Peacebuilding : Women in International Perspective

This book clarifies some key ideas and practices underlying peacebuilding; understood broadly as formal and informal peace processes that occur during pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict transformation. Applicable to all peacebuilders, Elisabeth Porter highlights positive examples of women's peacebuilding in comparative international contexts. She critically interrogates accepted and entrenched dualisms that prevent meaningful reconciliation, while also examining the harm of othering and the importance of recognition, inclusion and tolerance. Drawing on feminist ethics, the book develops a politics of compassion that defends justice, equality and rights and the need to restore victims' dignity.Complex issues of memory, truth, silence and redress are explored while new ideas on reconciliation and embracing difference emerge. Many ideas challenge orthodox understandings of peace. The arguments developed here demonstrate how peacebuilding can be understood more broadly than current United Nations and orthodox usages so that women's activities in conflict and transitional societies can be valued as participating in building sustainable peace with justice.Theoretically integrating peace and conflict studies, international relations, political theory and feminist ethics, this book focuses on the lessons to be learned from best practices of peacebuilding situated around the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. "Peacebuilding" will be of particular interest to peace practitioners and to students and researchers of peace and conflict studies, international relations and gender politics.

Contents

: Acknowledgements Acronyms Introduction 1. Peacebuilding as Process : United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 a. Historical Background to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) b. Achievements of SCR 1325 c. Peacebuilding as Process: Pre-conflict, Conflict and Post-Accord d. Security in Feeling Included in Peace Processes 2. Overcoming The Harm of Polarization a. Harm of Dualism b. Feminist Ethics -- Justice and Care c. Beyond Irreconcilable Options d. Valuing Differences in Inclusionary Politics 3. Recognition and Inclusion a. Identity and Recognition b. Beyond Tolerance and Coexistence to Mutual Respect c. Coalition-building d. Practices of Inclusive Recognition 4. Justice and Compassion a. A Politics of Compassion b. Justice and Peace c. Justice, Equality and Rights d. Victims -- Restoring Dignity 5. Memory and Truth a. Dealing with the Past b. Truth and Silence c. Truthful Stories d. Redress 6. Reconciliation and Difference a. Understanding Reconciliation b. Apology and Forgiveness c. Practicing Reconciliation d. Embracing Difference Conclusion: Peace with Justice and Security