This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Amer, R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Resolution of the Cambodian Conflict: Assessing the Explanatory Value of Zartman's `Ripeness Theory'

Department of Political Science, UmeÅ University, ramses.amer{at}pol.umu.se

This study is an analysis of the explanatory value of I. William Zartman's `ripeness theory' in the resolution of the Cambodian conflict. This is done through the identification and testing of the core concepts in Zartman's theoretical approach to the study of conflict resolution in studies ranging from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. The identified core concepts are `hurting stalemate', `ripe moment' and `ripe for resolution'. The development of the conflict in Cambodia is outlined from its background in the 1970s through the different phases of the conflict, from Vietnam's military intervention, launched in late 1978, to the formal resolution of the conflict in 1991. The empirical developments of the Cambodian conflict show that it has to be analysed at three different levels — the internal Cambodian level, the regional level and the global level. The main finding of the study is that Zartman's theoretical approach may have some explanatory value in the case of the resolution of the conflict situation at the internal Cambodian level. No explanatory value is identified at the regional and global levels of the conflict. Thus, if all three levels of the conflict situation are taken into account, no overall explanatory value of Zartman's theoretical approach has been established.

References

• Acharya, Amitav; Pierre Lizée & Sorpong Peou, comps and eds, 1991. Cambodia — The 1989 Paris Peace Conference. Background Analysis and Documents. Toronto: Centre for International and Strategic Studies, York University, and Millwood; New York: Kraus International.
• Amer, Ramses, 1990. `The United Nations and Kampuchea: The Issue of Representation and Its Implications', Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 22(3): 52—60.[Web of Science]
• Amer, Ramses, 1991. `The United Nations' Peace Plan for Cambodia: From Confrontation to Consensus', Interdisciplinary Peace Research 3(2): 3—27.
• Amer, Ramses, 1994a. The United Nations and Foreign Military Interventions: A Comparative Study of the Application of the Charter, 2nd edn, Report (33). Uppsala: Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University.
• Amer, Ramses, 1994b. `Sino-Vietnamese Normalization in the Light of the Crisis of the Late 1970s', Pacific Affairs 67(3): 357—383.[CrossRef][Web of Science]
• Amer, Ramses, 1996a. `Resolving the Cambodian Conflict', in Amer, Saravanamuttu & Wallensteen (12—36).
• Amer, Ramses, 1996b. `The United Nations and the Cambodian Famine and Refugee Crisis', in Amer, Saravanamuttu & Wallensteen (118—139).
• Amer, Ramses, 1999. `Sino-Vietnamese Relations: Past, Present and Future ', in Carlyle A. Thayer & Ramses Amer, eds, Vietnamese Foreign Policy in Transition. Singapore: Institute for Southeast Asian Studies; New York: St. Martin's (68—130).
• Amer, Ramses, 2002. The `Ripe Moment` and `Hurting Stalemate': What Relevance for Conflict Resolution in the Asian Context?, Peace and Conflict Research Report (1). Penang: Southeast Asian Conflict Studies Network and Research and Education for Peace Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
• Amer, Ramses, 2004. `Assessing Sino-Vietnamese Relations Through the Management of Contentious Issues', Contemporary Southeast Asia 26(2): 320—345.[CrossRef]
• Amer, Ramses; Johan Saravanamuttu& PeterWallensteen, 1996. The Cambodian Conflict 1979—1991: From Intervention to Resolution. Penang: Research and Education for Peace, School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia; Uppsala: Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University.
• Chandler, David P., 1991. The Tragedy of Cambodian History: Politics, War and Revolution Since 1945. New Haven, CT & London: Yale University Press.
• Clymer, Kenton, 2004. The United States and Cambodia, 1969—2000: A Troubled Relationship. London & New York: RoutledgeCurzon.
• Curtis, Grant, 1990. Cambodia: A Country Profile. Stockholm: Swedish International Development Authority.
• Dowty, Alan, 2006. `Despair Is Not Enough. Violence, Attitudinal Changes, and "Ripeness " in the Israeli—Palestinian Conflict', Cooperation and Conflict: Journal of the Nordic International Studies Association 41(1): 5—29.
• Frost, Frank, 1991. `The Cambodia Conflict: The Path Towards Peace ', Contemporary Southeast Asia 13(2): 119—163.[CrossRef]
• Goy, Raymond, 1992. `Quelques accords récents mettant fin à des guerres civiles ' [Some Recent Agreements Putting an End to Civil Wars], Annuaire Français de Droit International XXXVIII: 112—135.
• Haas, Michael, 1991. `The Paris Conference on Cambodia, 1989', Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 23(2): 42—53.[Web of Science]
