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Transforming Ceasefires: The Legal and Institutional Foundations of Sustainable Peace
Traditi, Morena
Traditi, Morena
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Abstract
This thesis examines why ceasefire agreements, despite their central role in halting violence and facilitating diplomatic engagement, often collapse shortly after their implementation. Although international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter provide extensive regulation of armed conflict, no comparable legal or institutional framework regulates ceasefires themselves. This gap raises the central research question: can international law evolve from regulating the conduct of war to codifying the maintenance of peace through structured, enforceable ceasefire mechanisms? To explore this question, the study employs doctrinal legal analysis combined with comparative case studies of four conflicts: the India-Pakistan ceasefire along the Line of Control, Gaza-Israel ceasefire arrangements between 2008 and 2025, the Colombian government’s ceasefire with the FARC, and repeated ceasefire failures in Sudan. Each case is examined through two criteria: the clarity and legal precision of ceasefire obligations, and the strength of institutional oversight monitoring and enforcing compliance. Findings across the cases reveal a consistent pattern. Ceasefires lacking standardized procedures, independent monitoring, or credible enforcement mechanisms are prone to rapid failure. The Gaza-Israel and Sudan cases illustrate how power symmetry, fragmented command structures, and political interference undermine ceasefire stability. By contrast, relatively successful ceasefire in Kashmir and Colombia demonstrate that durable implementation depends on robust institutional support, whether through United Nations monitoring missions or inclusive negotiation frameworks supported by political will and domestic capacity. Based on these insights, the thesis argues that ceasefires should be reconceptualized as legally codified and institutionally supervised processes, not merely temporary political pauses. It proposes a dual framework: (1) establishing standardized legal guidelines that define obligations, procedures, verification standards, and consequences for violations; and (2) creating impartial monitoring and enforcement bodies under international or regional authority to ensure compliance. The thesis concludes that while no legal structure can resolve deep-rooted political disputes, a coherent and enforceable ceasefire framework would significantly reduce conflict relapses, improve civilian protection, and strengthen long-term international peace and security.
Description
Thesis (B.A. in International Affairs, Minor in Legal Studies)--John Cabot University, Fall 2025.
Date
2025
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Keywords
International security, Peace-building
Citation
Traditi, Morena. "Transforming Ceasefires: The Legal and Institutional Foundations of Sustainable Peace". BA Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2025.