De Combattants à Constructeurs de PaixPlaidoyer pour des Transitions Sécuritaires Inclusives, Participatives et Holistiques

La ‘guerre contre la terreur’, lancée par le gouvernement des Etats Unis (EU) et ses alliés à la suite des attaques du 11 septembre 2001 à New York et à Washington, a profondément transformé l’environnement géopolitique de la dernière décennie. La dominance des approches militaires et policières face aux conflits inter- et intra-étatiques a conduit à une interprétation généralisée de toutes les formes d’insurrections armées défiant l’ordre socio-politique établi à travers le spectre du ‘terrorisme’, et ce, indépendamment de la nature de tels acteurs, de leur degré de légitimité sociale et de leurs rôles et aspirations politiques. De telles tendances ont considérablement affecté non seulement les dynamiques des conflits armés, mais aussi le déroulement des processus de paix et les environnements d’après-guerre. Il est de plus en plus courant de considérer tous les acteurs armés comme des ‘saboteurs’ à combattre à tout prix ou, au mieux, à pacifier par le désarmement, la démobilisation et la réintégration (DDR), plutôt que comme des agents du changement capables de jouer un rôle constructif dans la stabilisation de la paix et la construction d’Etats plus légitimes.

Year2012
Author(s)Véronique Dudouet, Hans-Joachim Giessmann, Katrin Planta

Introduction to the second print volume of the Berghof HandbookHandbook Article

Introduction to the second print volume of the Berghof Handbook, "Advancing Conflict Transformation", published in 2011.

Year2011
Author(s)Beatrix Austin

New Thoughts on Power: Closing the Gap between Theory and ActionHandbook Article

Contrasts two familiar models of power: domination and cooperation. Arguing that the dominant concept of “power over” has given rise to a damaging global culture of militarism which blurs the line between pacification and peace, the author sketches a thought-provoking vision of how choosing instead to pursue “power with” could bring about a major paradigm shift. Drawing on real-life examples, she champions nonviolent assertiveness and asks: how much could “people power” achieve if it were taken as seriously as war now is?

Year2011
Author(s)Diana Francis

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Gender Relations, Violence and Conflict TransformationHandbook Article

Makes the case for taking gendered views of conflict, violence, war and peace as a basic prerequisite of conflict transformation. In examining the relation between masculinities, femininities and violence, as well as the links between structure and agency, the author highlights the dangers of assuming ‘natural’ gender behaviour. She stresses the need for women and men to be able to live a plurality of roles and identities. She also outlines ways in which conflict transformation could be improved by fully integrating gender issues into its analysis.

Year2011
Author(s)Cilja Harders

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The State of the Art in Conflict TransformationHandbook Article

Points to key concepts from the emergent field of conflict transformation, showing how its ideas and approaches are increasingly being brought into the mainstream. While acknowledging these achievements, the author also cautions that they are sometimes applied inappropriately and highlights the need for further improving the research, coordination and general awareness of conflict transformation options.

Year2011
Author(s)Louis Kriesberg

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Conflict, Change and Conflict ResolutionHandbook Article

Sets out a framework for thinking systematically about the relationship between conflict and social change. The author considers the changes necessary to bring about the resolution of conflict, as well as obstacles to such changes, and envisions possible roles for agents of change. (updated for the 2011 print edition)

Year2011
Author(s)Christopher R. Mitchell

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Civil Society and Conflict Transformation: Strength and LimitationsHandbook Article

Focuses on the potential contribution that civil society actors can make to peacebuilding. Central questions are: what types of activities do NGOs undertake? What problems and dilemmas are faced in the development of civil society in war-torn societies? Taking the example of Bosnia-Herzegovina, what are the limitations of civil society's contributions, and how does civil society relate to state-building? And, finally, how do these considerations impact on theoretical conceptualisations of the term "civil society"? (updated and revised for the 2011 print edition)

Year2011
Author(s)Martina Fischer

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Potential and Limits of Traditional Approaches in PeacebuildingHandbook Article

Explores the role of traditional or customary methods in transforming violent conflicts, assessing both strengths and weaknesses. The author embeds his discussion in the debate about failing/weak states, globalisation and the relationship between the global North and South, putting forth the concept of ‘hybrid political orders’. Drawing on the prime example of Bougainville, he is able to characterize “one of the rare success stories of peacebuilding in today’s world”. (updated and revised for 2011 print edition)

Year2011
Author(s)Volker Boege

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A Systemic Approach: Reflections on Sri LankaHandbook Article

Demonstrates the potential of systemic conflict transformation tools as applied to the civil war and peace process in Sri Lanka, based on dialogue and capacity building work carried out from 2001-2008. Taking on board the complexity, dynamism and non-linear development paths of protracted conflict systems, the author offers some insightful ways to help mobilise the “internal resources” inherent to a system as a means of solving problems and to re-conceptualise peace as a learning process. (updated for 2011 print edition)

Year2011
Author(s)Norbert Ropers

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Evaluating Peacebuilding: Not Yet All It Could BeHandbook Article

Assesses the quality of peacebuilding evaluation work being undertaken in a rapidly professionalizing field. The author gives several examples of good and bad practice and suggests that current evaluation practice is failing to foster accountability and learning quite as well as it could. She explores reasons why evaluation may fall short of established quality standards or stray from its explicitly stated purpose, offering recommendations for improvement to researchers, practitioners and donors alike.

Year2011
Author(s)Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church

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