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Basic principles
Scope for political steering

Basic principles

The Federal Government works to promote the development and application of effective strategies and instruments for crisis prevention, peaceful conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building. This is to help prevent the violent eruption of conflicts in potential crisis and conflict areas at an early stage, curb the spread of violence and prevent a renewed outbreak of violence after the end of an armed conflict by means of effective post-conflict peace-building and reconstruction.

The basis for crisis prevention, conflict resolution and peace-building in the post-conflict phase is an extended security concept that embraces political, economic, ecological and social stability. This is founded on the respect of human rights, social justice, the rule of law, participatory decision-making, the protection of natural resources, development opportunities in all regions of the world and the use of peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms.

Crisis prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building have to be considered together. This is true both of structural and procedural causes for conflict as well as for the instruments to be used for both international and domestic crises and conflicts (particularly in failing states).

Civilian crisis and conflict management requires a comprehensive political strategy which is coordinated at national and international level and tailor-made for each individual situation. This strategy has to dovetail instruments from foreign, security, development, financial, economic, cultural and legal policy fields. It needs to be able to develop individual solutions and to guarantee careful coordination, also between military and civilian means. Non-state players (non-governmental organizations, business, churches etc) ought to be involved as much as possible.

Germany will always act together with its partners and international players. The close ties with our partners in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance as well as our work in international organizations, particularly the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe will continue to be the mainstays of German foreign policy.

The comprehensive strategy embraces the further development of international law, subjecting conflicts to legal adjudication (international criminal jurisdiction and arbitration), human rights policy as preventive peace policy and improving the instrument of civilian sanctions. Within the comprehensive strategy, development policy has the task of helping improve the economic, social, ecological and political situation in the partner countries to prevent conflicts and reduce their structural causes as well as to promote mechanisms of non-violent conflict management. Disarmament, arms control and arms export control are also key issues as well as crisis prevention instruments. This is true particularly in the fight against the destabilizing accumulation and proliferation of small arms in many crisis regions.

International disarmament, arms control and arms export control can be used in certain situations for crisis prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building. They make it more difficult to wage an armed conflict. Germany will use its political weight in multilateral fora to strengthen civilian crisis and conflict management.

The plans and measures of German players supported or recognized by the Government need to be embedded in the Federal Government's policy. To guarantee a coherent strategy of civilian crisis and conflict management, non-governmental organizations and civil society have to be involved more in each field and dialogue between the non-governmental and governmental sphere has to be made more effective, as for example in the Civil Peace Service in development cooperation and the Federal Foreign Office civilian experts.

The Federal Government will promote a culture of prevention and dialogue. Peace and conflict research has to be stepped up, international education policy, cultural relations and media policy have to focus on breaking down negative stereotypes, while promoting intercultural dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution methods.

The Federal Government will create coordinated training opportunities and improve the conditions for the work of civilian personnel in the spheres of crisis prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building. The aim is to make qualified staff available in all relevant spheres by interministerial cooperation and by using all available resources.

Scope for political steering

Under the leadership of the Federal Foreign Office but with the involvement of all ministries, the Federal Government devises tailor-made strategies which include the possibility of setting up discussion groups on impending conflicts. The ministries coordinate with the non-governmental organizations in their areas of competence. Where appropriate, coordinators can be appointed allowing for information exchange, guaranteeing continued cooperation and opening the way for comprehensive personnel exchange (including the setting up of a register).
Otherwise fundamental lines on crisis prevention and conflict resolution are determined by the Cabinet.

© 1995-2004 Auswärtiges Amt

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		Comprehensive Concept of the Federal Government on Civilian Crisis Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Post-Conflict Peace-Building Basic principles Scope for political steering Basic principles The Federal Government works to promote the development and application of effective strategies and instruments for crisis prevention, peaceful conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building. This is to help prevent the violent eruption of conflicts in potential crisis and conflict areas at an early stage, curb the spread of violence and prevent a renewed outbreak of violence after the end of an armed conflict by means of effective post-conflict peace-building and reconstruction. The basis for crisis prevention, conflict resolution and peace-building in the post-conflict phase is an extended security concept that embraces political, economic, ecological and social stability. This is founded on the respect of human rights, social justice, the rule of law, participatory decision-making, the protection of natural resources, development opportunities in all regions of the world and the use of peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms. Crisis prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building have to be considered together. This is true both of structural and procedural causes for conflict as well as for the instruments to be used for both international and domestic crises and conflicts (particularly in failing states). Civilian crisis and conflict management requires a comprehensive political strategy which is coordinated at national and international level and tailor-made for each individual situation. This strategy has to dovetail instruments from foreign, security, development, financial, economic, cultural and legal policy fields. It needs to be able to develop individual solutions and to guarantee careful coordination, also between military and civilian means. Non-state players (non-governmental organizations, business, churches etc) ought to be involved as much as possible. Germany will always act together with its partners and international players. The close ties with our partners in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance as well as our work in international organizations, particularly the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe will continue to be the mainstays of German foreign policy. The comprehensive strategy embraces the further development of international law, subjecting conflicts to legal adjudication (international criminal jurisdiction and arbitration), human rights policy as preventive peace policy and improving the instrument of civilian sanctions. Within the comprehensive strategy, development policy has the task of helping improve the economic, social, ecological and political situation in the partner countries to prevent conflicts and reduce their structural causes as well as to promote mechanisms of non-violent conflict management. Disarmament, arms control and arms export control are also key issues as well as crisis prevention instruments. This is true particularly in the fight against the destabilizing accumulation and proliferation of small arms in many crisis regions. International disarmament, arms control and arms export control can be used in certain situations for crisis prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building. They make it more difficult to wage an armed conflict. Germany will use its political weight in multilateral fora to strengthen civilian crisis and conflict management. The plans and measures of German players supported or recognized by the Government need to be embedded in the Federal Government's policy. To guarantee a coherent strategy of civilian crisis and conflict management, non-governmental organizations and civil society have to be involved more in each field and dialogue between the non-governmental and governmental sphere has to be made more effective, as for example in the Civil Peace Service in development cooperation and the Federal Foreign Office civilian experts. The Federal Government will promote a culture of prevention and dialogue. Peace and conflict research has to be stepped up, international education policy, cultural relations and media policy have to focus on breaking down negative stereotypes, while promoting intercultural dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution methods. The Federal Government will create coordinated training opportunities and improve the conditions for the work of civilian personnel in the spheres of crisis prevention, conflict resolution and post-conflict peace-building. The aim is to make qualified staff available in all relevant spheres by interministerial cooperation and by using all available resources. Scope for political steering Under the leadership of the Federal Foreign Office but with the involvement of all ministries, the Federal Government devises tailor-made strategies which include the possibility of setting up discussion groups on impending conflicts. The ministries coordinate with the non-governmental organizations in their areas of competence. Where appropriate, coordinators can be appointed allowing for information exchange, guaranteeing continued cooperation and opening the way for comprehensive personnel exchange (including the setting up of a register). Otherwise fundamental lines on crisis prevention and conflict resolution are determined by the Cabinet. © 1995-2004 Auswärtiges Amt TOP