Constructing Peace in Fragmented Settings: The Case of Sinjar in Iraq

An expanding body of scholarly literature in the field of peacebuilding increasingly attributes the enduring challenges of stabilizing and resolving intrastate conflicts to the phenomenon of conflict fragmentation. Emerging in response to the limitations of conventional conflict resolution paradigms, the concept of conflict fragmentation underscores the multifaceted and often decentralized nature of contemporary intrastate conflicts, which significantly impedes effective resolution efforts. This study analyzes the conflict in Iraq’s Sinjar region through the analytical lens of conflict fragmentation, seeking to elucidate the mechanisms through which the conflict has persisted despite the existence of the 2020 Sinjar Agreement—an internationally supported initiative aimed at fostering stabilization and eventual conflict resolution. By situating conflict fragmentation within the Iraqi context, this research also evaluates the applicability of the concept beyond the cases in which it was initially formulated. The case study reveals the intricate dynamics of the Sinjar conflict, characterized by the involvement of multiple local, national, and transnational actors with divergent interests and strategic agendas. The study argues that the failure to account for this complexity—central to the notion of conflict fragmentation—was a critical factor underlying the ineffectiveness of the Sinjar Agreement.