A series of fortunate events : resolving Aceh's separatist conflict.

This thesis attempts to examine the process of conflict resolution in Aceh in the wake of 2004's Boxing Day Tsunami. In less than a year after the tsunami, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), and the Government of Indonesia. With the successful resolution of conflict in the province, many have started to take this case as an example to follow. This thesis therefore seeks to identify the factors that led to the resolution of conflict in the province. Furthermore, this thesis also seeks to identify the degree to which Aceh's model can be replicated in other cases facing similar issues of intra-state conflict. In this thesis, I argue that the success of Aceh is a special case, and will be nearly impossible to replicate. This study is an attempt to provide a case study for a successful resolution of intra-state conflict. More specifically, this paper seeks to highlight how choices made by actors are constrained by their external structural situation. As such, it intends to show how the decision outcomes are a direct result of the dynamic relationship between the structure and agency. By using the Aceh as a case study, this paper hopes to show how intra-state conflict resolution is a result of a combination of unique factors that will be difficult to transplant into other circumstances.Master of Science (Strategic Studies