Towards Sustainable Peace and Development in Sierra Leone: Civil Society and the Peacebuilding Commission

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Lambourne

The Sierra Leone civil war that ended in January 2002 was particularly brutal and left the country economically devastated. Four-and-a-half years later, Sierra Leone was selected as one of two countries to receive focussed attention from the newly created United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). The PBC is mandated to support post-conflict recovery and sustainable development with the participation of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society. Drawing on field research and theories of sustainable peacebuilding and the role of civil society, this paper assesses the PBC's performance in Sierra Leone in its first year of operation. The article concludes that the PBC needs to clarify its priorities in relation to civil society participation in order to fulfil its potential to assist governments in promoting sustainable peace and development.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Winter ◽  
Huong Le ◽  
Simon Roberts

Abstract This paper explores the perception and politics of air pollution in Shanghai. We present a qualitative case study based on a literature review of relevant policies and research on civil society and air pollution, in dialogue with air quality indexes and field research data. We engage with the concept of China's authoritarian environmentalism and the political context of ecological civilization. We find that discussions about air pollution are often placed in a frame that is both locally temporal (environment) and internationally developmentalist (economy). We raise questions from an example of three applications with different presentations of air quality index measures for the same time and place. This example and frame highlight the central role and connection between technology, data and evidence, and pollution visibility in the case of the perception of air pollution. Our findings then point to two gaps in authoritarian environmentalism research, revealing a need to better understand (1) the role of technology within this governance context, and (2) the tensions created from this non-participatory approach with ecological civilization, which calls for civil society participation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 158-167
Author(s):  
MaryAnne Iwara

This paper examines post-conflict peacebuilding activities in Sierra Leone by critically looking at the role of economic actors in the reintegration process of its post-war Disarmament Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) initiative. The civil war that lasted for 11 years in Sierra Leone, put doubts on the national governments ability to effectively provide both victims and perpetuators, the necessary protection and assistance needed to fully assume responsibilities within the communities. Because of this, poverty was further entrenched, thereby increasing the countries susceptibility to return to conflict. Though reintegration processes are continuous, integrative and involve exhaustive budgetary commitments, the process, in Sierra Leone was short-termed, not well coordinated and took time to begin delivering. With the United Nations, World Bank and the weak national government leading the process, financing was often insufficient or late, in combination with the lack of a coherent planning strategy; all these factors contributed to lapses in socio-economic profiling, skills and vocational training and spread disillusionment and resentment among ex-combatants and victims. Using content analysis, the paper argues that, post-war countries need active, equitable and profitable economic sectors if they are to graduate from conflict and from post-conflict aid-dependency. Moreover, as social contracts and corporate social responsibility to communities they govern and operate in, economic actors must create enabling environments and, generate jobs to support legitimate local capacities. The utility of this paper lies in the idea that for any post-conflict country to attain long-term social and economic development, reintegration programme design and activities, must holistically incorporate critical economic actors.  


2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 762-779
Author(s):  
Santap Sanhari Mishra ◽  
Mohamud Mohamed Abdullahi

Corruption is the biggest obstacle in the way of human development. In a highly corrupt public life, citizens’ satisfaction seems to be a mirage. But can citizens’ satisfaction be possible even if there is less chance of sounding the death knell for corruption? To investigate this, this study examines the mediating effect of trust in democracy and civil society participation in the relationship of corruption and citizens’ satisfaction in the context of Somalia, considered to be the most corrupt country in the world. Using a survey, a total of 205 valid responses from public service users in Somalia were put into confirmatory factor analysis. The empirical results show the partial mediation of civil society participation and trust in democracy; however, civil society participation is more effective than trust in democracy in mediating the relationship of corruption and citizens’ satisfaction, because of less negative indirect effect.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qasim Ali Shah ◽  
Bahadar Nawab ◽  
Tahir Mehmood

Peacebuilding is a continuous process to transform conflicts into development opportunities for and by the stakeholders. This article explores the role of stakeholders in post-conflict peacebuilding in Swat. Applying Constructivist paradigm and Discourse Analysis, 80 semi-structured interviews were conducted by incorporating local community, civil society and the government. Study finds out that cultural, political, social and economic tiers of peacebuilding measures in Swat hardly achieved its purpose. The lack of institutional coordination and gaps in peacebuilding measures are important hurdles, which needs to be minimized for sustainable development processes in Swat.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukitoshi Matsumoto

