Case Selection
We selected Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda as cases because there is evidence (1) that the three instruments of peace-building we are focusing on were deployed, (2) that they contributed to the emergence of stable post-conflict societies, and (3) that violence-centered masculinities have been transformed more or less successfully at different levels.
Liberia
After 14 years of conflict, Liberia has been relatively peaceful since 2003. Its post-conflict reconstruction was characterized by highly structured peace-building instruments like DDR, SSR, and TJM. What makes Liberia special is the crucial role women peace activists (Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace) played in the peace process and its implementation. Hence, the different peace-building instruments widely included questions of gender justice. Additionally, the SSR process included the total dissolution and reconstruction of the Liberian military.
Sierra Leone
The civil war in Sierra Leone ended in 2002 and was followed by a high level of international engagement in post-conflict reconstruction. Interestingly, TJM was characterized by the internationally led prosecutions via Special Court for Sierra Leone. With regards to SSR, former rebels were integrated into the regular armed forces of Sierra Leone.
Uganda
The conflict between the Ugandan government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) ended in 2008. In contrast to Liberia and Sierra Leone, post-conflict reconstruction was characterized by a low engagement of international actors and was far less structured. In Uganda, TJM combined both international prosecution of war criminals and local justice mechanisms. Moreover, former rebels were integrated into the wider security forces while, with regards to SSR, the Ugandan government sought to increase military spending.