Peacebuilding is the creation and nurturing of constructive relationships — at every level of society — across ethnic, religious, class, and racial boundaries. Peacebuilders seek the nonviolent and collaborative resolution of social inequities and the transformation of structural conditions that generate deadly conflict. The range of relationship-building activities encompasses the entire conflict cycle and includes conflict prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution and transformation, and post-conflict reconciliation.
Strategic peacebuilding, a specialty of the Kroc Institute, is a set of complementary practices aimed at transforming a society from a state of violence or deep injustice to one of greater just peace. Strategic peacebuilding begins with an assessment of local issues — the challenges and strengths of people and communities “on the ground” in any given conflict setting — and connects them with national and international actors and institutions. It may involve efforts to stop open warfare as well as practices that create sustainable peace and justice, such as monitoring of peace agreements, demobilization of armed parties, accountability for human rights violators, economic development, reconciliation, and resettlement of displaced people.
The Kroc Institute is developing a multi-volume book on strategic peacebuilding with Oxford University Press. The first volume of the Oxford Studies of Strategic Peacebuilding, edited by Scott Appleby, John Paul Lederach, and Daniel Philpott, was published in early 2010. More »
