Paper short abstract:

Against the background of peace-building initiatives, categories such as “local” and “international” or being “inside” and “outside” a peace process have been criticized as oversimplifications, and the diversity of meanings, norms and interests of all the different actors involved is a prominent topic. Byased on comparative ethnographic field studies we want to gain insights on both “local ownership” and conceptualizations of ”peace”, “security”, “reconciliation”, and “justice” by those personally affected by peace-building initiatives.

Paper long abstract:

Scholarly literature on peace-building initiatives in general and security sector reforms in particular identifies a bunch of paradoxes and dilemmas concerning "local ownership" in the scope of peace-building efforts (Oosterveld & Galand 2012). Categories such as "local" and "international" or being "inside" and "outside" a peace process have been criticized as oversimplifications, and the diversity of meanings, norms and interests of all the different actors involved is a prominent topic (Scheye 2008). However, the consequential step of analyzing local ownership of peace-building efforts "in-depth" and "bottom-up" is still pending. By means of ethnographic field studies embedded in a comparative analytical framework we want to gain insights on both "local ownership" and conceptualizations of "peace", "security", "reconciliation", and "justice" by those personally affected by peace-building initiatives in Africa and Eurasia. Cross-case comparisons will show how an anthropological approach can shed light on the multi-layered processes unfolding in the context of peace-building reforms whose frictions and contradictions are easily overlooked in top-down studies with a focus on political and security sector key stakeholders.

Paper short abstract:

My PhD project is an interdisciplinary research that explores the role of traditional leadership in present-day local peace-building processes in Nigeria, through a single-case study approach. Particular attention is given to the role of officially-recognized traditional leaders at community level.

Paper long abstract:

The impact of the role of traditional authority in social cohesion in Africa has been argued to be a significant determinant of the extent to which the local environment becomes sustainably peaceful. Despite increasing interest for indigenous actors in peace-building processes, the role of traditional leaders in local peace-building receives little empirical attention.

This project is an interdisciplinary research that explores the role of traditional leaders in local peace efforts. The main purpose of the research is to explore how the role of traditional leaders can influence present-day peace-building initiatives. Further to this, the research looks at how their role can contribute to an ideal longer-term vision that can facilitate sustainable peace, thus increasing knowledge of peace initiatives in theory and practice. While it is important exploring the peace-building role of traditional leaders throughout the African continent, my research focuses on the rural Eastern Nigeria, specifically Ngwa community. By using anthropological approach, particular attention is given to the role of officially-recognized traditional leaders (also known as Eze) at community level.

The conference lecture will be structured on why the research conceptually links local ownership with traditional leadership in peace-building processes in Nigeria.

Paper short abstract:

This paper examines Thailand's Malay-Muslim southern insurgency. It focuses upon different levels of perception, needs and objectives in resolving security issues in the conflict by using anthropological research. As such, it particularly scrutinizes how local southern actors have attempted to obtain "ownership" of peace-building.

Paper long abstract:

Thailand's seemingly interminable southern insurgency has simmered on for well over a century. In 2004, that revolt suddenly intensified and the state used force in an attempt to quell it. Such a policy reflected an age-old notion that "Bangkok knows best"—repressive resolution from the national level. Yet the inability of traditional counterinsurgency strategies to halt the rebellion has given rise to efforts toward a more inclusive form of peace-building—with local input. However, the interface between the national and local level in its political, social, religious and ethnic forms has not been easy. Amidst differing perceptions, needs, objectives, and capabilities from all stakeholders involved in the conflict—including even alternative local groups, there remains little consensus of what constitutes justice and peace in the region. In this light, notions of political legitimacy in the Malay-Muslim South remain contested. Using anthropological research, this paper examines these dilemmas, exploring the challenges of contested ownership over security sector processes of peace-building in far southern Thailand. It also seeks to conceptualize potential security sector strategies which might be amenable to all parties.

Additional co-author: Dr Srisombop Jitpiromsri, Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani, Thailand

Paper short abstract:

This paper analyzes how past successes in security sector reform might be endangered by the adoption of an overly broad concept of security by Indonesia's armed forces.

Paper long abstract:

The security sector reform process in Indonesia has widely been hailed as successful compared to many other young democracies, especially in Southeast Asia. However, even though foreign models of SSR have provided a framework that helped civil society and civilian governments push for important reforms like the expansion of civilian input into defense policy and a depolitization of the military, SSR language also opens a door for new kinds of military influence on public policy. Modern notions of human security enable the Indonesian TNI to get involved in discussions about climate change, deforestation, geostrategic issues in the South China Sea or Policing through their wide definition of security when the military had just been pushed out of civilian topics and restricted to classic security issues. This paper aims to analyze how this process that could endanger past reform came about and plays out in practice during current policy deliberations.

Paper short abstract:

The study case demonstrates the anthropological approach that contributes in gaining in depth understanding about indigenous paradigm to be presented in the conflict management.

Paper long abstract:

West Papua is widely known by its suffering from long period of gross human rights violation that covers military operation, land grabbing for the sake of extraction of natural resources and development, oppression against indigenous cultural identity, the entrance prohibition for international journalists, etc. In addition to peaceful efforts in national and international level, this paper elicits more emic perspectives of indigenous community in peace building processes. Based on personal data from ethnographic field research, this paper describes reconciliation between Hubula (the indigenous community) and the Catholic Church in Palim valley, highlands of Papua. Different kind of actors involved and methods applied in the conflict management which resulted in development programme, museum, imposed pacification until newly form of reconciliation ritual. The paper analyses the impact of each method in relation with the accommodation of local values, practices and actors in order to reach sustainable peace. Special attention is given to a study case about reconciliation between Hubula (the indigenous community) and the Catholic Church that took place in the beginning of year 2008. The paper explores further this community based peace initiative that is manifested into a new form of reconciliation ritual that combines Catholic and indigenous belief system. Such combination defines the authority and legitimacy of peace building effort in producing the desirable fertility. The paper argues the importance of accommodating indigenous values, practices and actors as well as deconstructing alien (modern) peace building paradigm.