Today several countries in the Middle East have ongoing full-scale wars, or are experiencing recurring periods of fighting and armed conflict. War is devastating in every sense. It shatters lives, and creates deep-seated fears, distrust and animosity between parties to a conflict. Such effects may persist over very long periods. It is therefore often said that infrastructure can easily be rebuilt, but that other wounds will take a long time to heal. In this research project, the point of departure is that it is not only important to rebuild, but that the way infrastructure is rebuilt will have consequences for other aspects of the peacebuilding process. In other words, making wise choices in reconstruction can provide better conditions not only for economic recovery, but also play a role in reducing social tensions or regional conflicts. Taking environmental concerns seriously can avoid irreversible destruction of land, water and ecosystems, thus averting future disasters.
”Challenges of course depend on the perspective which is taken. Foreign direct investors may feel unsure about future developments, and want quick returns on their investments. Decisions taken at national level on the other hand tend to be centralized, and may develop certain regions in a country at the expense of others”, says Helen Avery.
Aiming at sustainable ways of living
She also means that new conflicts can be 'built into' the infrastructures that are put in place, as for example with pipelines, or with dams that can control water flow.
“Also, there is still insufficient understanding of what more sustainable infrastructure systems might look like”, Helen Avery explains.
Challenges of course depend on the perspective which is taken.
Infrastructure plays a central role in society, at different levels. It is the basis for services like water, electricity, sewage or waste disposal, with great impacts on the citizens’ quality of life. Infrastructure enables industry, forestry or agriculture. It also shapes communications and exchanges within a country, and for foreign trade. Making infrastructure investments in connection with post-conflict reconstruction is in fact a great opportunity to direct the economy towards environmentally sustainable ways of living, producing and transporting. This is because different sectors interconnect, and rebuilding offers the chance to plan and negotiate better solutions. Infrastructure choices involve a geographical dimension, since localization of infrastructure has strong effects on distribution within a country and affects relations to surrounding economies. But choices also have impacts on citizens’ access to services and livelihoods, and might shift balances between the parties to the conflict.
Implications on environment and food security
The areas focused in this study, energy, water, transport systems and agricultural policy, are interesting to investigate jointly, since they interconnect in significant ways. They have direct implications in terms of environmental impacts (e.g. transition away from fossil fuels economy), vulnerability in militarized contexts and food security. They have significant impacts in terms of reactions to and effects on climate change. Many parts of the Middle East are already suffering from severe droughts and water shortages, and these trends are unfortunately likely to accelerate.
A holistic view is needed
“The project can contribute to informed decision-making, by condensing experiences across a number of contexts. Reconstruction is often undertaken based on short term considerations and constraints, which is why it is important to include the long term implications of different choices”, says Helen and continues:
“If we are able to use experiences from other conflict contexts to think and act differently in the challenging reconstruction processes ahead of us, we may find ways to avoid new cycles of conflicts. Looking at different options for infrastructure in a holistic manner allows to conceive more coherent policies, to increase resilience and accelerate transitions to sustainable societies.”
This is why the project will pay particular attention how infrastructure choices in post-conflict contexts affect the situation of different population groups, on the one hand, and on the other, how these choices open or close the way for other vital choices further ahead.
The project that runs over three years plans a study, which includes a literature review, and interviews with different actors who have been involved in making decisions in post-conflict reconstruction settings. In a second phase, the project aims to bring these insights into action, and work on ways to use the outcomes in decision-making processes.