Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) of Ex-combatants

This course offers an overview of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants in countries recovering from conflict. It outlines the concepts, definitions, and types of DDR approaches that are followed by various international, and national agencies to demobilise armed groups, and to return and reintegrate their rank and file into civilian society. The short course will also map the evolution of programmatic efforts over time, and how the various shifts have influenced DDR effectiveness. This short course incorporates a gendered focus on the reintegration of women and girl combatants; and on the age-specific needs of child soldiers. It also involves a deep engagement with the question of ex-combatant re-recruitment; and the role of ex-combatant agency in the decision to re-engage in violence. 

The overall aims and objectives of this course are:

• To provide students with a critical understanding of the different forms of reintegration support available to former combatants after civil wars.
• To enable students to reflect on their own perspectives on the challenges faced by the various participants including the male, female and child combatants after the civil wars.
• To deepen students’ understanding of the different meanings of negative and positive peace; and their relevance to policy choices in real life post-war contexts, including reflection on their own perceptions of what it means for ex-combatants to be at peace.
• To enable students to explore critically the role of formal support in the return and reconciliation of communities and ex-combatants.
• To enhance students’ ability to engage critically with the different theoretical and practical approaches to post-war reintegration support for both communities and combatants.
• To facilitate a critical evaluation of the key practices in post-conflict reconstruction, such as DDR.

This is a self-paced online course where students can access and work through the material at their own convenience. You will have access to the course for 3 months. 

This course is divided into 5 units:

Unit 1 is an introduction to disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants in countries recovering from conflict. It outlines the concepts, definitions, and the types of DDR approaches applied by international and national agencies to demobilise armed groups and return and reintegrate them into civilian society.

Unit 2 explains the concepts and approaches to the DDR of former combatants associated with armed groups through formal programmes of assisted return to civilian life. It also maps the evolution of programmes over time and how the programmatic shifts have impacted DDR effectiveness.

Unit 3 focuses on the reintegration of women and girl combatants who take part in armed groups, through active combat and leadership, and in ancillary roles as wives and companions. It outlines the intersection between gender and war, and how DDR approaches followed by various international and national agencies to demobilise armed groups address gender concerns in their programmes and relate these to their recruitment experiences.

Unit 4 delves into the DDR of child soldiers and the children associated with armed forces (CAFF) in both combatant and in auxiliary or non-combat roles. It offers both conceptual and empirical grounding in understanding various policy responses to the reintegration of child soldiers and of CAFF.

Unit 5 focuses on the re-recruitment or recidivism of ex-combatants following a formal DDR effort in countries recovering from conflict. It outlines the concepts, definitions and types of re-recruitment, and the role of ex-combatant choices in the decision to re-engage in violence.

The detailed aims of this course within the 5 units are:

UNIT 1

• Deepen student’s understanding of the concepts underlying the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) of former combatants in countries recovering from conflict.
• Engage with the perspectives on ex-combatant reintegration across the economic, social, and the political realms.  
• Analyse the differences between self-demobilisation, desertion, and demobilisation through formal DDR processes.
• Explore the challenges and opportunities for improving ex-combatant’s social reintegration into post-war civilian communities.

UNIT 2

• Deepen student’s understanding of the evolution of DDR programmes.
• Analyse the differences between targeted and dispersed approaches to DDR.
• Explore the challenges and opportunities for improving ex-combatant’s social reintegration into post-war civilian communities through community focused approaches.
• Consider the different aspects of DDR effectiveness from a programmatic perspective.

UNIT 3

• Deepen student’s understanding of the intersection between gender and DDR of former combatants in countries recovering from conflict.
• Engage with the perspectives of women and girls and their unique challenges after civil wars.
• Analyse the differences between those who go through formal DDR support processes, and those who reintegrate spontaneously.
• Explore the challenges and opportunities for improving women’s economic and social reintegration into post-war civilian communities.

UNIT 4

• Deepen student’s understanding of the concepts underlying the DDR of child soldiers in countries recovering from conflict.
• Engage with the perspectives on child soldier reintegration across the different age and gender categories
• Analyse the differences between children and adult combatants as they attempt to reintegrate into civilian lives.
• Explore the challenges and opportunities for improving children’s return and reconciliation into post-war civilian communities.

UNIT 5

• Deepen student’s understanding of the concepts underlying the re-recruitment of former combatants in countries into crime or new armed formations.
• Engage with the perspectives on ex-combatant re-recruitment across the spectrum of formal DDR participation and to non-participation in DDR programmes.
• Analyse the role of ex-combatant choices in influencing the decision to re-engage in violence.
• Explore the challenges and opportunities for improving ex-combatant’s reintegration into post-war civilian communities as a means to prevent recidivism.

There are no formal education or professional requirements, however, all learning will be delivered in English, therefore we recommend minimum IELTS Level 6 for learners to get the most from the spoken and written content.