Section I: Concepts and Cross-Cutting Challenges

Contrasts two familiar models of power: domination and cooperation. Arguing that the dominant concept of “power over” has given rise to a damaging global culture of militarism which blurs the line between pacification and peace, the author sketches a thought-provoking vision of how choosing instead to pursue “power with” could bring about a major paradigm shift. Drawing on real-life examples, she champions nonviolent assertiveness and asks: how much could “people power” achieve if it were taken as seriously as war now is?

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Makes the case for taking gendered views of conflict, violence, war and peace as a basic prerequisite of conflict transformation. In examining the relation between masculinities, femininities and violence, as well as the links between structure and agency, the author highlights the dangers of assuming ‘natural’ gender behaviour. She stresses the need for women and men to be able to live a plurality of roles and identities. She also outlines ways in which conflict transformation could be improved by fully integrating gender issues into its analysis.

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Points to key concepts from the emergent field of conflict transformation, showing how its ideas and approaches are increasingly being brought into the mainstream. While acknowledging these achievements, the author also cautions that they are sometimes applied inappropriately and highlights the need for further improving the research, coordination and general awareness of conflict transformation options.

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Sets out a framework for thinking systematically about the relationship between conflict and social change. The author considers the changes necessary to bring about the resolution of conflict, as well as obstacles to such changes, and envisions possible roles for agents of change. (updated for the 2011 print edition)

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Focuses on the potential contribution that civil society actors can make to peacebuilding. Central questions are: what types of activities do NGOs undertake? What problems and dilemmas are faced in the development of civil society in war-torn societies? Taking the example of Bosnia-Herzegovina, what are the limitations of civil society's contributions, and how does civil society relate to state-building? And, finally, how do these considerations impact on theoretical conceptualisations of the term "civil society"? (updated and revised for the 2011 print edition)

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Explores the role of traditional or customary methods in transforming violent conflicts, assessing both strengths and weaknesses. The author embeds his discussion in the debate about failing/weak states, globalisation and the relationship between the global North and South, putting forth the concept of ‘hybrid political orders’. Drawing on the prime example of Bougainville, he is able to characterize “one of the rare success stories of peacebuilding in today’s world”. (updated and revised for 2011 print edition)

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Demonstrates the potential of systemic conflict transformation tools as applied to the civil war and peace process in Sri Lanka, based on dialogue and capacity building work carried out from 2001-2008. Taking on board the complexity, dynamism and non-linear development paths of protracted conflict systems, the author offers some insightful ways to help mobilise the “internal resources” inherent to a system as a means of solving problems and to re-conceptualise peace as a learning process. (updated for 2011 print edition; a longer version was first published in Dialogue Series No 6)

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Offers a general overview and tentative interpretation of the state of the art in the field. The author introduces three distinct approaches: conflict settlement, conflict resolution and conflict transformation. She reviews the field's research agenda and research questions, and the role of theory and methodology. (revised for 2004 print edition)

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Identifies key theorists and modes of practice. The author attempts to distinguish these from the theories and practices of conflict resolution and conflict management, arguing that conflict transformation draws heavily on these earlier traditions. (revised for 2004 print edition)

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Highlights conflict transformation approaches as necessarily having to deal with the closely linked categories of power asymmetries, gender inequality and cultural difference. The author argues that an overarching, global culture of domination exists. The emancipation of marginalised groups stimulates, and results from, the fundamental culture shift which conflict transformation implies. (revised for 2004 print edition)

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Discusses theoretical questions concerning the civilised management of conflicts. The author proposes that, if civil or international war is a result of anarchy, then it only can be addressed by a social order built at national, regional and international levels. The author presents a model of complex peace architecture, i.e. the "civilisational hexagon". (revised for 2004 print edition)

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