Horizontal Inequalities in Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Guatemala and Nepal

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In a previous chapter of this volume, it was argued that incorporation of horizontal inequality considerations into policy programmes is an important, though often neglected, aspect of post-conflict reconstruction. The authors reviewed a range of policies available for combating horizontal inequalities in the socio-economic, political and cultural status dimensions, and argued that there is a wide range of policy options available, although their suitability varies from context to context, but that national governments and donors alike have largely failed to take cognisance of them sufficiently.

In this chapter, these themes are more concretely explored through consideration of the post-conflict reconstruction strategies in two case study countries: Guatemala and Nepal. Guatemala, which suffered one of the most protracted and vicious civil wars of the past fift y years, is widely seen as a successful case of post-conflict reconstruction, built about an extensive set of peace accords ratified in 1996. Yet, this chapter argues that the implementation of these peace accords has paid scant attention to the severe horizontal inequalities between indigenous peoples and the politically and economically dominant ‘Ladinos’. In doing so, the government risks alienating further those who suffered most from the conflict and may well be sewing the seeds of future instability. In contrast, Nepal is a case where donors and the government alike have recognised the need for extensive social policies to correct the horizontal inequalities that drove the emergence of a Maoist rebellion between 1996 and 2005.

GUATEMALA

The aim of this case study is to evaluate the impact of post-conflict reconstruction on some major aspects of the role and position of indigenous people in Guatemalan society. In view of the remarkable complexity of recent Guatemalan history (comprising multiple transitions, away from war, authoritarianism and the once dominant coffee economy) it is important to underline that this chapter summarises some fundamental aspect of post-conflict reconstruction rather than providing a detailed study of the overall process. The case study however underlines the usefulness of a Horizontal Inequalities (HIs) approach when examining multi-ethnic conflict and post-conflict societies. The first section of the case study details HIs between indigenous and non-indigenous Guatemalan and the role played by HIs in the lengthy civil war.