Grassroots Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties: Elements of An Effective Model

Abstract

Following the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement many community-based organizations became involved in localized peace-building activities in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. Drawing financial support from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and the International Fund for Ireland, these organizations adopted various strategic mechanisms to implement their projects –synchronizing bottom-up development initiatives with top-level government policies. Their effectiveness has already been felt in Northern Ireland as reduced political violence and improved socioeconomic conditions. However, the long-term sustainability of this work is questionable, affected as it is by continued intercommunity segregation, low macro-level political support, and global economic instability. This article explores the perceptions of 120 civil society leaders regarding the peace-building practices employed by community-based organizations in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties. Key elements of an effective peace-building model are suggested that may contribute to the improvement of peace-building and reconciliation efforts in other contexts affected by ethno-political conflict.

What Would Peace look Like in Acapulco? The Views of Local Practitioners and Stakeholders

“…Another participant, in a similar vein, discussed respect, noting, 'For me this means talking about peace, respecting the thinking of the person in front of me, respecting their views and in the end if I respect, they will respect me too.' (Rotary Club, F) These views align with the findings of Skarlato et al (2013a) where relationships within the community are vital. The participants' conceptions of what peace would be for them are very localised and based on trust, respect, and positive relationships.…”

“…Bizberg (2015) discusses social movements in Mexico and the grassroots demand for rights: human rights, right to know how relatives were killed and the right to justice. Peacebuilding, as a process, is a dynamic transformation of crucial relationships within communities (Skarlato et al, 2013a). There is evidence of the positive influence of this transformation on social cohesion and active citizenship (Akar, 2016), as well as the inclusion of groups in finding tangible alternatives to conflict, especially through spaces of informal participation (Pepper, 2018).…”

“…Peace education can also focus on protecting groups from the negative impacts of violence; including children (UNICEF, 2011), women (Pepper, 2018), and minority groups (Skarlato et al, 2013b). Peace education can take place in formal, informal or in everyday settings.…”

Civil Society Organizations, the Good Friday Agreement, and the Northern Ireland Peace Process

“…In 1985, the British and Irish governments established the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) after signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The IFI provided $895 million in support of close to 6,000 CSO projects over a 25-year period (Skarlato et al 2013). In 1996, the E.U.…”