Is Local Beautiful?: Peacebuilding between International Interventions and Locally Led Initiatives (SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace Book 11)

Based on the swisspeace annual conference 2012, the publication examines the delicate balance between external interventions and locally-led initiatives. It addresses the question of what “local” means in the peacebuilding and development context; which actors on the ground actually represent the local level and how external actors choose their partners from amongst them. Moreover, it examines how local ownership - emerging as key criteria for any external intervention - is constituted: does this concept only imply local participation or is local control from the outset a must? Finally, it assesses the potential of locally-led initiatives and local conflict resolution mechanisms and their interaction with external interventions. Several authors provide insights on these questions and nuance our thinking about both local ownership and external interventions. As such, the publication aims to encourage critical reflections on this topical debate in peacebuilding and development. Front Matter....Pages i-xx Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Owners or Partners? A Critical Analysis of the Concept of Local Ownership....Pages 3-14 Local Ownership and the Settlement of Civil Wars: External Intervention in Internal Armed Conflicts—Arguments for a Conceptual Framework of ‘Political Ownership’....Pages 15-31 Shooting Bambi? Critical Reflections on International Approaches to Local Ownership....Pages 33-40 Front Matter....Pages 41-41 Traditional Authorities, Local Justice and Local Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in South Sudan....Pages 43-63 Maximizing the Potential of Locally Led Peacebuilding in Conflict Affected States....Pages 65-77 Peacebuilding: Switzerland’s Approach to Local Ownership....Pages 79-86 Partners for Peace: A Case Study of Local—International Cooperation....Pages 87-95 Back Matter....Pages 97-107 Foreword; Acknowledgments; Contents; Introduction; Part IConceptual Contributions; 1 Owners or Partners? A Critical Analysis of the Concept of Local Ownership; Abstract; 1.1 ... Introduction; 1.2 ... From Local Ownership ... ; 1.2.1 Critiques of Local Ownership; 1.2.2 A Viable Alternative?; 1.3 ... hellipto Partnerships?; 1.3.1 Context-specific Assessment of Partnerships; 1.3.2 A Place for Everyone; 1.4 ... Conclusion; References; 2 Local Ownership and the Settlement of Civil Wars: External Intervention in Internal Armed Conflicts--Arguments for a Conceptual Framework of 'Political Ownership'; Abstract 2.1 ... Introduction2.2 ... Background; 2.3 ... Assumptions and Myths: Towards a Political Approach to 'Local Ownership' in an Asymmetric Tripartite Relationship; 2.4 ... Ownership in the Context of Norms and Practices of the International Community: The Clash of Policy Intentions and Organizational Realities in the Context of UN Peacekeeping Operations; 2.4.1 The First Paradox: The Making of a PKO--Planned Absence of Ownership; 2.4.2 The Second Paradox: The Implementation of Operational Activities--Intended Neglect of Ownership; 2.4.3 The Third Paradox: UN Peacekeeping Principles--Sovereign Ownership 4.3.5 Peace Conferences and Peace Processes: Two Examples4.4 ... Conclusions; References; Other Literature; 5 Maximizing the Potential of Locally Led Peacebuilding in Conflict Affected States; Abstract; 5.1 ... Introduction; 5.2 ... Overview of the Centre Résolution Conflits; 5.3 ... Overview of What Local Peacebuilding Work Can Do; 5.4 ... Getting the Most Out of Partnerships with Local Peacebuilding Organizations; 5.4.1 Dilemmas; 5.5 ... 'Local First' as a Means of Encouraging Behaviour Change; 5.5.1 Suggestions for Donors; 5.5.2 Suggestions for INGOs; 5.5.3 Suggestions for Local NGOs; References 2.5 ... Towards a Conceptual Framework of 'Political Ownership' and the Lasting Settlement of Civil War2.6 ... Conclusions and Observations; References; 3 Shooting Bambi? Critical Reflections on International Approaches to Local Ownership; Abstract; 3.1 ... Introduction; 3.2 ... Semantic and Operational Challenges; 3.3 ... Structural Challenges; 3.4 ... From Ownership to Inclusivenesshellip; 3.5 ... hellipor to Honesty?; References; Part IICase Studies; 4 Traditional Authorities, Local Justice and Local Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in South Sudan; Abstract; 4.1 ... Introduction 4.2 ... Chiefs and Chiefly Institutions in South Sudan4.2.1 The Invention of Tradition: History of Chiefs and Chief Courts; 4.2.2 Chief Relations to the Government: In Between the Government and the Community; 4.3 ... Local Justice: Informal Justice Arenas and Chief Courts; 4.3.1 Chief Court Structures and Chief Court Practices; 4.3.2 Common Cases Tried in Chief Courts; 4.3.3 'Local' Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Special Courts, Inter-Communal Meetings and Peace Processes; 4.3.4 History of Resolution of Intra-Communal Conflicts and Traditional Authorities