Sri Lanka study reveals peace means different things to different people
A new study of ordinary Sri Lankans' experiences after the civil war ends shows that "peace" has radically different meanings depending on where you live and who you are. For policymakers trying to rebuild divided societies, this finding suggests one-size-fits-all peace initiatives often fail—and that listening to local communities first is essential for lasting stability.
Originaltitel: Micro-level experiences, understandings and visions of peace in Sri Lanka’s war victory
<p>It is widely recognised in contemporary peace and conflict scholarshipthat exploring micro-level experiences is important for a fullerand more nuanced understanding of the forms of peace thatemerge post-war. In this article, we argue that such inquiry mightbe particularly urgent in the context of a victor’s peace. Muchresearch on victor’s peace focus on the state and macro level andseldom account for the outcome across local contexts. Based onfocus group discussions conducted across communities and geographicallocalities in Sri Lanka, we explore and compare narrativesof peace in order to elucidate plural understandings, experiencesand visions. The study moves beyond the dichotomous peaceconceptions often associated with the notion of victor’s peaceand provides insights into varieties of peace at the local and everydaylevel, and into challenges and possibilities for transformingconflict relationships post-war.</p>