Subcontracting Peace

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged as crucial actors in peacebuilding processes in post-conflict zones, contributing to the liberal state building project. NGOs, like any other organizations, have certain strengths and weaknesses, and face tradeoffs and contradictions in peacebuilding. Given increasing NGO experience in peacemaking and peacebuilding, this volume examines their relatively positive record, as well as the constraints, limitations, and sometimes...
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Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged as crucial actors in peacebuilding processes in post-conflict zones, contributing to the liberal state building project. NGOs, like any other organizations, have certain strengths and weaknesses, and face tradeoffs and contradictions in peacebuilding. Given increasing NGO experience in peacemaking and peacebuilding, this volume examines their relatively positive record, as well as the constraints, limitations, and sometimes contradictory impact of their activities and interventions. Divided into four sections on conceptualization, peacemaking, peacebuilding, and norm development and monitoring, the volume analyzes various strategic choices and consequences resulting from NGOs' dilemmas in peacebuilding interventions, relating to participation in peace negotiations, the development of post conflict institutions, as well as neutrality in monitoring and advocacy of norm development. The contributors comprise a mix of academics, practitioners and activists; they also represent Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. Case-study rich, the book is ideal for classroom use and as a library reference tool.