This chapter introduces the reader to the puzzle of legitimacy and how it will be addressed in the book. Ideas of local ownership, hybrid peace and bottom-up peacebuilding are discussed in line with the growing consensus of addressing a local agenda. It also outlines the argument for civil society involvement in peace negotiations, highlighting the theoretical and conceptual assumptions that scholars usually make when referring to legitimacy. The chapter concludes by describing the aims of the book and introducing the methodology applied including a reflection on questions of access and interpretation during fieldwork in post-conflict settings.