Civil Society and Peacebuilding in the Southern African Development Community Countries: A Critical Perspective

Mamokhere, John; Mabila, Thembinkosi

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92474-4_36

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

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“…In this context, participatory and bottom‐up approaches have been identified across the international political scene as the most influential and effective methods in conflict resolution. Notably, past research and scholarship, but also international actors, including the United Nations and World Bank, argue for the necessity of involving the civil society and citizens in conflict‐prevention and peacebuilding processes (Mamokhere & Mabila, 2022; Paffenholz, 2021). Simultaneously, citizens themselves highlight their desire to have their voices heard in pertinent decision‐making.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite concerns that civil society movements are limited by the boundaries set by the state (Paffenholz, 2014), there is extensive research indicating that civil society organisations (CSOs) may better support grass‐roots initiatives for conflict transformation and peacebuilding, especially where governments have failed (Ateng & Abazaam, 2016; Jarraud et al, 2013; Kyselova, 2019; Mamokhere & Mabila, 2022; Opi, 2018; Paffenholz, 2021). Crowther (2001) explains that as CSOs are more aware of local people's realities, they have the potential to create ‘snowballing local development, particularly by avoiding bureaucracy and remaining flexible in their activities and relationships with local people’ (ibid.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Past research has highlighted the transformative potential of CSOs that develop and implement education services and programmes (i.e. Datzberger, 2017; Kyselova, 2019; Mamokhere & Mabila, 2022; Novelli et al, 2015; Opi, 2018). Through education initiatives, CSOs may counteract the detrimental consequences of education being used as a tool of ideology reproduction and nationalistic propaganda mainly by state or other official authorities (Cohan & Howlett, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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CSOs working for peace through education in conflict‐affected areas: The case of Cyprus

Hajisoteriou

2023

British Educational Res J

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This article discusses the results of a qualitative study examining the ways civil society organisations (CSOs) may better support grass‐roots initiatives for everyday peacebuilding via education in conflict‐affected societies, where official state processes have failed. Our research is set in the Cyprus context, where the conflict between the Greek‐Cypriot and Turkish‐Cypriot communities that has led to the division of the island seems rather ‘intractable’ and ‘frozen’. From the process of the analysis, three thematic categories emerged: (a) cultivating citizen empowerment and civil initiatives; (b) enhancing children's and youth's voices; and (c) launching partnerships with state and societal actors. We discuss our findings under the framework of intercultural education and change. It is argued that for peacebuilding to flourish, CSOs should use education to cultivate social and sympathetic imagination by enabling people from both communities to imagine other, more socially just, but also socio‐economically better, alternatives to the current status quo, through everyday peace and education initiatives.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%