This article examines both the largely negative role that education has played historically in contributing to conflict in Afghanistan and the ways that education has been purposefully employed as a post-conflict strategy aimed at building peace and social cohesion. The growing attention among academics and policy makers to the role of youth in post-conflict contexts, and the urgent need to reintegrate ex-combatants has led to the implementation of educational programming directed at Afghan youth as a central part of the country's Demobilization, Demilitarization, Reintegration (DDR) effort. Drawing on the author's field research and experience working on literacy programming for youth and adults in Afghanistan, this article investigates how the unfulfilled aspirations and needs of a ‘lost generation’ of young Afghans have been addressed within DDR processes. It argues that the adoption of a more dialectic approach to the educational programming provided through DDR – one that engages with and offers alternatives to education's previously negative manifestations – may offer more potential than current programming.


2009 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. S97-S103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greet Peersman ◽  
Laura Ferguson ◽  
Mary Ann Torres ◽  
Sally Smith ◽  
Sofia Gruskin

2020 ◽  
pp. 329-344
Author(s):  
Jennifer S. Easterday

This chapter discusses the interplay between inclusion and accountability, using the Colombian peace process as an example. The chapter examines how inclusive input into the peace process, including a referendum, can shape the nature of accountability in post-conflict situations. Drawing on the ‘peace before justice’ debate, the chapter asks whether extensive inclusion can be an impediment to peace, or a guarantor of just peace. It discusses the role of women in the negotiations and the Special Jurisdiction for Peace It concludes that peace processes should be inclusive and promote gender equality to support sustainable peace.


2009 ◽  
Vol 51 ◽  
pp. 70-82
Author(s):  
Jolita Linkevičiūtė-Rimavičienė

Straipsnio tikslas – nagrinėti specifinį spaudos vaidmenį viename iš visuomenės raidos etapų: kuriantis naujai socialinei struktūrai, pilietinei bendruomenei ir jai aktyviai dalyvaujant pirmoje viešosios srities raidos pakopoje. Lietuvoje, kaip ir kitose posovietinėse šalyse, kuriose totalitarinės ideologijos dominavimas deformavo tiesos ir identiteto sampratas, keičiantis visuomeninei struktūrai, psichologinio saugumo poreikis ir lūkesčiai, kuriant geresnę ateitį, buvo susiję su spauda, tuo laikotarpiu atlikusia kompensuojamąją funkciją. Įvykiai Rytų Europoje, buvusioje Sovietų sąjungoje iki 1990-ųjų skatino ginkluotus konfliktus. „Dainuojanti revoliucija“ Baltijos valstybėse tyrėjų vertinama politinės raidos modelio aspektu. „Nacionalizmas be žiaurumo“ suvokiamas kaip fenomenas, sąlygotas baltų istorinio ir kultūrinio paveldo, palyginti su agresyviu serbų, kroatų, kaukaziečių nacionalizmu, pasireiškusiu išsivaduojant iš sovietinio „tautų kapinyno“.Neginkluotą nacionalinį pasipriešinimo judėjimą ir skirtingų visuomenės grupių Lietuvoje, Latvijoje ir Estijoje dialogą organizavo ir rėmė laisvėjanti spauda. Visuomenės informavimo priemonių, kaip įtakingos socialinės jėgos, analizė; spaudos, mobilizuojančios, koordinuojančios ir drąsinančios žmones atvirai reikšti savo nuomonę, vaidmens identifikavimas bus naudingas tolesnei tyrimų, nagrinėjančių Lietuvos atgimimo spaudą ir jos raidos etapus 1988–1991 metais, eigai. Visuomenės teisė gauti informaciją yra politinė, spaudos sąsajų su pilietine visuomene kontekstualizavimas svarbus kaip teorinis pagrindas, tiriant medijų funkcijas bei uždavinius demokratėjant visuomenei ir palankios piliečių sąmoningumui vystytis kuriant aplinką. Ši tema nėra tirta, XX a. devintojo dešimtmečio Lietuvos žiniasklaida apžvelgiama tik istoriografinės analizės aspektu, nepakanka dėmesio laisvėjančiam žiniasklaidos diskursui ir jo įtakai vertybių kaitos požiūriu.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: visuomeniniai pokyčiai, spaudos vaidmuo, spaudos laisvė, žurnalistinė atsakomybė, viešoji erdvė, piliečiai.Media, change and civil societyJolita Linkevičiūtė-Rimavičienė SummaryThe purpose of the article is to attract attention to the role of press and its meaning in the context of civil society in one of the developmental stages of democracy. After the social structure had changed in Lithuania, as in other post soviet countries where the totalitarian ideology deformed the concepts of truth and identity, the need and expectations of psychological security to create a better future were directly related to the press.On the grounds of political philosophy, the imperative of public space as an imperative of a basic democracy institution which appears when the members of community create and support it, is analyzed. Analyzing the way in which the press as one of the governmental blocks participates in the maintenance of public space because of itself and represents the citizens, shows the level of public discussion quality and community information. The right of society to receive information is political since the awareness guarantees the realization of universal freedom; the purification of press links with civil society is important as a theoretical basis when examining the role of media in the periods of societal changes.


