From Conflict to Reconciliation: Conflict Resolution Approaches and State-building in Syria
Conflict Resolution Approaches and State-building in Syria
Abstract
Contemporary Conflict Studies increasingly recognizes that the termination of violence, while necessary, is insufficient for durable peace. Post-conflict transformation is better understood as a multidimensional process encompassing conflict settlement, conflict resolution, and reconciliation, each entailing distinct analytical and policy implications. Syria offers a critical case in this regard, where deeply entrenched societal cleavages, protracted armed conflict, and persistent institutional fragility have collectively perpetuated recurrent cycles of violence. Although the Syrian civil war has formally ended, the country remains closer to conflict settlement than substantive conflict resolution, with state-building yet to be fully integrated into a broader process of political transformation and reconciliation. This study argues that durable peace in Syria requires the integration of state-building with conflict resolution and reconciliation through a framework that combines realist and psychological needs perspectives. It first conceptualizes the distinctions among conflict settlement, conflict resolution, and reconciliation, and then applies these theoretical perspectives to Syria's post-war trajectory. The analysis demonstrates that moving beyond conflict settlement requires not merely the restoration of order, but the construction of legitimate, inclusive, and capable institutions capable of addressing structural grievances, accommodating competing identities, and reducing the risk of cycles of violence. The study concludes that integrating conflict resolution and reconciliation into state-building is essential to transforming Syria's fragile post-war settlement into durable peace and a more stable regional order.
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