The Role of International Actors in Conflict Transformation

Document Type:Essay

Subject Area:Politics

Document 1

Since its foundation, the concept has shown great effectiveness in reshaping social structures and dynamics behind those conflicts. Yemen is a good example of places where the international actors have utilized conflict transformation approach in dealing with conflicts in this country. This paper extensively expounds on the roles played by the international actors in conflict transformation of Yemen. Conflict transformation is changing the society’s ways of dealing with conflicts to non-violent means. The method looks at the indirect and direct causes of the conflict. The country borders the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. The state has gone through a difficult administration, and it is the most impoverished country in the Middle East. It is under the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

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Yemen is also a member of the United Nations. Since 2011, the country has experienced political crisis characterized by corruption, street protests, high poverty levels, the president plan to amend the president limit and unemployment (Laub, 2016; 19). April 2015, 2. 5 tons of medicine was brought to Aden by a medical boat. The United Nations stated that Saudi Arabia had promised to donate $273. 7m for the Yemen emergency aid. The UN made appeals for assistance for the million Yemenis affected by the conflict and needed water, food and medical services among others. The UN, for example, backed the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative that saw the election of vice president Abdrabbuh Mansur in 2012 February. The UNICEF has also provided humanitarian aid to Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also donated to Yemen to the course of humanitarian assistance by the UN.

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International actors play a key role in Yemen. Pakistan called for a ceasefire to help in the negotiation of a diplomatic solution (Orkaby, 2017; 93). According to Warren (2016; 425), empowering divided leaders to work together leads to peace in the country. International community provision of political support and finance to leaders would lead to a clear response. Role of the Media in the Crisis The media has negatively been affected by the war in Yemen. The press became a danger to the country by Houthis leader. The journalists face threats, and this hinders the ability to give updates and stories on the ongoing war in Yemen (Abdi and Basaratie, 2016; 16). Press control by the Houthis has undermined comprehensive coverage of the war in Yemen. The press nowadays focuses on the side of the story that favors opponents’ atrocities and not their wrongdoings.

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The Yemenis cannot get the whole understanding of the conflict between the pro-Houthis media versus the exiled government media (Laub, 2016; 16). The media needs to change its method of giving distorted and biased information for the purpose of its benefits. This will help in informing the international mediating organization of the actual things that happens in Yemen. Their coverage is limited. Supporting the press for neutral coverage will be a path to peace building (Abdi and Basaratie, 2016; 13). Also, ensuring conflict- sensitive and transparency in the distribution of humanitarian assistance will reduce political divides in the country. The international community should use the humanitarian aid not only for the humanitarian crisis but also as a channel to peace building. This action will bring people together.

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Upon choosing the type of change and the actors, a method of conflict transformation is selected. Some of the conflict methods are; dialogue which entails meetings between actors of the conflict who exchange perception and end up building trust. The technique aims at informing and not persuasion. In Yemen, after president Saleh stepped down and handed over power, the country has been through a political crisis (Hall, 2017; 107). Mediation space and diapraxis is also another method of conflict transformation (Bitter, 2015). The move will ensure the growth of youths who are leaders of peace in the country (Hall, 2017). The use of conflict transformation in Yemen will lead to the freedom of media which plays a great role in a country. The media can be used as a channel to reach out to people and advocate for peace and unity among the Yemenis.

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Integration of all these forms will then bring about totality in the conflict transformation approach in Yemen and true change in the transformation realized. It is also clear that the Yemenis have resulted in violence to solve the conflict. Previously, the international organizations utilized conflict management and conflict resolution strategies that never worked. However, the introduction of conflict transformation strategy has yielded great results in managing conflicts in Yemen. This will not just resolve the conflict but also help the media to gain back its freedom of independence. References Abdi, R. and Basaratie, A. Yemen: An Escapable Disaster-Why the United States Should Avoid Military Intervention.  Journal Article| January, 22(11), p. 23pm. Frazer, O. and Ghettas, L. In Social Movements and Civil War (pp.

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