ABSTRACT
Zones of peace (ZoPs) have largely been defined territorially, though some communities do not fit this description. This study suggests an emerging “zone” that does not fit into standard typologies is composed of civilian led “closed virtual communities” (CVCs). Virtual communities are not only a way for people to stand up to, and to organize against, the violence that affects their daily lives, but they also provide a place of sanctuary, free from violence. This chapter will explore CVCs as a new type of ZoP and the different of sources of legitimacy that virtual networks engender. These possible sources of legitimacy in CVCs will be contrasted to those of government institutions and that encountered in traditional zones.
