Good Fences Make Good Neighbours: assessing the role of consociational politics in transitional politics

Kristian Brown, Fionnuala Ni Aolain

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Power-sharing is an important political strategy for managing protracted conflicts and it can also facilitate the democratic accommodation of difference. Despite these benefits, it has been much criticised, with claims that it is unable to produce peace and stability, is ineffective and inefficient, and obstructs other peacebuilding values, including gender equality.

This edited collection aims to enhance our understanding of the utility of power-sharing in deeply divided places by subjecting power-sharing theory and practice to empirical and normative analysis and critique. Its overarching questions are:

Do power-sharing arrangements enhance stability, peace and cooperation in divided societies?
Do they do so in ways that promote effective governance?
Do they do so in ways that promote justice, fairness and democracy?
Utilising a broad range of global empirical case studies, it provides a space for dialogue between leading and emerging scholars on the normative questions surrounding power-sharing. Distinctively, it asks proponents of power-sharing to think critically about its weaknesses.

This text will be of interest to students, scholars and practitioners of power-sharing, ethnic politics, democracy and democratization, peacebuilding, comparative constitutional design, and more broadly Comparative Politics, International Relations and Constitutional and Comparative Law.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPower-Sharing
Subtitle of host publicationEmpirical and Normative Challenges
EditorsAllison McCulloch, John McGarry
Place of PublicationAbingdon, Oxon.
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter11
Pages229-249
Number of pages21
ISBN (Print)978-1-138-64036-8
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 19 Apr 2017

Keywords

  • Transitional Justice
  • Power Sharing
  • Consociational Government
  • Memory Politics

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