Power Sharing

Introduction

This paper aims to pinpoint the structural malfunctions and inefficiencies appearing in Bosnia and Sudan inhibit its normal functioning and development. The first part investigates the nature of the structure the peace agreement established in Boasnia after the war and exposes three focal points of system's dysfunctionality. The other part builds on these three points and argues for the elements the unavoidable constitutional reform will have to encompass if one is to see a move towards a functional and functioning Bosnia, prepared to become a candidate for the European Union (EU) (Sumantra, 101-105). The core assumptions at work are that Bosnia will remain a unitary, sovereign state and will not be partitioned or in any way separated; that the objective of the international community (IC) and Bosnians themselves is to make Bosnia a sovereign, functional and functioning state; and that accession to the EU is an agreed common goal of local political parties and the aspiration of citizens.

Thesis Statement/Question

Whether power sharing is an effective tool for conflict resolution?

Power Sharing

These centuries of historical perspective and scholarship, however, have served only to intensify the debate over the merits of Power sharing theory. There are many ways in which the term Power sharing has been used in theory or in practice, and this variety of approaches to the concept demonstrates that the term is often used so freely as to potentially confuse rather than clarify its meaning (Sheehan). Despite this diversity, however, nearly all of these definitions centre on the same general principles and assumptions and boil down to the central assertion that nation-states will ally with one another in order to create an equality of capabilities between opposing alliances that serves to preserve peace at the international level. Although these and other attempts to formalize the process are aspiring to help the field of study and policymakers alike, the problem is that Power sharing systems in practice neither cohere to all of the assumptions nor follow all of the rules set out by any given treatise on the subject. The global environment and the myriad of other variables are not static but rather are fluid in nature and are therefore difficult to prescribe (Waltz, pp. 55).

Power-Sharing in Peace Agreements

A separate agreement (Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement) regulating power and wealth sharing at the regional level was signed between the government and Eastern Front rebel groups in October 2006. Progress was finally made in May 2007 when al-Bashir appointed 3 Eastern Front officials to government positions. Sudan has signed a peace agreement with a prominent militia group whose leader was killed by government troops in December 2011. The rebel group formerly headed by George Athor pledged to disarm and join the national army. The implementation of the CPA, the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the East Sudan Peace Agreement as mechanisms to resolve conflict has been unsatisfactory.

The literature studies power-sharing in negotiated settlements to peace, and their effects on the durability of post-conflict peace. To these authors, power-sharing signifies a particular form of war termination ...