The Role of Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Diplomacy

Abstract

Conflict prevention and resolution roles in diplomacy is a great task to achieve amongst nations of the world. The notion of conflict prevention includes numerous activities such as conflict avoidance and conflict resolution, with techniques such as mediation, peace-keeping, peacemaking, confidence-building measures. Preventive diplomacy has been a long time idea perceived by the United Nations for many decades. The fact that the overwhelming majority of conflicts are internal struggles has an important impact on how the state, sub region, region and international community can address such conflicts; intra-state conflicts do require method of early warning, adherence of avowed democratic principles and intervention of civil society organization. The theory of conflict preventions and resolution as preventive diplomacy is a total control and management of peace to a zero level. The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) attempt to bring peace in the sub-region has proved insurmountable. The best conflict prevention and resolution which is now widely advocated, is by the use of a practical democratic principles that provides the immediate needs, and desires of the people such as employment, education, social amenities etc. These principles must be articulated by ECOWAS member states to achieving the desired conflict prevention in the sub-region. There are cogent reasons for renewed interest in preventive diplomacy, one of which is to forestall the recurring and devastating impact of armed conflict on individuals, societies and economies of nations. This work examines the challenges the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWAS are currently facing in conducting preventive diplomacy in a changing political and security actions. This will focus on diplomatic action to be taken in other to prevent or mitigate the spread of armed conflict. Preventive diplomacy is a broader strategy relevant in the promotion of peace. This writing dealt on the growing expectations placed on the ECOWAS in the area of conflict prevention in the sub region and the need to partner with other organizations to achieve a desired goal. It discusses the obstacles that hamper the efforts of the application of preventive diplomacy, the past and current conflict prevention activities by ECOWAS search light governance, governance under pressure, governance and security challenges in ECOWAS member states, security sector reform in ECOWAS towards effective conflict prevention and resolution, civil society contribution to conflict prevention and resolution in West African sub region, practical contribution of Civil Society to preventing conflict , civil society early warning, diplomacy and security cooperation and on any more. The paper concludes with the recommendation among others that ECOWAS should strive to uphold its democratic principles and zero Tolerance to any undemocratic principles in the sub region, thereby strengthen its preventive diplomacy capacity.