Forgetting through Non-Recognition? Abkhaz Lessons for Ukraine

Onderzoeksoutput: Unpublished paper

Samenvatting

“Frozen conflict” is a useful metaphor: the lack of any prospect of settlement in the conflicts over sovereignty in the South Caucasus and Ukraine freezes conflictual processes, but it does so only at the surface. It does not suspend the movement below the ice, and this movement then mostly consists of negative conflict transformation. The comparison with freezing is helpful in illustrating the argument that conflict processes never come to an halt but it does not have much analytical value, however, in understanding conflict dynamics, in contrast to the concept of “forgotten conflict”. The latter can be used in the context of conflicts over sovereignty in three different ways. First, it can refer to a conflict where the parties have been reconciled and have managed to leave behind their hostilities. In this sense, none of the conflicts over sovereignty involving ‘de facto’ states can be considered forgotten. Second, it can refer to a loss of knowledge. This is not the case here either. On the contrary, the accumulation of knowledge about all of these conflicts is impressive. There is no lack of military intelligence, observer mission reports, policy papers or academic analysis. These conflicts are only f¬orgotten in a third way, in that they are low on the international political agenda. This is not intentional, in the sense of resulting from a conscious choice or strategy, but, rather, derives from a lack of motivation. These different meanings of forgetting a conflict are not necessarily at odds with each other: states or international organisations may for instance be highly knowledgeable about particular conflicts without considering it necessary or useful to mobilize substantial resources to take action towards their resolution.
Originele taal-2English
Aantal pagina's3
StatusUnpublished - 21 mrt 2016
EvenementThe EU, Russia, and Ukraine: Managing the Stalemate and Moving Beyond: The Dahrendorf Forum, LSE IDEAS - London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom
Duur: 21 mrt 2016 → …

Workshop

WorkshopThe EU, Russia, and Ukraine: Managing the Stalemate and Moving Beyond
Land/RegioUnited Kingdom
StadLondon
Periode21/03/16 → …

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