CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VIII (1) ContemporaryEurasia81 | Page 104

THE UN “SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME” IN UNPA SECTOR WEST …
FIELD PROJECT RESULTS
BEATA BOEHM
THE UN “SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME” IN
UNPA SECTOR WEST, CROATIA
An experiment in Conflict Transformation between Serbs and Croats
to rebuild and stabilize economic structures at the ceasefire line in an
economically and legally unstable environment 1992 – 1996
Abstract: This article examines the “Social Reconstruction Programme” of
the UN in post-conflict Western Slavonia, Croatia, its historical
background, failures and success in UNPA Sector West, from 1992 and the
following years.
Under the framework of the UN “Agenda for Peace” and UNPROFOR’s
peace-building initiatives the following central points were the goal of
peace consolidation between two conflicting parties, Serbs and Croats:
Disarming and demobilizing the Serbian and Croatian armies in the UN
protected area, the transformation of local police into multi-ethnic
security forces, the protection of all inhabitants, the return of displaced
persons, humanitarian support as well as social reconstruction and the
economic development in the region.
Summing up,the “Agenda for Peace” and the “Social Reconstruction
Programme” did not achieve their goals.The goals had been
unrealistically high with respect tothe timeframe of the UN mandate,
the potential of projects to transform conflicts, procuring and providing
experts, funding and know-how. It underestimated warmongering of the
Croatian government, which led to termination before the mandate
ended and “exported” problems to other regions.
To look at the positive achievements, one may summarize that the
Social Reconstruction Programme had a therapeutic effect on war-
traumatised people’s lives, helped to normalize everyday life in a war-
devastated region, initiated socio-economical development in a
politically instable environment, and created lasting international
contacts and friendships especially for the youth.
Keywords: Social Reconstruction, Conflict Transformation, Pakrac Project,
Western Slavonia, UNPA Sector West
Introduction
The Programme was implemented under the framework of Secretary
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