Motivation: Disasters have terrible consequences for those affected, but do they also provide opportunities to challenge existing social divisions and inequalities and to promote democratic social change? Purpose: This article explores whether community-led reconstruction (CLR) can leverage progressive social change by increasing the participation and social inclusion of marginalized and excluded groups. The question it addresses is: to what extent and in what ways can CLR facilitate participation and social inclusion in post-disaster contexts? It does so by examining the community-led reconstruction programme (CLRP) implemented by the non-governmental organization ActionAid Nepal (AAN) after the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal. Approach and methods: After reviewing existing literature on CLR, including shortcomings in implementation, the study uses data collected from community focus groups and interviews with government officials, as well as from a perception survey undertaken among earthquake victims. We collected data for six categories of marginalized people: women, landless, Dalits, indigenous groups, elderly and youth, and analysed the data pertaining to issues of participation and inclusion for each category using NVivo software. Findings: The findings indicate greater progress towards women's social inclusion than for other marginalized social groups, with improvements in women's social status. Additionally, enhanced community solidarity was evident in support of landless people. While newly created community reconstruction committees had not sustained their activities, the presence of pre-existing local social movements, such as women's rights forums (WRFs) and land rights forums (LRFs), was key to making claims on government. Therefore, AAN's CLRP had led to limited achievements in terms of greater participation and social inclusion of some hitherto marginalized groups, though difficulties in sustaining challenges to deep-seated inequalities were also noted.

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The interim councils and medical workers operating in besieged cities in opposition-held areas of Syria have faced enormous challenges in providing services to citizens. Despite the extremely difficult operating environment, some semblance of organized government has been installed by anti-regime rebels, whose functions include provision of basic services. Data collected from interviews with interim councils and medical workers in four opposition-held areas suggest that despite the acutely constrained environment and overwhelming challenges, governance structures there demonstrate a degree of success in delivering basic services to civilian populations. Their provision of basic services constitutes more than a bargaining tool or legitimacy signalling, and is better understood as an integral part of revolutionary struggle. Although producing an objective picture of events on the ground is hindered by the conflict conditions and heavy propaganda, the Syrian experience of service provision under siege merits further exploration and has relevance for other conflict environments.

This study examines Sri Lanka's conflict history and interfaith dialogue (IFD), situated with regard to the devastating 2019 Easter bombings. Religious identity has become more conspicuous in Sri Lankan society, as demonstrated in more religious extremism and interfaith activities, including among actors and groups who traditionally avoided such initiatives. Based on narrative analysis of interviews with representatives from the country's four major religions discussing interfaith activities, communal relations and Buddhist extremism, this paper highlights how legacies from the war have exacerbated long-lasting divisions and mistrust between the country's ethno-religious groups, even if they were not the original conflict actors. Following ethno-religious conflict, local-level interfaith activities have limited impact as they do not reach extremists and generally engage people already committed to non-violent social change. Since the civil war termination in 2009, faith groups and civil society have expressed reservations about inter-communal relations and the potential for further violence. These fears were realised with the devastating Jihadi bombings in Easter 2019.

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