Sara Hellmüller – författare

In diesem Buch wird untersucht, wie die Interaktion zwischen lokalen und internationalen Friedensförderungsakteuren die Ergebnisse ihrer Programme beeinflusst. Ausgehend von der Fallstudie Ituri in der Demokratischen Republik Kongo wird analysiert, wie lokale und internationale Friedensförderungsakteure den Krieg und den Friedensprozess wahrnahmen und wie diese Wahrnehmungen ihre Beziehung prägten. Dabei werden gängige Definitionen von Krieg und Frieden nuanciert und es wird ein umfassenderes Verständnis von Konfliktkontexten vermittelt. Hellmüller leistet damit einen Beitrag zur Literatur über die Wirksamkeit der Friedensförderung und macht konkrete Vorschläge für die Umsetzung ihrer Erkenntnisse in die Praxis.

Based on the swisspeace annual conference 2012, the publication examines the delicate balance between external interventions and locally-led initiatives. It addresses the question of what “local” means in the peacebuilding and development context; which actors on the ground actually represent the local level and how external actors choose their partners from amongst them. Moreover, it examines how local ownership - emerging as key criteria for any external intervention - is constituted: does this concept only imply local participation or is local control from the outset a must? Finally, it assesses the potential of locally-led initiatives and local conflict resolution mechanisms and their interaction with external interventions. Several authors provide insights on these questions and nuance our thinking about both local ownership and external interventions. As such, the publication aims to encourage critical reflections on this topical debate in peacebuilding and development.

This book helps to better understand how the interaction between local and international peacebuilding actors influences the outcomes of their programs. Based on the case study of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it analyses the relationships between local and international peacebuilding actors over the long term and assesses ways to overcome the obstacles to more cooperative partnerships. Focusing on perceptions, the book nuances existing definitions of war, peacebuilding and peace and allows for a more comprehensive understanding of conflict contexts. Thereby, it contributes to the literature on peacebuilding effectiveness and makes concrete suggestions for translating these findings into practice.