Abstract
Sudden crises that affect cities can take the form of either natural or human-made disasters (conflicts). In this paper, we focus our attention on the latter. It is estimated that from 1975 to 2006, the number of natural disasters increased fourfold, while the number of human-made disasters went up tenfold (UN-HABITAT 2007).
The emergence of post-conflict reconstruction as a specialized area of study and application is the result of a growing recognition that reconstruction of war-torn societies is an extremely complex process, which needs to address a wide range of issues. These issues pertain to physical destruction and social and economic recovery, but also to peace building, especially where the conflicts are intra-rather than inter-state?
These issues are further complicated by the lack of institutions and the fragile social fabric that often emerge after a conflict (Kreimer, Eriksson et al. 1998; Barakat 2005). Post-conflict, or post-war, reconstruction has been defined as including a range of inter-related activities designed to reactivate economic and social development, while at the same time creating a peaceful environment that will prevent a relapse into violence (Barakat 2005). Defined in this way, it extends beyond simply reverting to status quo ante, or 're'creating what existed before the war, to include strategic choices which would pave the way for a better
The emergence of post-conflict reconstruction as a specialized area of study and application is the result of a growing recognition that reconstruction of war-torn societies is an extremely complex process, which needs to address a wide range of issues. These issues pertain to physical destruction and social and economic recovery, but also to peace building, especially where the conflicts are intra-rather than inter-state?
These issues are further complicated by the lack of institutions and the fragile social fabric that often emerge after a conflict (Kreimer, Eriksson et al. 1998; Barakat 2005). Post-conflict, or post-war, reconstruction has been defined as including a range of inter-related activities designed to reactivate economic and social development, while at the same time creating a peaceful environment that will prevent a relapse into violence (Barakat 2005). Defined in this way, it extends beyond simply reverting to status quo ante, or 're'creating what existed before the war, to include strategic choices which would pave the way for a better
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Cities and Crises |
Pages | 105-130 |
Number of pages | 26 |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |