Bottom-up peace-building: Local engagement in resolving conflicts

The article discusses how local engagement can contribute to preventing or ceasing ongoing conflicts. By the comparative analysis of three case studies – Somaliland, the Idjwi island in eastern Congo and Colombia, the author examines what methods do the local inhabitants use in order to successfully maintain peace and build a coherent society. The research on a bottom-up approach may supplement the strategies implemented by the international organisations of peace-building or peace-keeping missions, which usually neglect the engagement of local society and thus do not ensure sustainable peace.

Lokalna ludność a pokój i rozwiązywanie konfliktów

Artykuł bada, w jaki sposób zaangażowanie ludności lokalnej może przysłużyć się powstrzymywaniu lub rozwiązywaniu aktualnie trwających konfliktów. Autorka rozpatruje metody, dzięki którym mieszkańcy skutecznie tworzą spójne i pokojowo współżyjące społeczeństwo, analizując porównawczo trzy przykłady – Somalilandu, wyspy Idjwi w wschodnim Kongo oraz wiejskich społeczności w Kolumbii. Badania nad lokalnym zaangażowaniem mogą uzupełnić aktualne strategie budowania i utrzymywania pokoju wprowadzane przez organizacje międzynarodowe, które bardzo często pomijają ten aspekt, a w efekcie nie zapewniają długotrwałego pokoju.

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