Conclusion to Part II

Abstract This section identifies and summarizes the overarching comparative findings from Chapters 5, 6, and 7. While underscoring that every peace process is unique and characterized by its own dynamics, we identify some common patterns. First, we confirm the importance of building and nurturing meaningful, mutually beneficial, and sustainable relationships between international actors (such as the UN) and local actors (such as women and traditional leaders). Second, we demonstrate that specific provisions and reforms have a non-linear and dynamic impact in different contexts, and upon different actors in a conflict-affected society, thereby corroborating the findings of Chapters 3 and 4. We further illustrate these arguments by considering the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire, which appears to defy our expectations. Indeed, Côte d’Ivoire’s peace accords lacked references to UN leadership, to the inclusion of women in post-conflict society, and to plural justice, but it nonetheless provided a foundation for the stable end of large-scale conflict-related violence, precisely because the UN Security Council ultimately conferred a leadership role on the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) and because the UN mission worked closely with, and supported, local grassroots organizations, including women networks.