Author(s):  
Mohamad Muhaimin Mohamad Zaki ◽  
Azman Ab Rahman

Zakat is a mechanism of worship to help those in need. In education sector, among the issues faced by the asnaf is that there are still many students who are belong to fakir and miskin group. At the same time, the number of those who are left out from receiving zakat assistance are still happening. In addition, the lack of effective asnaf data recording has becoming the problem in the distribution of aid. Based on these problems, the purpose of this study aims to identify the definition of asnaf who are eligible to receive zakat education aid as well as the form of aid offered by ZPP as zakat institution in distributing zakat education fund to asnaf each year. Furthermore, this study also discusses the steps taken by the ZPP in carrying out the obligation to distribute education’s zakat funds to the asnaf in a fair and transparent manner. The data was analyzed using a qualitative research methodology that collects data through library research and field research using unstructured interview methods. The finding shows that the distribution of zakat education aid was among the largest distributions in the ZPP. There are two forms of education zakat aid distributed by ZPP, which is distribution to institutions and individuals. In order to realize that aspiration, ZPP has made various transformation and diversification in the distribution of zakat education aid such as the use of website, the establishment of asnaf track squad and joint venture programs with other agencies, especially for fields which is required by Muslims such as engineering and accounting. The improvement on this distribution system is important to ensure the role of zakat in education is achieved in line with the objective of zakat ordainment to the Muslims. Abstrak Zakat merupakan satu mekanisma ibadah bagi membantu golongan yang memerlukan. Menerusi bidang pendidikan, antara isu yang dihadapi oleh golongan asnaf adalah masih ramai pelajar yang tergolong dalam kalangan fakir dan miskin. Pada masa yang sama jumlah mereka yang masih tercicir daripada menerima bantuan zakat juga tetap berlaku. Selain itu, perekodan data golongan asnaf yang kurang efisien juga menjadi antara masalah yang dihadapi dalam penyaluran bantuan. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pendefinisian asnaf yang layak untuk menerima zakat pendidikan serta bentuk-betuk bantuan yang ditawarkan oleh Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP) selaku institusi zakat dalam mengagihkan dana zakat pendidikan kepada golongan asnaf setiap tahun. Kajian ini turut membincangkan langkah-langkah yang dilakukan oleh ZPP dalam menjalankan kewajipan mengagihkan dana zakat pendidikan kepada golongan asnaf secara adil dan telus. Kajian ini menggunakan metodologi penyelidikan kualitatif dengan mengumpulkan data melalui kajian kepustakaan dan kajian lapangan yang menggunakan kaedah temubual tidak berstruktur. Hasil kajian mendapati agihan zakat pendidikan merupakan antara agihan terbesar di ZPP. Terdapat dua bentuk agihan zakat pendidikan yang dilakukan oleh ZPP iaitu agihan kepada institusi dan individu. Bagi merealisasikan hasrat tersebut, ZPP telah melakukan pelbagai transformasi dan kepelbagaian dalam agihan zakat pendidikan antaranya seperti penggunaan laman sesawang, penubuhan skuad jejak asnaf dan program usahasama bersama agensi lain terutama bagi bidang yang diperlukan oleh umat Islam seperti kejuruteraan dan perakaunan. Penambahbaikan dalam sistem agihan ini adalah penting bagi memastikan peranan zakat pendidikan tercapai selari dengan objektif pensyariatan zakat kepada umat Islam.


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