Partners in Peace; Discourses and Practices of Civil Society Interventions for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Southern Sudan

Internationally, there is a growing attention for the role of civil society in conflict resolution and peace building. This research project intends to study the discourses, dynamics and practices of conflict resolution and peace building among civil society and international actors working in Southern Sudan. The aim of the research is to develop an analytic approach for peace building based on the notion of complexity and think through its ramifications for peace building interventions. Simultaneously, the research aims to explore how ethnographic research can be done interactively with civil society organizations in order to enhance their capacity in peace building. The research will be conducted in collaboration with the development organisation CORDAID as well as the local partners of CORDAID in Kenya and Southern Sudan.