Full Report

Project and Document Summary This comparative findings (full) report provides evidence and insight with detailed explanations of our summary findings across nine country cases, into what drives social contracts that are inclusive and resilient, and how they manifest and adapt in different contexts, transcending what are often unsustainable, ephemeral elite bargains into more inclusive ones, with durable arrangements for achieving and sustaining peace. The project involves international scholars, policy advisers and authors from the countries examined: Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, Cyprus, Nepal, Somalia, South Sudan, South Africa, Tunisia, Yemen and Zimbabwe. The project activities took place from 2016 to mid 2018 and include case research in these countries, a series of policy and scholarly dialogues and this summary. This Full Report (with Cases) introduces the project context, the project’s research framing, and findings from nine of the 11 case studies. Numerous validation workshops and policy dialogues in the case study countries and elsewhere inform the findings. Policy recommendations for

2022-07-27T16:13:48-04:00

Study Framing Document

Executive Summary This working paper makes a case for rethinking the social contract concept in the contemporary era, in countries affected by conflict and/or fragility. Inspired by policy efforts to rethink the concept as a means to better address the challenges of peacebuilding and statebuilding, the paper aims to theoretically ground the topic and offer a heuristic framing that supports the evolution of scholarship, policy and practice. It is laid out in the following sections: Introduction: This section sets the context, pointing to the deep challenges undermining the state from above, transnationally and below. It highlights limitations of policy efforts in areas of peacebuilding and statebuilding to address these and the scholarly critiques surrounding their strategic design and delivery –all of which suggest the need for greater focus on the social contract. Enduring themes of the social contract: Historical and contemporary theorising efforts are scanned and their limitations assessed, making a case for the concept’s rich applicability across

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Summary Findings

Project and Document Summary This comparative findings summary report provides evidence and insight across nine country cases into what drives social contracts that are inclusive and resilient, and how they manifest and adapt in different contexts, transcending what are often unsustainable, ephemeral elite bargains into more inclusive ones, with durable arrangements for achieving and sustaining peace.

2022-07-27T16:16:22-04:00

Drivers of Resilient Social Contracts

The research investigated three propositions – “drivers” of resilient national social contracts. This analytical framework was – developed through deep examination of the relevant bodies of literature and subject to extensive discussion with our Project Advisory Working Group. Political settlements and social contract-making spheres and mechanisms are increasingly inclusive and responsive to core conflict issues. Institutions (formal, customary and informal) are increasingly effective and inclusive and have broadly shared outcomes that meet societal expectations and enhance state legitimacy. Social cohesion is broadening and deepening, with formal and informal ties and interactions binding society horizontally (across citizens, between groups) and vertically (in the relations between citizens/groups and the state). View All Concept Definitions Institutional Spheres & Mechanisms of social contract making A second component of the analytical framework This study facilitated examination of considers how commitments in the “peacemaking” sphere at the national, political level (e.g. through a peace agreement) are linked

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