• Iosart, Paul, 1990. `La difficile paix au Cambodge' [The Difficult Peace in Cambodia], Annuaire Français de Droit International XXXVI: 267—297.
• Iosart, Paul, 1993. `L'organisation des Nations Unies et le Cambodge' [The United Nations and Cambodia], Revue Générale de Droit International Public (3): 645—688.
• Kiernan, Ben, 1982. `Kampuchea 1979—1981: National Rehabilitation in the Eye of an International Storm', in Southeast Asian Affairs 1982. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (167—195).
• Kiernan, Ben, 1992. `The Cambodian Crisis, 1990—1992: The UN Plan, the Khmer Rouge, and the State of Cambodia', Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 24(2): 3—23.
• Kleiboer, Marieke, 1994. `Ripeness of Conflict: A Fruitful Notion?' [Review Essay], Journal of Peace Research 31(1): 109—116.[Abstract]
• Leifer, Michael, 1982. `The International Representation of Kampuchea ', in Southeast Asian Affairs 1982. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (47—59).
• Lieberfeld, Daniel, 1999. `Conflict "Ripeness" Revisited: The South African and Israeli/Palestinian Cases', Negotiation Journal 15(1): 63—82.
• Porter, Gareth, 1980. Kampuchea's UN Seat: Cutting the Pol Pot Connection. Indochina Issues (8, July).
• Pruitt, Dean G., 1997. `Ripeness Theory and the Oslo Talks', International Negotiation 2(2): 237—250.[CrossRef]
• Pruitt, Dean G., 2005. Whiter Ripeness Theory?, Working Paper (25), Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University.
• Saravanamuttu, Johan, 1996. `The ASEAN Perspective and Role in the Cambodian Peace Process', in Amer, Saravanamuttu & Wallensteen (37—62).
• Singh, Hari 1999. `Understanding Conflict Resolution in Cambodia: A Neorealist Perspective', Asian Journal of Political Science 7(1): 41—59.
• Solomon, Richard H., 2000. Exiting Indochina. US Leadership of the Cambodian Settlement and Normalization of Relations with Vietnam. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace.
• UN, 1981. Report of the International Conference on Kampuchea, New York 13—17 July 1981, Sales No. E.81.I.20. A/CONF.109/5.
• Vickery, Michael, 1984. Cambodia 1975—1982. Boston, MA: South End.
• Vickery, Michael, 1986a. Kampuchea: Politics, Economics, and Society. London: Frances Pinter.
• Vickery, Michael, 1986b. Cambodia's Tenuous Progress. Indochina Issues (63, January).
• Vickery, Michael, 1987. `Refugee Politics: The Khmer Camp System in Thailand ', in David A. Albin & Marlowe Hood, eds, The Cambodian Agony. Armonk, NY & London: M. E. Sharpe (293—331).
• Vickery, Michael, 1990. `Notes on the Political Economy of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK)', Journal of Contemporary Asia 20(4): 435—465.[CrossRef][Web of Science]
• Wallensteen, Peter, 1996. `Cambodia and Conflict Resolution Theory', in Amer, Saravanamuttu & Wallensteen (140—162).
• Warbrick, Colin, 1981. `Kampuchea: Representation and Recognition', International and Comparative Law Quarterly 30 (January): 234—246.[CrossRef]
• Zartman, I. William, 1989. Ripe for Resolution: Conflict and Intervention in Africa. Updated edn, A Council on Foreign Relations Book. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Zartman, I. William, 1991a. `Conflict and Resolution: Contest, Cost and Change ', The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 518 (November): 11—22 (Special Volume on `Resolving Regional Conflicts: International Perspectives', Special Editor, I. William Zartman).[Abstract]
• Zartman, I. William, 1991b. `Conflict Reduction: Prevention, Management, and Resolution ', in Francis M. Deng & I. William Zartman, eds, Conflict Resolution in Africa. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution (299—319).
• Zartman, I. William, 1995. `Dynamics and Constraints in Negotiations in Internal Conflicts', in I. William Zartman, ed., Elusive Peace: Negotiating an End to Civil Wars. Washington, DC: Brooking Institution (3—29).
• Zartman, I. William, 1996. `Bargaining and Conflict Reduction', in Edward A. Kolodziej & Roger E. Kanet, eds, Coping with Conflict After the Cold War. Baltimore, MD and London: Johns Hopkins University Press (271—290).
• Zartman, I. William, 2001. `Preventive Diplomacy: Setting the Stage', in I. William Zartman, ed., Preventive Negotiation: Avoiding Conflict Escalation. Boulder, CO: Rowman & Littlefield (1—18).
• United Nations Documents A/45/472-S/21689, 31 August 1990; S/RES/668 (1990) 20 September 1990; A/RES/45/3, 15 October 1990; A/46/61-S/22059, 11 January 1991; A/46/608-S/23177, 30 October 1991. All United Nations' documents referred to above have been reproduced in The United Nations and Cambodia 1991—1995, The United Nations Blue Book Series II. New York: Department of Public Information, United Nations, 1995.

Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 44, No. 6, 729-742 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0022343307082070


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Amer, R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?