Peacebuilding in Deeply Divided Societies

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

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2. Introduction

   • Fletcher D. Cox, Timothy D. Sisk, Elizabeth Hester

   Pages 1-12

3. Peacebuilding: A Social Cohesion Approach

   • Fletcher D. Cox, Timothy D. Sisk

   Pages 13-31

4. Guatemala: National Fragmentation, Local Cohesion

   • Otto Argueta, Sabine Kurtenbach

   Pages 33-64

5. Kenya: Identity and Insecurity in a Modernizing State

   • Fletcher D. Cox, James Ndung’u, Esther Njuguna

   Pages 65-101

6. Lebanon: Confessionalism, Consociationalism, and Social Cohesion

   • Joy Aoun, Marie-Joëlle Zahar

   Pages 103-136

7. Myanmar: Religion, Identity, and Conflict in a Democratic Transition

   • Nicholas Farrelly

   Pages 137-174

8. Nepal: Identity Politics in a Turbulent Transition

   • Subindra Bogati, Fletcher D. Cox, Sachchi Karki, Timothy D. Sisk

   Pages 175-213

9. Nigeria: Frustration, Polarization, and Violence

   • Yahaya Hashim, Darren Kew, Judith Ann Walker

   Pages 215-244

10. Sri Lanka: Social Cohesion…In the Eye of the Beholder

    • Susan Hayward, Mirak Raheem

    Pages 245-285

11. Peacebuilding for Social Cohesion: Findings and Implications

    • Fletcher D. Cox, Catherine Orsborn, Timothy D. Sisk

    Pages 287-309

12. Conclusion

    • Fletcher D. Cox, Timothy D. Sisk

    Pages 311-322

13. Back Matter

    Pages 323-346

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This book explores a critical question: in the wake of identity-based violence, what can internal and international peacebuilders do to help “deeply divided societies” rediscover a sense of living together? In 2016, ethnic, religious, and sectarian violence in Syria and Iraq, the Central African Republic, Myanmar, and Burundi grab headlines and present worrying scenarios of mass atrocities. The principal concern which this volume addresses is “social cohesion” - relations within society and across deep divisions, and the relationship of individuals and groups with the state.  For global peacebuilding networks, the social cohesion concept is a leitmotif for assessment of social dynamics and a strategic goal of interventions to promote resilience following violent conflict. In this volume, case studies by leading international scholars paired with local researchers yield in-depth analyses of social cohesion and related peacebuilding efforts in seven countries: Guatemala, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.

• Peacebuilding
• Divided Societies
• Social Cohesion
• Fragmentation
• National Identity
• Confessionalism
• Consociationalism
• Religion
• Transition
• Violence
• Guatemala
• Kenya
• Lebanon
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Nigeria
• Sri Lanka
• Modernization
• Democracy
• Identity Politics

• Department of Political Science, William Jewell College, Liberty, USA

  Fletcher D. Cox

• Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, Denver, USA

  Timothy D. Sisk

Fletcher D. Cox is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at William Jewell College, and a Research Associate of the Sié Chéou Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy. He specializes in the study of civil wars and political violence, and has managed relief, development, and peacebuilding programs in multiple disaster and conflict-affected countries.

Timothy D. Sisk is Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver. Professor Sisk has conducted extensive research on the role of international and regional organizations, particularly the United Nations, in peace operations, peacemaking, and peacebuilding.

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