Trunov Philipp Olegovich – Ph.D. in political sciences, senior researcher, Department of Europe and America, INION RAS, senior researcher, Institute of World History RAS
The article explores activities of Germany in the conflict resolutions in Asian and African countries. The key method of scientific research is event analysis, the methodological basis is the process of conflict resolutions and building of armed forces. Afghanistan and Mali are selected as focal examples chosen in view of the scale and effectiveness of Germany’s efforts. The article underlines internal and external factors which lead to the enlargement of German participation in the resolution of Syrian and Iraq conflicts. In the case of Afghanistan, the paper explores the «Bonn process» (2001) of establishment of the highest transitional authorities in Afghanistan, as well as provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) as supporting mechanisms for the development of local government institutions. The article shows the features of the working conditions of German PRTs in the northern Afghanistan. The paper also explores the difficulties faced by the Bundeswehr peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan, including its insufficiently rapid growth rates. In addition, the paper analyzes how the belated decision to increase the numbers of ISAF forces affected the conflict resolution process, as well as the fact that ISAF did not established an independent mission to train the Afghan security forces. The article underlines that current use of the Bundeswehr in the operation «Resolute Support» is aimed at least at partial preservation of the results of the stabilization process in northern Afghanistan. In the case of Mali, the paper explores the gradual increase in the Bundeswehr peacekeeping efforts (which have also been launched in the north-Malian provinces since 2016) and the participation of the Bundeswehr in the reform of the Malian army. As a result, by 2017 the main core of reorganized Malian government forces was created. The article shows the role of this African country as a «bastion of stability» in Sahel region for German foreign policy planning. It is concluded that in Mali Germany quite effectively applied its Afghan experience in the sphere of conflicts settlement.
Germany, instability, conflict resolutions, armed conflicts, Afghanistan, Mali, Sahel.
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