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- Convenors:
-
Emma Tomalin
(University of Leeds)
Jennifer Philippa Eggert (Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI))
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- Chair:
-
Jennifer Philippa Eggert
(Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI))
- Discussants:
-
Eduardo Dullo
(Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS))
Mary Mwiche Zulu (United Church of Zambia University)
Mariz Tadros (Institute of Development Studies)
- Format:
- Roundtable
- Stream:
- Rethinking development approaches & practice
- Location:
- B204
- Sessions:
- Thursday 27 June, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
The roundtable provides a platform for the speakers and the audience to reflect in an interactive process on the ‘tangible’ (or ‘material’) and ‘intangible’ (or ‘spiritual’) aspects of the contribution of local faith actors to building resilience, peace and reconciliation at the local level.
Long Abstract:
The contributions of ‘local faith actors’ (LFAs) to building community resilience, peace and reconciliation in (post)conflict areas have largely been marginalised by international peace/development/humanitarian actors. Neither has the role of LFAs in these areas been a strong focus of academic studies, particularly with respect to the ‘intangible’ (or ‘spiritual’) dimensions of their engagement. This roundtable offers insights from the ‘Hidden Peacebuilder’ project, a British Academy-funded study involving participatory action research with LFAs in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Burundi. The roundtable provides a platform for the speakers and the audience to engage in an interactive process of reflecting on the project’s aims to (1) better understand the ‘tangible’ (or ‘material’) and ‘intangible’ (or ‘spiritual’) aspects of the contribution of LFAs to building resilience, peace and reconciliation at the local level, and (2) promote broader recognition amongst international peace/development/humanitarian actors of the ‘intangible’ or ‘spiritual’ aspects of the contribution of LFAs to building resilience, peace and reconciliation through co-producing (with LFAs) a conceptual framework that can inform engagement and partnership between LFAs and other stakeholders. Speakers include researchers and practitioners from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
Accepted contributions:
Session 1 Thursday 27 June, 2024, -Emma Tomalin (University of Leeds)
Contribution short abstract:
I will present an introduction to a project funded by the British Academy that seems to examine the 'intangible' aspects of local faith actors' contribution to peacebuilding in Sri Lanka, Burundi and the Philippines.
Contribution long abstract:
My contribution will be to present an introduction to a project funded by the British Academy that examines the 'intangible' aspects of local faith actors' contribution to peacebuilding in Sri Lanka, Burundi and the Philippines. This will be followed by short presentations from other members of the research team. The roundtable overall will have this structure:
Welcome and introductions - 5 min
Intro to HP research project - 5 min
'Tangibles' and 'intangibles' in the literature - 5 min
Update from the Philippines - 5 min
Update from Sri Lanka - 5 min
Update from Burundi - 5 min
Followed by discussion and Q&A
Kathryn Kraft (World Vision International (University of East London))
Contribution short abstract:
I will define the concept of 'intangibles' and how they apply to a study of peace and the role of local faith actors, challenge the limitations of methodological 'agnosticism' with preference for a stronger appreciation for transcendence in social change, and identify common 'intangible' elements.
Contribution long abstract:
The concept of “intangibles” refers to the power of something transcendent. The term “intangible” is used to capture the fact that we can never fully know it, but we can seek to come closer to an understanding of that which is intangible. We acknowledge that there are forces at play that we cannot explicitly identify, understand or control. Such an approach requires a greater sensitivity to faith, religion and spirituality than we find in the work of most humanitarian agencies, governments and research institutions. Drawing the term “meta-physical stance” from Johnsen and Fitzpatrick (2022), we challenge the notion of methodological atheism proposed by Peter Berger and widely embraced in sociology, by arguing that belief in transcendence does not need to be “bracketed” (Porpora, 2006, p.69). This meta-physicial position openly acknowledges the existence of intangible elements but does not promote a specific value set or religious standpoint by which those intangibles must be understood or defined. There is, nonetheless, a reality that is beyond what can be empirically observed, and this reality holds some power of some form. This power is associated with a sense of ‘transcendence’, a concept associated in many religious traditions with “God”, but which may be experienced or understood in a variety of different ways.
Robbin Dagle (Ateneo de Manila University) Jayeel Cornelio (Ateneo de Manila University)
Contribution short abstract:
We will give an update on the Hidden Peacebuilders research in the Philippines. The update is based on interviews with local faith actors about the role of religion in fostering peace in Mindanao.
Contribution long abstract:
We will give an update on the Hidden Peacebuilders research in the Philippines. The update is based on interviews with local faith actors about the role of religion in fostering peace in Mindanao.
Kalinga Tudor Silva (University of Peradeniya)
Contribution short abstract:
This paper presents intangible aspects of peace building efforts by local faith actors in Sri Lanka including interfaith and multifaith activities, reluctance to identify with any political organizations and mutual trust among local faith actors when helping people in distress,
Contribution long abstract:
The paper will focus on the following issues:
1. Building community resilience to bounce back after every disaster
2. Reliance on local resources such as community contributions
3. Do no harm when it comes to religious activities
4. Interfaith engagement in most local rituals
5. Tendence for people of different religions to come together when coping with ongoing economic crisis in the country.
6. Lessons from Aragalaya protests in Sri Lanka
Theodore Mbazumutima (Rema Burundi)
Contribution short abstract:
Local Faith Actors in Burundi often play a major role in peacebuilding work yet yet, their voices are less likely to be represented at international peacebuilding fora, where a preference is typically shown towards the participation of national and international faith actors.
Contribution long abstract:
There has been an initiative to explore ‘Intangible’ aspects of local faith actors’ contributions to building community resilience, peace and reconciliation in Africa, asia and Latin America. these intangibles aspects of fait play a key role in peacebuiling yet they are less known and the international scholarship has not done much to explore them. Presenting the Burundian case alongside other world case bring bring important contribution to the panel and some understanding on what faith actors have been doing behind the curtains.