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The concept of "Responsibility to Protect" and the international community. The case of Sudan
Linková, Zuzana ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Hynek, Nikola (referee)
The thesis "Concept Responsibility to Protect Within International Community: Sudan Case Study" focuses on the R2P concept and its implications since its approval at the World Summit in 2005. The theoretical part of the thesis explains the R2P concept, its constitution, the three pillars and their main principles, and categories of crimes on which the concept can be applied. This section includes an analysis of attitudes, which the key international actors adopted towards the R2P. The last chapter of the theoretical part examines the main problems, challenges and difficulties of the concept which could the international community face when implementing the concept. The practical part of this thesis relates to the conflict in Darfur. Its first chapter deals with the evolution of tensions in Sudan, which had affected the current conflict. The second chapter focuses on the present conflict since its beginning in 2003, including the debate about the possibility of potential genocide committed by the Sudanese government. The involvement of the key international actors (the UNSC and AU) in the conflict is discussed in this part as well. Finally, the last part interconnects the concept through the three pillars with the conflict and; it evaluates functioning of the R2P in the case of Sudan. The evaluation...
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Causes of conflict in Africa. The case of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Hanková, Barbora ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Ditrych, Ondřej (referee)
This thesis aims to explore selected theoretical approaches investigating the causes of conflicts on the African continent and then try to apply it to the particular case of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its second war, running from 1998-2003, and then assess the impact of each selected causes of this particular Congolese conflict. This Work in the first chapters outlines the chosen theories related to the causes of armed conflicts in Africa, focusing on three selected causes of conflict: natural resources, ethnicity and weak state. These chapters are theoretical basis for the analysis found in the final chapter. It then evaluates the impact of chosen variables on the outbreak of the Congolese war. Based on the analysis the author draws the following conclusions: 1st the main cause of the second war in the DRC, running in the years 1998 - 2003, can be considered as raw materials, or the efforts of rebel groups and neighboring countries to control and subsequent illegal mining of mineral wealth of The Congo; 2nd although ethnic factors are not the main cause of the second Congolese war, their impact on the conflict, especially in the early days of the conflict is obvious; 3rd nature of the State, namely the weakness of the Government of DRC, ranked according to key indicators, turns out to be the most...
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Seeking community reconciliation through traditional practice. The Sierra Leonean experience
Werkman, Kateřina ; Moravcová, Dagmar (advisor) ; Záhořík, Jan (referee) ; Kandert, Josef (referee)
Sierra Leone was torn apart by a violent conflict that lasted for over a decade between 1991 and 2002. The deep physical and emotional scars it left on the people and their communities and the destruction of the country's socio-economic and institutional foundations are still visible today. But Sierra Leoneans have also shown an extraordinary ability to deal with the painful and violent past and to move on. This does not mean that the victims would be able to easily forget the suffering they endured or that the return and (re)integration of the ex-combatants into the society would always go smoothly and effortlessly. Yet, if you ask around in the villages across the country, people almost always answer the same: "We have reconciled". What do they mean by that? And how have they achieved it? These questions form the core puzzle of the present thesis. It explores the process of reconciliation and restoration of relationships at village level in Sierra Leone, with a particular focus on the role of local ceremonies. While its main concern is with the specific circumstances in Sierra Leone, it also aims to contribute to the debates in transitional justice and peacebuilding fields regarding the 'local' practices of reconciliation in African post-conflict societies. The thesis argues that Sierra Leonean...
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Growing Role of China in African Security
Květová, Lenka ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Werkman, Kateřina (referee)
Chinese economic expansion in Africa is a widely discussed topic, but less academic attention is being paid to the role China plays in African security. Since the late 1990s Chinese activity in Africa had been growing rapidly. Beijing's interests are predominantly economic, mostly represented by market seeking and foreign direct investments, and political, generally perceived as a mutual support in international organizations. The thesis focuses on the traditional principle of non-interference in how Chinese policy towards African security has been evolving together with growing Chinese interests on the continent. The People's Republic of China influences African security matters in four areas: diplomatic involvement, arms deals, support and financing, and military cooperation. By analyzing those areas with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, concrete cases have been identified, when China interfered in internal affairs of particular states, thus altering its policy of non- interference towards more pragmatic and case by case based approach.
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Ghana - a way to democracy
Zhelyaskova, Marina ; Riegl, Martin (advisor) ; Werkman, Kateřina (referee)
This bachelor's thesis deals with the changes in the Ghanaian political system after its independence in 1957, with an emphasis on the changes made in the 90s which paved the way for democracy in Ghana. The work studies the development of Ghana's transition to democracy, particularly the actors and circumstances that allowed transition that shift. Furthermore, this thesis is analyses if transition in Ghana might be considered as completed and also if Ghana established a system that can be classified as democratic. Right after achieving independence with Kwame Nkrumah at the helm, Ghana began a gradual descend into a totalitarian regime. He began dismantle institutions and curtailed political competition with his opponents being forced into exile. Due Nkrumah's Soviet Union leanings, the country embarked on socialist experiments and ideology which ultimately that led the country into a series of crisis. In a short period of time (1966 - 1979), the country faced several military coup d'états that brought the country to a near economic collapse. A significant change was brought by J. J. Rawlings in 1981 and during his leadership the country gradually worked its way to democracy. The beginning of the 90s saw J. J. Rawlings begin the process of political liberalization. A new liberal constitution...
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Human rights issues of minority communities in post-war Kosovo : successes and failures of the international administration and the provisional authorities
Karalić, Srdan ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Riegl, Martin (referee)
The given thesis examines the issues of human rights of minority communities in Kosovo under the UN-led international administration. The human rights of minority communities, Serbs and Roma foremost, are assessed through four wide areas of issues distinctive for Kosovo: security and freedom of movement; displaced, return and property rights; cultural rights; and economic and social rights. The thesis presents and highlights the most pressing issues for minority communities in these four areas, aiming to construct a comprehensive analysis of their status in Kosovo for the past 12 years. The thesis also scrutinizes policies, strategies and actions of the international administration and, subsequently, the provisional authorities in respect to minority human rights. Special emphasis is placed on the discrepancies between the proclaimed and the achieved, as the best measure of the international community's level of success in Kosovo. The thesis concludes that Kosovo is the part of Europe where minority human rights are least respected and where the oppression of members of minority communities by majority Albanian population is widespread and systematic. Furthermore, the international administration and the provisional authorities were both unable and unwilling to prevent and punish major violations...
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Transforming conflict at the local level: Women peace mediators in Burundi
Vodičková, Anna ; Werkman, Kateřina (advisor) ; Plechanovová, Běla (referee)
Armed conflict affects men and women differently due to their previous roles in the society. For instance, it often crucially changes the status of women and enhances their emancipation. Therefore, women should be included in conflict resolution as well as in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction, to ensure sustainable peace. Examples from many African countries driven by conflict denote that women are not automatically included in these processes. This single intrinsic case study documents the work of women peace mediators in Burundi. At the theoretical level, the study argues for an elicitive endogenous approach to peacebuilding, embedded in the conflict transformation theory by John Paul Lederach. Nevertheless, theoretical concepts are not emphasized because they tend to limit the mediators' agenda which actually involves a wide range of conflict handling mechanisms. The main part of the study is based on semi-formal questionnaires filled out by women peace mediators in Bujumbura. The goal of the research is twofold: First, it is aimed to introduce the mediators and to understand their motivations to mediate. Second, it documents their everyday work by analysing official reports. The findings show that an "average" mediator is a married woman, with children, with at least secondary...
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