Experts examine whether local or international peacebuilding initiatives are more effective

An internationally renowned group of experts are to explain why local peacebuilding initiatives are the most effective way of reconnecting the state to its people.

But event organiser Professor Roger Mac Ginty from The University of Manchester says more needs to be done to understand how to channel local initiatives so that they can play a larger role in peace efforts.

The University of Manchester conference on 11-12 September hosts experts from around the globe, ranging from Manchester to Australia, the US, Brazil, Korea, Sweden and Nigeria; also policy experts such as the secretary general of International Alert, will attend.

They will discuss how peacebuilding is shaped by economics, technology and governance as well as exploring the role played by the UN and EU in conflict-affected societies in countries like Afghanistan, Uganda, Somalia, Lebanon and Northern Ireland.

Professor Roger Mac Ginty of the Humanitarian Conflict Response Institute said: "We can see in Gaza and Israel, Ukraine, Iraq and Syria that people often bear the brunt of violence, but they do not have a way of influencing the top decision makers."

"But below the surface, people in villages, streets and work places often have to work out their own local-level accommodations. These coping-mechanisms are under-researched. Away from the glare of the cameras, it is possible to see so-called ordinary people working out how they can talk to their neighbour from an opposing group."

"By looking at this local-level and informal peace we can see that big international players – like the US or NATO – can only do part of the job."

'Shaping Peace – Local Infrastructures and State Formation' takes place on 11-12 September at the Samuel Alexander Building at The University of Manchester.

Provided by University of Manchester