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- Title
THE SEARCH FOR AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL CONCEPT OF DEMOCRACY: LESSONS FROM THE POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION OF SIERRA LEONE.
- Authors
Saul, Matthew
- Abstract
This article explores the treatment of democracy in the formulation of United Nations resolutions, peace agreements and external aid agreements related to the post-conflict reconstruction of Sierra Leone. It seeks to contribute towards a fuller understanding of the relevance of the practice of post-conflict reconstruction for the debate on democracy in international law. The analysis takes account of not only whether democracy was treated as an international legal concept, but also how the approach taken to the definition of democracy relates to the effectiveness of the reconstruction process. A central argument is that internationally facilitated post-conflict reconstruction can appear to be conducive to the articulation, by states, of democracy in international legal terms. However, it is also contended that the willingness of states to take this step can be seen as dependent on the existence of an appropriate forum. On this basis, it is concluded that the significance, from an international legal perspective, of the reluctance of states to take various opportunities to raise democracy in international legal terms during the reconstruction of Sierra Leone should not be overstated.
- Subjects
SIERRA Leone; DEMOCRACY; INTERNATIONAL law; UNITED Nations; PEACE treaties; POSTWAR reconstruction
- Publication
Melbourne Journal of International Law, 2012, Vol 13, Issue 1, p540
- ISSN
1444-8602
- Publication type
Article