Moving from Civil War to Civil Society

In: Peace review: the international quarterly of world peace, Band 9, Heft 2, S. 249-254

Abstract

Examines the relationship between the establishment of peace zones & the growth of a civil society. Peace zones are described as community initiatives that provide safety & security; they reflect the people's will & are often more effective than efforts by national elites. How peace zones are constructed & run is described & illustrated with the 1994 formation of a Neighborhood Watch in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. Drawing on Christopher Moore's dispute resolution model (1986), the ultimate goal of a peace zone is described as resolving conflicts & meeting the structural, substantive, procedural, & psychological needs of the community. The presence of peace zones in the US, eg, in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence, is described & compared to those in nations engaged in civil war, & distinction is made between security zones, eg, gated communities, & peace zones. Collaborative, autonomous action at the local level is seen as key to democracy & civil society; by studying how they nurture civil society, scholars can become more proactive & productive. T. Arnold