Power sharing and democratic peacebuilding in post-conflict societies

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Power sharing has emerged as a common strategy for resolving violent conflicts since the 1990s, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the expectation that it fosters peacebuilding and democratization. However, the effectiveness of power sharing in achieving these goals remains debated. Patricia Rinck explores the intersection of research on power sharing's impact on democratization and peacebuilding, focusing on how non-ethnic power sharing among former adversaries influences democratic peacebuilding in post-conflict societies. She delves into the contentious role of power sharing in Sierra Leone, where the Lomé Peace Agreement of July 1999 aimed to end nearly a decade of civil war and promote peace and democracy. Utilizing interviews from 2013, the case study evaluates the effects of power sharing on the state monopoly of force, democratic participation, and conflict management culture in Sierra Leone. By examining the agreement's shortcomings and implementation challenges, the study provides a nuanced understanding of its early failures. It also discusses the implications for research on non-ethnic power sharing and offers practical recommendations for designing and executing similar agreements in the future.