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AEGIS European Conference on African Studies
11 - 14 July 2007
African Studies Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Imagining the Great Lakes Region; Discourses and practices of civil society regional approaches for peacebuilding in Rwanda, Burundi, and DRCongo
| Panel |
25. Regionalisation in Africa: Old Gamble or New Reality?
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| Paper ID | 86 |
| Author(s) |
Leeuwen, Mathijs van
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| Paper |
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| Abstract | Over recent years, the idea is gaining ground that, as conflicts in the countries of the Great Lakes Region are strongly interlinked, to resolve them regional approaches are necessary. This interest in regional dimensions of conflict and peacebuilding also gains currency in other parts of the world. The attention for regional approaches goes along with an enthusiasm for civil society organizations as peace-builders. Many international organizations assume regional cooperation and exchange between civil society organizations contributes to peace, and as alternatives for single-country interventions and regional diplomatic initiatives.
This paper explores in how far civil society regional approaches indeed enhance peacebuilding practice. Experiences in the Great Lakes Region show that local and international organizations have difficulties in analysing regional conflict in a way that helps them in their programming. It is difficult to arrive at a common understanding of regional issues and possible strategies, and few regional programmes come about. Moreover, local civil society organizations are deeply embedded in the politics of regional conflict. As a result, the establishment of a regional community of civil society keeps waiting. Consequently, the expected benefits of regional approaches are so far not achieved.
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