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influential stakeholders, including armed movements, whose capacities to lead and/or block macro-political
change make them key players in conflict transformation. Three recent publications are worth mentioning
because of their close linkages with this project; they all adopt a comparative multi-case analysis to the

dynamics of RLMs during and after peace processes. The Accord series referred to above (Ricigliano 2005)
mostly focuses on external engagement with various armed groups, but also contains several articles which
analyse past peacemaking experiences by such groups.

In particular, McCartney’s contribution “esents an interesting exploration of the various elements

which favour militancy (such as a lack of alternative options, commitment to the campaign, avoidance
of compromise and splits, etc.) against those which favour a conflict transformation strategy (e.g. real
opportunities for change and tangible benefits, inherent weaknesses of the military option, legitimacy and
recognition, guarantees and mutual dependence, third-party intermediaries). Secondly, a recent study by

the Clingendael Institute (De Zeeuw 2008) compares eight cases of “rebel-to-party” transformations, which
are analysed along structural dynamics (i.e. demilitarising of organisational structures and development
of party organisation) and attitudinal changes (i.e. democratisation of decision-making and adaptation of
strategies and goals).

Their main focus is to explain full, partial or failed transitions through multiple internal and external
causal factors, and provide policy advice to the international community on how to better support the
demilitarisation and political transformation of these movements. Finally, another recent collective research

project (Dayton and Kriesberg 2009) examines the processes that lead groups that are challenging existing
power structures to engage in violent struggles, processes that contribute to de-escalation and participation
of challengers in peaceful political activities, and processes that sustain and nurture this transformation.
The book offers a combination of thematic chapters and case studies on Brazil, Guatemala, Mozambique,
Nepal, Palestine, the Basque Country, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Whereas the studies reviewed in this section provide some interesting academic insights based on external
analysis of the dynamics of RLMs, the purpose of this research project has been to prioritise self-analysis
by those inside the movements, in the hope of producing more focused, specific and substantial firsthand
findings. We believe that this unique approach is of great value both to the participating groups as an

exercise in comparative self-reflection, and to the international research and policy-making communities in
giving them an accurate, realistic and much more nuanced view of the whole subject matter. Before turning
to the key insights which have emerged from this self-reflection exercise, the remainder of this section

briefly presents the methodological approach and research framework which were adopted for this project.

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