Adaptive peacebuilding

Adaptive Peacemaking in Protracted Conflicts: IGAD Mediation in the Second Sudanese Civil War

“…In light of the embeddedness of the key features of adaptive peacemaking in the negotiation and bargaining literature, this paper advances the argument that a modified adaptive peacemaking approach is both fully consistent with, and amenable to, conflict resolution efforts carried out via third‐party mediation. Here, I draw on the work of de Coning () and others who emphasize the pragmatic and facilitative aspects of adaptive peacebuilding, introducing these in the form of a ‘modified’ adaptive peacemaking approach . This modified variant of adaptive peacemaking focuses on three core elements – relationships, responsiveness, and reconciliation – decoupled from an unnecessary tethering to indigenous cultural practices or communities or ideological critiques of the liberal peace .…”

“…Building on this insight, and given the prevalence of conflicts of this type in the contemporary international system, this paper takes up a central question: how can peacemakers adapt to changing dynamics along the parameters of a protracted intra-state conflict in order to cultivate effective resolution of the conflict? Inspired by the theme of this special issue on new diplomacy in new conflicts, this paper draws on and modifies the concepts of 'adaptive peacemaking' and 'adaptive peacebuilding' (de Coning, 2018;Okulski, 2017) in order to provide a heuristic device for evaluating peacemaking efforts within protracted intra-state conflicts. In that vein, this paper examines third-party mediation within the setting of the second Sudanese civil war through the lens of a modified adaptive peacemaking approach.…”

International Multiparty Mediation: Prospects for a Coordinated Effort

“…Hybrid coordination mechanisms often emerge as an evolutionary process from the opportunity to manage a conflict, rather than as a top‐down vehicle of directed conflict resolution (De Coning ). Given the changing nature of conflict, these opportunities have started to proliferate, and common features of the frameworks deployed to manage them have become discernible (e.g.…”

Seeking Common Ground in Dryland Systems: Steps Towards Adaptive Water Governance

“…Adaptive water governance (AWG) has emerged as a way to foster adaptive capacity, moving from stiff and centralised water governance, towards more flexible, inclusive, and collaborative arrangements that can strengthen SES resilience in the face of uncertainty [11]. AWG is especially appropriate when conflicts and resource scarcity are increasing [14], and indeed, conflict is a common and sometimes necessary element of change [9]. Nevertheless, the literature suggests that social attributes such as perceptions and conflicts, which shape SES resilience, have not been properly captured [14].…”

“…This consideration is based on the understanding that (1) conflicts are commonly caused by opposing perceptions of needs, values, and interests [17] and that (2) identifying SES stressors and sensitivity is key to raising awareness of vulnerability, targeting adaptation strategies, and designing governance changes [18]. Moreover, understanding system stressors through stakeholders' perceptions is appropriate since societal influence over SES is shaped by how humans interact with the environment and understand ecological functioning [9,19]. Cognition of such SES complexities is important when facing uncertainty [18,20].…”