The analysis of the relationship between the content of peace accords and post-accord stability: comparative case study of Guatemala and El Salvador

Official URL: http://192.168.1.20/record=b1295913 (Table of Contents)

This study explored the relationship between the content of peace accords and post-accord stability. This relationship has rarely been studied before. In this regard, this research addressed the gap in the literature by examining to what extent the inclusion of socio-economic, political, security-related and social-fabric related issues in peace accords impacts these socio-economic, political, security-related and social-fabric related issues in the post-accord period. The two cases of post-conflict countries, Guatemala and El Salvador, were comparatively analyzed. The Guatemalan and Salvadoran peace accords were content-coded. Subsequently, the level of post-accord stability in these countries was measured by using various indicators for socio-economic, political, security-related and social-fabric related issues. Findings revealed that there is not a strong relation between the inclusion of socio-economic, political, security-related and social-fabric related issues in peace accords and the level of these issues in the post-accord period. In other words, the comprehensiveness of peace accords does not necessarily lead to stability in the post-accord period. There are other factors like specificity and applicability of provisions, implementation-related issues, sense of ownership of the peace accords by the society that influence the relationship between peace accords and post-accord period. Findings have also implications for designing more efficient peace agreements.