From conflict resolution to conflict prevention: China in South Sudan
The responses of the UK and China to the outbreak of civil war in South Sudan at the end of 2013 highlighted the differences in engagement – and also how those responses were evolving. For countries such as the UK that have policies, strategies and operational experience on early warning, crisis response and conflict prevention, the civil war in South Sudan presented an opportunity to mobilise and review these approaches. However, for countries without such comprehensive tools, such as China, the experience has been more a process of ‘learning through doing’.
Despite some successes in the bilateral and multilateral efforts of international actors, they have largely failed to resolve or prevent conflict in South Sudan. It is important for those actors to reflect on the shortcomings of recent international engagement, using this learning to develop new approaches to support conflict resolution and long-term peacebuilding in South Sudan. This paper looks at the evolution of China’s relationship with Sudan and then South Sudan, focusing on the potential for the transition of Chinese engagement from reactive, short-term conflict resolution to longer-term conflict prevention.
The paper suggests potential entry points for cooperation between China and the UK that could provide mutual learning opportunities and ultimately lead to better collaboration in support of sustainable peace in South Sudan.
Conflict Prevention Working Group
Saferworld is working with partners in China, the UK and conflict-affected states to increase awareness and expertise on different approaches to conflict prevention, focusing on three main themes: early warning mechanisms, crisis response, and the root drivers of fragility and conflict. This work is facilitated by a Conflict Prevention Working Group (CPWG) composed of Chinese and UK policy experts, which is increasing understanding and creating opportunities for constructive dialogue on ways to prevent violent conflict and build stability overseas. In order to raise awareness of how China and the UK currently engage and cooperate conflict prevention efforts, Chinese and UK CPWG members are co-authoring a series of joint briefings. This is the first such briefing, authored by CPWG members Dr Zhang Chun (SIIS) and Mariam Kemple-Hardy (Oxfam International), focusing on crisis response in South Sudan.
Read From conflict resolution to conflict prevention: China in South Sudan.
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Read more about our work on South Sudan.
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中国在南苏丹：从解决冲突到预防冲突
内容简介
2013年末南苏丹爆发内战，中英两国的反应充分展现了两国策略的不同。英国在早期预警、危机应对和冲突预防方面有充分的政策、战略和操作经验；南苏丹内战是一个实践和评估这些工具和方法的机会。中国目前在这一领域还不具备完善体系，这次经历则是一个“在实践中学习”的过程。
就解决和预防南苏丹境内冲突问题而言，英国、中国以及其他国际参与者的双边和多边努力虽然在中短期内有一些效果，但总体来说却是失败的。反思近期国际行动中的不足之处，共同协作，制定出解决南苏丹冲突、建立长期和平的新策略，既是所有南苏丹事务参与者的责任，也符合各方利益。本文探究了中国政府与两苏丹关系的变化，以及中国未来在冲突问题上可能出现的政策转变，即从制定被动的短期解决冲突方案，到积极的长期预防冲突机制。
文章还提出了中英合作可能的切入点，为两国提供互相学习的机会，提高合作效率，最终为南苏丹的长期和平做出贡献。
冲突预防工作组
更安全世界正与中国、英国以及受冲突影响的国家展开合作，希望增进各方对多种冲突预防策略的了解及相关方面的专业知识。工作的重点集中在以下三个方面：建立早期预警机制、应对危机以及探寻脆弱和冲突的根源。更安全世界组建了冲突预防工作组（Conflict Prevention Working Group, 简称CPWG），成员包括中英两国的政策专家。工作组致力于增进理解、为建设性对话创造机会，讨论如何防止海外暴力冲突、建立稳定局面。为了让更多人了解中英两国在预防冲突问题上的努力与合作，工作组成员联合撰写了一系列简报。本文即为第一篇简报，由上海国际问题研究院的张春博士和国际乐施会的玛利亚姆·肯浦尔·哈迪共同撰写，重点研究南苏丹的危机应对问题。
了解更安全世界中国项目的工作
“With a growing presence worldwide, China now has greater potential to build ... early warning systems and to participate in existing local and international early warning and response systems.”
Zhang Chun, Mariam Kemple-Hardy
