Drawing peace: the discourse analysis of ex-child soldiers in post-conflict situation

Abstract

The purpose of this research will be deepen the discussions on the subject of child soldiers, articulating various aspects of identity construction of young people at the time of post-conflict, it means that the former child soldiers , when reinserted into the social environment , have certain desires and anxieties that often are not answered by the UN DDR program. So, what is intended with the current project is to analyze the existing voids between the practices of the DDR program, specifically for the former child soldiers, and the real needs that they present when they return to the community, based on the theoretical perspective of Peace Studies. Afterwards, it will contribute to a better understanding of practices which may favor the identity reconstruction of children and help them in the transition from military to civilian environment, through closer the former child soldiers to the local community in the reintegration process. Thus, Discourse Analysis will be essential to analyze accurately the testimony of former child soldiers, statements that reflect the expectations and aspirations of the children when they return to the civilian life. Therefore, the research will relate two theoretical perspectives that cross the field of International Relations: Peace Studies and Discourse Analysis, so covering the issue of child soldiers in post -conflict, because, in this case, the challenge is to articulate a way more wide for identity construction of the former child soldiers when they return to the social environment, and contribute to the deepening of the field of research and study in the corresponding area.