Print this page
Demobilisation
Demobilisation is a planned process by which the number of personnel under arms and in military command structures is significantly reduced. It includes the reduction in size of the regular military, paramilitary forces, as well as rebel groups (sometimes after their integration into new regular armed forces). In practice, demobilisation usually involves the assembly, disarmament, administration, counselling, skills assessment and then the discharge of former combatants, with a compensation package and/or assistance programme in place.
Disarmament
Disarmament is a central objective of demobilisation. It consists of the collection, control and disposal of small arms, ammunition, explosives and light and heavy weapons from combatants, as well as from the civilian population. Disarmament is essential as a confidence-building measure aimed at increasing stability in a very tense, uncertain environment with nervous participants and a wary population. All measures must be aimed at the mindset of participants, irrespective of whether these are standing armed forces, guerrilla groups, paramilitary or militia forces or civilians. Therefore, disarmament must include the development of responsible arms management programmes.
Reintegration
Reintegration is a complex economic, political, social and psychological process by which former soldiers make the transition from a military life to a civilian life. Reintegration is generally a long-term process, as it may take several years for ex-soldiers and their families to adapt to a civilian way of life. Hence a distinction is often made between economic, political, social and psychological reintegration.
Economic reintegration is the process through which retired or demobilised soldiers achieve financial independence by securing a livelihood for themselves and their dependants through production or gainful employment. Economic integration is often difficult in areas where unemployment is high, poor economic growth exists and the individuals in question do not have marketable skills.
Political reintegration is the process through which retired or demobilised soldiers participate in the political life of their communities, through interacting with, and/or participating in, community-based structures, processes and organisations. Examples include, amongst others, local councils, school committees, churches, trade and industry bodies and neighbourhood watches.
Social reintegration is the process through which former soldiers and their dependants consider themselves to be part of, and are accepted by the communities in which they live and society at large. The attitudes of communities towards categories of former soldiers are often dependent on the perceptions of the historical role these individuals played, and, if a major armed conflict had taken place, the degree of reconciliation in that society.
Psychological reintegration is the process by which former soldiers make the psychological adjustment from a military lifestyle, which is generally characterised by a hierarchical system of command and control, where an individual’s life is defined by a clear set of rules and regulations, to less formal and more flexible civilian lifestyle. Support and counselling may have to be provided to former soldiers who may be suffering from some form of psychological disorder as a result of being exposed to traumatic or life threatening events. In addition, some former soldiers may have lost the ability to be self-sufficient, as the military organisation to which they had belonged, had consistently provided for their basic needs during the period of armed conflict.
Reintegration Support Programmes
Traditionally the following have been provided by governments and/or donor agencies as reintegration support:
- Cash payments
- Foodstuffs (or coupons)
- Healthcare
- Clothing
- Housing, furniture and housing equipment and building material
- Seeds or agricultural equipment
- Agricultural extension services
- Scholarships and school fees for children
- Counselling and vocational guidance
- Legal and business advice
- Job placement or apprenticeships
- General referral services
- Access to land
- Public works and public sector job creation
- Wage subsidies
- Credit schemes
- Managerial and technical training
ISS Programme Activities in Respect of DDR
The Defence Sector Programme at the ISS works on issues of DDR as they are closely related to defence transformation and security sector reform. In the past, two monographs on “Demobilisation and its Aftermath” were published. See monograph series numbers 59 and 61. Currently no dedicated research on this subject is being done by DSP.DOCUMENTS
