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Abstract
The social reintegration of ex-combatants is one of the most critical aspects of peacebuilding processes. However, contrary to economic reintegration in which it would be possible to set up some quantitative indicators in terms of accessing vocational training opportunities, employment and livelihoods income for the assessment of success, social reintegration is an intangible outcome. Therefore, what constitutes a successful social reintegration and how it could be assessed continues to be the challenge for both academics and practitioners. This article will undertake an investigation of the preliminary parameters of social reintegration at the macro, meso and micro levels in order to identify a set of indicators for programme assessment. A nuanced understanding of ex-combatant reintegration is expected to allow the development of context-based indicators according to the specific characteristics of that particular environment. The article also recommends the use of participatory research methods as they would be more appropriate for the measurement of social reintegration impact.
Notes
1 FMNL: Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front; MNLF: Mindanao National Liberation Front; SPLA: Sudan People's Liberation Army.
2 The aims or objectives of DDR programmes differ according to the underpinning philosophy of the programme which ‘can be viewed on a continuum: from a minimalist (improving security) to a maximalist (as an opportunity for development and reconstruction) perspective’ (Muggah Citation2004, p. 27).
3 For a full consideration of this issue see Bowd (Citation2008).