Unarmed Civilian Peacekeeping: Effectively Protecting Civilians Without Threat of Violence

Unbewaffnetes Ziviles Peacekeeping - wie man ZivilistInnen wirksam ohne die Drohung mit Gewalt schützt. Das ist die Übersetzung des Titels des englischsprachigen Hintergrund- und Diskussionspapiers, das jetzt neu erschienen ist. Die drei Autorinnen fassen in dem Papier den Stand der wissenschaftlichen Forschung zu Zivilem Peacekeeping zusammen. Sie stellen die Grundgedanken dieses Ansatzes dar, Menschen vor kriegerischer Gewalt auf gewaltfreiem Wege zu schützen, beschäftigen sich mit der Akzeptanz dieses Ansatzes in der Politik und geben einen Überblick über die vorhandene Literatur zum Thema

Researching with 'Local' Associates:Power, Trust and Data in an Interpretive Project on Communities’ Conflict Knowledge in Myanmar

This article discusses the merits and challenges of qualitative-interpretive research into violent conflict, which gives local research associates a central, fairly independent role at the data-generating stage. Specifically, we reflect on our collaboration with three Burmese research associates in organising and implementing two arts-based workshops with participants from violence-affected communities in Myanmar’s Kachin and Rakhine states. Against the context of research in a controlling semi-authoritarian state, we focus on how structures and multi-directional flows of power and dynamics of trust/mistrust shaped the way in which the workshops unfolded, which in turn co-determined what kind of textual and visual data was gathered. We conclude that re-search in ‘mixed teams’ of Global North researchers and Global South research associates is able to overcome some of the limitations of conflict research by cultural outsiders such as trust-building with research participants and language and cultural under-standing, but that especially in short-term projects these merits may come at the price of ‘losing control’ over the quality and type of research data, with both positive and negative effects

Drawing Out Experiential Conflict Knowledge in Myanmar:Arts-Based Methods in Qualitative Research With Conflict-Affected Communities

This article argues that arts-based methods such as drawing are particularly useful as means to explore experiential insights into how violent conflict impacts on individuals and communities in specific socio-cultural contexts and shapes their views of development and peace. It illustrates this through the discussion of a drawing workshop with members of violence-affected communities in Kachin state, Myanmar. Reflecting on the workshop findings and dynamics, and on the positive impacts the methods’ adoption had on practices of an international civilian protection NGO in Myanmar, the article concludes that, when implemented with care, arts-based methods do not only help accessing deep context-specific insights to complement outsider-expert analyses; by creating a safe space to share experiences, they also enable new engagements among local actors and with outside organizations, which can strengthen the primacy of local actors in peacebuilding and development initiatives

Understanding effectiveness in peacekeeping operations: Exploring the perspectives of frontline peacekeepers

This project explores the experiences of frontline peacekeepers in order to understand a ground level view of effective peacekeeping. This thesis is influenced by critical peace studies and uses constructivist grounded theory as research theory and method. The research leads to modest theorising based on what those interviewed perceived as crucial elements of effective peacekeeping and how these insights might contribute to improving or re-visioning peacekeeping. Thus I include both problematizing and problem-solving in what is, I believe, a productive tension. In this thesis peacekeeping refers to organised action by third parties to prevent violence, protect civilians, and support local problem-solving by controlling or influencing belligerents and/or their proxies as well as local people, a definition constructed from this research and the literature. In existing research on peacekeeping, the opinions of frontline peacekeeping soldiers, police and civilians have rarely been considered in analysis of the effectiveness of a mission nor when theorising how peacekeeping works. My research reflects an assumption that there are differences in how effective peacekeeping is understood from the different perspectives and standpoints of elite or high level peacekeepers and academics who study peacekeeping and those of frontline peacekeepers. I assume there is value and important knowledge in the experience and perspectives of ground level peacekeepers which can contribute to the discussion of effective peacekeeping generally and a more emancipatory peacekeeping specifically. Utilising the above definition of peacekeeping, themes addressed here include how peacekeeping works on the ground to prevent violence, protect people and support local problem-solving through coercive and cooperative practices, with a particular focus on the importance of acceptance, local ownership and good relationships. In the eyes of peacekeepers, good relationships that are task oriented, cooperative and trusting are critical in peacekeeping. This thesis reflects my valuing nonviolent paths for addressing social and political conflicts, and my intention to make a contribution to more effective peacekeeping, oriented to increasing peace in conflict affected communities and countries

Understanding effectiveness in peacekeeping operations: Exploring the perspectives of frontline peacekeepers

This project explores the experiences of frontline peacekeepers in order to understand a ground level view of effective peacekeeping. This thesis is influenced by critical peace studies and uses constructivist grounded theory as research theory and method. The research leads to modest theorising based on what those interviewed perceived as crucial elements of effective peacekeeping and how these insights might contribute to improving or re-visioning peacekeeping. Thus I include both problematizing and problem-solving in what is, I believe, a productive tension. In this thesis peacekeeping refers to organised action by third parties to prevent violence, protect civilians, and support local problem-solving by controlling or influencing belligerents and/or their proxies as well as local people, a definition constructed from this research and the literature. In existing research on peacekeeping, the opinions of frontline peacekeeping soldiers, police and civilians have rarely been considered in analysis of the effectiveness of a mission nor when theorising how peacekeeping works. My research reflects an assumption that there are differences in how effective peacekeeping is understood from the different perspectives and standpoints of elite or high level peacekeepers and academics who study peacekeeping and those of frontline peacekeepers. I assume there is value and important knowledge in the experience and perspectives of ground level peacekeepers which can contribute to the discussion of effective peacekeeping generally and a more emancipatory peacekeeping specifically. Utilising the above definition of peacekeeping, themes addressed here include how peacekeeping works on the ground to prevent violence, protect people and support local problem-solving through coercive and cooperative practices, with a particular focus on the importance of acceptance, local ownership and good relationships. In the eyes of peacekeepers, good relationships that are task oriented, cooperative and trusting are critical in peacekeeping. This thesis reflects my valuing nonviolent paths for addressing social and political conflicts, and my intention to make a contribution to more effective peacekeeping, oriented to increasing peace in conflict affected communities and countries