A Framework to Analyse the Consequences of Post Conflict Reconstruction Intervention; The Case of Road Infrastructure in Sri Lanka

Conflicts destroy the livelihoods and infrastructures affecting in economic development and stability of countries. Once a conflict comes to an end, post-conflict reconstruction (PCR) forms an important part of the recovery process. In the current practice of PCR, although much attention has been paid to physical reconstruction, there is a lack of coordination among PCR projects and their alliance with national PCR agenda. The PCR interventions may create unexpected and sometimes negative consequences, that could worsen the vulnerabilities and inequalities that already exist in the post-conflict societies. Therefore, it is important to consider different forms of consequences of PCR interventions, both at the individual and holistic level. This study highlights the importance of analysing potential consequences of PCR interventions, in the context of post-conflict road infrastructure reconstruction in Sri Lanka.

Due to the lack of existing research and guidance on analysing post-conflict road infrastructure, the research was aimed at developing a framework to represent the potential consequences of road infrastructure reconstruction and its linkages to post-conflict context. In order to achieve these aims, understanding potential consequences and identifying the methods used in analysing were defined as the first two objectives. The final objective was to provide a guideline for practitioners and policy makers to analyse the consequences of post-conflict road infrastructure intervention and their linkages to the context.

The literature review was conducted to identify the research gap, which is the absence of a framework to analyse a range of potential consequences of a PCR intervention and its links to the post-conflict context. Accordingly, the research question addressed through the study was formed as How to analyse the potential consequences of a post-conflict reconstruction intervention”. To answer the research question, the study was aimed at providing a guideline for PCR project implementers to analyse the potential consequences of a PCR intervention involving physical infrastructure. A conceptual framework was developed using the literature review to guide the methodology formation and the data collection process.

Taking a subjective ontological stance and an interpretivist perspective, the author attempts to understand the behaviour of the stakeholders involved in the research from their point of view. A constructive approach is adopted to build the analytical framework. The conceptual framework built using the existing theory was used as a tool to use data collection and develop the basis of data analysis. The qualitative methodological choice is used and the case study method is chosen as the research strategy. The thematic analysis method is used to build the novel analytical framework introduced through the study.

The framework presented in the study is a detailed analysis of the context within which the road infrastructure intervention takes place and how the intervention has resulted in a range of consequences. These consequences are strongly affected by and also feedback into the context within which the reconstruction has taken place. There are complex linkages among the consequences, and between those consequences and nature of the intervention. The analytical framework is novel in its holistic approach and bringing together the context, intervention and the consequences to give a comprehensive perspective of the PCR process. This framework also forms the theoretical contribution of the research study and opens doors for new areas of research within the analysis of PCR interventions as well as in transport infrastructure evaluation.