ABSTRACT

This book examines the multifaceted nature of conflict and the importance of the socio-economic and political contexts of conflict and violence and shows how to support ongoing initiatives and programs to build sustainable peace on the African continent.

Drawing on a range of conceptual framings in the study of peace and conflict, from gender perspectives to institutionalist to decolonial perspectives, the contributors show how peacebuilding research covers a whole range of questions that go beyond concerns for post-conflict reconstruction strategies. Chapters focus on the methodological, theoretical and practical aspects of peacebuilding and provide a toolbox of perspectives for conceptualizing and doing peacebuilding research in Africa. Anchored in African-centered perspectives, the book encourages and promotes high-quality interdisciplinary research that is conflict-sensitive, historically informed, theoretically grounded and analytically sound.

This book will be of benefit to scholars, policy makers and research institutions engaged in peacebuilding in Africa.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

part |115 pages

Concepts, theories and methodologies

chapter 2|18 pages

When theory meets method

Feminist peace research in Africa and how to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange

chapter 3|16 pages

A mission to civilize

The liberal idea of peacebuilding in Africa

part |103 pages

Case studies

chapter 7|18 pages

Understanding complex new wars in Africa

The example of the Sahel

chapter 9|11 pages

Research in a conflict and peacebuilding context

Narrations from fieldwork in Nigerian violent theatres

chapter 12|14 pages

Doing research in the ‘silicon savannah’

Digital media, peacebuilding and constructions of (in) stability in Kenya

chapter 13|10 pages

Post-conflict emotions at home

Researching former Zimbabwean soldiers