Ceasefire Agreements: Legal and Psychological Ideas

What is This About?

Ceasefire agreements are not just about stopping war. They change who controls land, power, resources, and law. 

This article says: 

we need better ways to understand them.

1. Ceasefires Are More Than a Pause in Fighting

• Ceasefires affect governments, property, money, and security.

• They can shift power during war, not just reduce violence.

• Examples:

  • Syria (Zabadani Agreement): Syrian government and rebels agreed to a ceasefire. In return, rebels had to stop attacking military sites. This reshaped local control and allowed government forces to regroup.

  • Yemen (Hodeidah Agreement): Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels agreed to stop fighting in Hodeidah. The Houthis had to withdraw from key ports. It wasn’t peace, but it changed who controlled trade.

---

2. The Law Is Too Narrow

• International Humanitarian Law (IHL) only cares about reducing harm.

• It doesn’t handle how ceasefires change politics or society.

---

3. Three Ways to Think About Ceasefires

A. Like Contracts

Ceasefires are written and signed, like contracts. But they often can't be enforced like contracts.

Real Example:

• Myanmar Ceasefires (Various): Written deals between military and ethnic groups looked like contracts but were not enforced equally. Some parties ignored terms with no consequences.

B. Special Agreements (Geneva Conventions)

They can repeat legal rules like not harming civilians. But few countries officially use this form.

Real Example:

• Sri Lanka (2002): The government and LTTE agreed to avoid torture and intimidation as part of a ceasefire. These were framed as respecting humanitarian law, though not formally labeled "special agreements."

C. Lex Pacificatoria (Best Option)

A flexible system of soft legal ideas. Not strict laws, but helpful guidelines during the shift from war to peace.

Real Example:

• Minsk Agreements (Ukraine-Russia): These ceasefires didn’t end the war but helped structure dialogue and maintain fragile control over disputed regions. They became part of ongoing negotiation norms.

---

4. Psychology Behind Ceasefires

A. Survival Behavior

• Ceasefires feel safe but are temporary.

• Like the freeze response in trauma: not peace, not fight, just paused.

B. Narrow Focus Under Stress

• Like stressed people, the law focuses only on stopping harm.

• But we need wider thinking to manage peace and power.

C. Power and Control

• Ceasefires shift who controls areas.

• This causes tension and uncertainty, like in a broken family dynamic.

D. Lex Pacificatoria = Psychological Healing

• Like therapy helps trauma, Lex Pacificatoria helps conflict.

• It supports building new stories and systems for peace.

Final Thought

Ceasefires are not just legal deals. They are moments of deep human challenge. To truly build peace, we must think about both the rules and the emotions behind them.