Reintegration of former combatants: with specific reference to Kosovo

Lack of security is one of the main challenges of post-war recovery. A stable and secure environment is imperative for the successful implementation of peacebuilding programmes and, due to the symbiotic relationship between these two processes, a secure environment cannot be achieved without the successful implementation of various peacebuilding programmes (Özerdem, 2002). In other words, it is essential that security is considered an integral part of the overall recovery process, as Smith (2000) proposes in his ‘four sided box’ concept of post-war recovery, which consists of: economic reconstruction, a political framework that provides for democracy, reconciliation and security. In this conceptualisation, each side is as important as the others, and failure in one area jeopardises the realisation of others. Overall, the task of peacebuilding is a long-term process wide in scope, to which a number of security related programmes such as disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants, the restoration of internal security and the rule of law, and humanitarian mine action each can contribute positively....