Publication

This report reviews the ways in which rebel groups transform themselves into political parties and the factors that shape their subsequent contributions to peacebuilding. More specifically, the text's author examines three cases where this transformation occurred – the FMLN of El Salvador, the UCPN (or Maoist Party) of Nepal, and the SPLM of South Sudan. In each case, the author explores three factors that determined the groups’ tilt towards participative politics and a quest for peace – i.e., 1) the internal dynamics of the group and its relationship to society, 2) the nature of the hoped-for peace settlement, and 3) the broader local and international contexts. Finally, the author examines how international actors can facilitate rebel-to-party transitions that could lead to sustainable and inclusive peace.