“The Trouble With Inclusivity:” How Promoting Inclusive Peace Led to an Exclusive Outcome

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter is divided into three parts. The first part discusses how the inclusivity norm localized as all-inclusiveness, and how the discourse around all-inclusiveness resulted in a more exclusive rather than inclusive peace process outcome. Through analyzing the provisions for “inclusive” post-agreement structures and mechanisms in ceasefire agreements and other texts, as well as drawing from accounts from negotiating teams, I analyze how inclusivity localized into all-inclusiveness. The second part looks at the power differentials between the negotiating parties and the NGO mediators in this phase of the peace process and analyses why they did not achieve their intended outcome of displacing the exclusive nature of Myanmar politics. The third part discusses the effects of the norm localization of inclusivity as all-inclusiveness on the Myanmar peace process itself. All-inclusiveness actually reified existing identity divisions between EAGs and other armed actors. NGO mediator’s lack of control over the process’ outcome was also illustrated in the conflation of ceasefire agreement and peace agreement logic, and the inclusion of armed actors and non-armed actors.