Whole-of-Society Peacebuilding by Mary Martin Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic

Author:Mary Martin, Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic [Mary Martin, Vesna Bojicic-Dzelilovic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Bible & Bible Studies, Bibles, Contemporary, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, International, History, Military
ISBN: 9781000011807
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2020-06-09T04:00:00+00:00

Complementary practices

Plural constituencies in the conflict space reflect not only different geographies and experiences but also imply a diversity of attitudes to the conflict, different expectations regarding outcomes and anticipated results of external intervention. As a result, there are multiple opportunities for conflict responses, and a range of peacebuilding activities both independent of and in conjunction with external actors which reflect local understanding of problems and community needs.

The issue of sequencing of civilian peacebuilding has been identified as a key policy and practice challenge to local ownership.50 Locally organised groups of activists, whatever their motivation (for example religious or business), are particularly effective in providing bridging activities between humanitarian assistance at the sharp end of active conflict and underlying reforms to embed peace as well as between medium and longer term assistance. The ability of small local actors to implement transitional activities is illustrated by the case of ‘Save Ukraine’ group. Mobilised initially around humanitarian and emergency assistance, the group has established its credibility through access to constituencies with extreme human security needs through timely and local intervention. Subsequent activities and services were adapted through a proximate knowledge of next steps required which included for example livelihood strategies for the conflict-affected population that led to ‘Save Ukraine’ developing a programme to assist individuals with setting up bakery businesses.51 This is an example of pragmatic sequencing of interventions, which illustrates how coordination of different actors and activities takes place on the ground as the peacebuilding process unfolds in contrast to pre-existing protocols and frameworks drawn by the interveners.52 Furthermore, this example illustrates how such small, local indigenous forms of engagement and practices are able to respond to a range of problems from food insecurity, lack of livelihoods, lack of dignity and governance issues. In contrast, the interconnected nature of such multiple vulnerabilities facing conflict-affected populations is poorly addressed by operational practices characterised by silo mentality among different peacebuilding organisations along with poor adaptive53 and coordination capabilities. A similar example of complementary local practices that approach peacebuilding and conflict resolution holistically is that of the Centre for Resolution of Conflicts in DRC which works on reintegration of demobilised soldiers, by relying on a large pool of volunteers who work across different policy areas and with different community groups to ensure peaceful reintegration and support social cohesion. This approach contrasts with fragmented process of reintegration in the context of institutionally focused DDR reforms.54

The fluid and highly connective nature of local activism not only shapes the universe of local counterparties, including the emergence of ‘new’ actors, it also has a bearing on the type of practices in the conflict space and different combinations of actors involved. In Ukraine, the volunteer phenomenon is not only present among religious groups but stems from civic engagement with the 2014 Maidan Euro-revolution, based on common feelings of national identity across multiple social groups. Technology and social media have provided the means of permanent and ongoing connections between different groups and increased the level of mobilisation within local society.

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