Comments on: Jennifer Frione (FGCU) Child Soldiers http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/04/13/child-soldiers/ Sat, 19 May 2012 17:35:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Jonathan R. Jacob http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/04/13/child-soldiers/#comment-1147 Jonathan R. Jacob Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:18:00 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/04/13/child-soldiers/#comment-1147 Society is intimately aware of this problem, but it continues for a number of reasons. Specifically, Africa is in such a state of disrepair at this point, there is little the international community can do to assist because there's very little profit in doing so. Somalia hasn't had a functioning government since around 1978, the Darfur Genocide continues, The Congo is still in political turmoil and has been since before 2000 when the UN intervened. The international community has made very little headway regarding Africa as the history of the continent is so muddled by European colonialism that any attempt to solve problems simply angers another group. While child soldiers are a pity and are treated terribly, the fact of the matter is this; they are effective. Since these areas have been in a constant state of war between weak governments and militias they have lost generations of adults, so they turn to the children to continue the fight. It doesn't matter what they fight for, as long as they do. Solving the problem of Child soldiers will require the stabilization of many African nations. Due to the overall weakness of UN peacekeeping forces and the fact that no nation wants to take on such huge responsibilities this will continue unabated for a while. By weakness, I mean the laws that govern UN forces are debilitating as they are not allowed to draw their weapons unless they are fired upon. One of three things will happen; Africa will burn out in a blaze of death and destruction, The stronger nations, such as South Africa, will be forced to extend their powers to their neighbors in order to help stabilize them, or the International community will be forced to intervene due to the numerous humanitarian crisis that stem from this conflict. Any of them will take a while, so Child soldiers will remain a problem for quite a while. Society is intimately aware of this problem, but it continues for a number of reasons. Specifically, Africa is in such a state of disrepair at this point, there is little the international community can do to assist because there’s very little profit in doing so. Somalia hasn’t had a functioning government since around 1978, the Darfur Genocide continues, The Congo is still in political turmoil and has been since before 2000 when the UN intervened. The international community has made very little headway regarding Africa as the history of the continent is so muddled by European colonialism that any attempt to solve problems simply angers another group.

While child soldiers are a pity and are treated terribly, the fact of the matter is this; they are effective. Since these areas have been in a constant state of war between weak governments and militias they have lost generations of adults, so they turn to the children to continue the fight. It doesn’t matter what they fight for, as long as they do.

Solving the problem of Child soldiers will require the stabilization of many African nations. Due to the overall weakness of UN peacekeeping forces and the fact that no nation wants to take on such huge responsibilities this will continue unabated for a while. By weakness, I mean the laws that govern UN forces are debilitating as they are not allowed to draw their weapons unless they are fired upon. One of three things will happen; Africa will burn out in a blaze of death and destruction, The stronger nations, such as South Africa, will be forced to extend their powers to their neighbors in order to help stabilize them, or the International community will be forced to intervene due to the numerous humanitarian crisis that stem from this conflict. Any of them will take a while, so Child soldiers will remain a problem for quite a while.

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