30 Nov 2025

Politics beyond the party

Informal pathways for ex-combatants’ political transformation

The Primer explains the importance of informal political spaces in achieving long-term peace. These arenas are often the most immediate and accessible venues where marginalised groups or lower-level fighters -- including women and young people -- can express their views, develop leadership skills, and take action, especially when formal institutions are inaccessible, exclusive, or no longer trusted. Acknowledging and supporting these peaceful forms of organisation allows DDR and peacebuilding actors to enable ex-combatants to pursue social change without violence, resolve grievances constructively, and rebuild confidence between them and the wider community.

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