BROKEN PROMISES : HOPE AND DESPAIR- THE DILEMMA OF PEACE PROCESS IN AFGHANISTAN
Start Date
10-2-2021 1:15 PM
End Date
10-2-2021 2:45 PM
Proposal Type
Poster
Proposal Description
BROKEN PROMISES
HOPE AND DESPAIR: THE DILEMMA OF PEACE PROCESS IN AFGHANISTAN
Aarti Upadhyay[1]
M. Ayub Yusufzai [2]
Abstract
The adoption of the Bonn Agreement in 2001 saw a ray of hope for the long awaited peace yet, after 19 years of violence and turmoil peace is a distance reality for Afghans. There are a number of obstacles to why peace is not achieved; in addition to the external factors influencing the conflict there are internal factors in Afghan society that play a significant role. The fragility of institutional structures, mechanisms and lack of support compounded by ethnic, sectarianism and other forms of divisions embedded in the Afghan society influence the pace and effectiveness of peace process.
Politics operates through culture, and culture uses material and economic resources to achieve its goal. Culture plays a significant role alongside other sub-systems, if addressed can help in improving the situation and amplifying efforts for peace.
Current research is a qualitative study that examines the factors influencing peace process with special focus on cultural aspects through secondary data, key informant interviews and focused group discussions with the stakeholders. The findings show that the internal factors play a critical role and translate into latent conflict and dilute the effectiveness of peace process. The existing culture legitimises the unjust and destructive structures of violence and insecurity, which hampers dialogue thus, there is an urgent need to address the central question of cultural barriers and evolve solutions such as co-creating a culture of peace through education, collective arts and dialogue which can help expand the public awareness, enhance community participation in adopting a human rights based approach to address the current failures.
Key terms: Cultural barriers to peace, peace-making, culture of peace, conflict, violence
[1] Aarti Upadhyay (Independent Researcher)
[2] Assistant professor in Balkh University & Commissioner in AIRHC
About Authors:
Aarti Upadhyay: is a trained Social Worker with 12 years of experience in the development sector, she has anchored programs including capacity building of social sector workforce, government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), curriculum development in post conflict societies including Afghanistan and Myanmar, teaching and action research. She has worked as a faculty at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and has taught in Afghanistan Sweden. She is currently working in a Non- Profit in India but pursues her academic interest as an independent researcher.
Mohammad Ayub Yusufzai is an Associate Professor at the Balk University, Mazar-E- Sharif, Afghanistan and a PhD. Candidate at the Hamburg University Germany (2014). He has completed his LLM from University of Washington School of Law, Seattle. He has worked with on academic research on rule of law and other socio -legal issues with the university and bilateral agencies in Afghanistan and also serves as the Commissioner at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIRHC).
About the Paper & Relationship to the Conference Theme
The paper critically looks at the factors that create barriers to peace and ways to address it in the context of the Afghan Society. The study will help to explore intercultural relations and its influence in a peace process. The study also examines the central argument that to establish the culture of peace is as important as to address the question of peace and which involves a comprehensive approach to social justice in a human rights framework. This paper will contribute immensely to knowledge and dialogue on the varied aspects of peace building and processes in society devastated by prolong conflict and loss.
BROKEN PROMISES : HOPE AND DESPAIR- THE DILEMMA OF PEACE PROCESS IN AFGHANISTAN
BROKEN PROMISES
HOPE AND DESPAIR: THE DILEMMA OF PEACE PROCESS IN AFGHANISTAN
Aarti Upadhyay[1]
M. Ayub Yusufzai [2]
Abstract
The adoption of the Bonn Agreement in 2001 saw a ray of hope for the long awaited peace yet, after 19 years of violence and turmoil peace is a distance reality for Afghans. There are a number of obstacles to why peace is not achieved; in addition to the external factors influencing the conflict there are internal factors in Afghan society that play a significant role. The fragility of institutional structures, mechanisms and lack of support compounded by ethnic, sectarianism and other forms of divisions embedded in the Afghan society influence the pace and effectiveness of peace process.
Politics operates through culture, and culture uses material and economic resources to achieve its goal. Culture plays a significant role alongside other sub-systems, if addressed can help in improving the situation and amplifying efforts for peace.
Current research is a qualitative study that examines the factors influencing peace process with special focus on cultural aspects through secondary data, key informant interviews and focused group discussions with the stakeholders. The findings show that the internal factors play a critical role and translate into latent conflict and dilute the effectiveness of peace process. The existing culture legitimises the unjust and destructive structures of violence and insecurity, which hampers dialogue thus, there is an urgent need to address the central question of cultural barriers and evolve solutions such as co-creating a culture of peace through education, collective arts and dialogue which can help expand the public awareness, enhance community participation in adopting a human rights based approach to address the current failures.
Key terms: Cultural barriers to peace, peace-making, culture of peace, conflict, violence
[1] Aarti Upadhyay (Independent Researcher)
[2] Assistant professor in Balkh University & Commissioner in AIRHC
About Authors:
Aarti Upadhyay: is a trained Social Worker with 12 years of experience in the development sector, she has anchored programs including capacity building of social sector workforce, government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), curriculum development in post conflict societies including Afghanistan and Myanmar, teaching and action research. She has worked as a faculty at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and has taught in Afghanistan Sweden. She is currently working in a Non- Profit in India but pursues her academic interest as an independent researcher.
Mohammad Ayub Yusufzai is an Associate Professor at the Balk University, Mazar-E- Sharif, Afghanistan and a PhD. Candidate at the Hamburg University Germany (2014). He has completed his LLM from University of Washington School of Law, Seattle. He has worked with on academic research on rule of law and other socio -legal issues with the university and bilateral agencies in Afghanistan and also serves as the Commissioner at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIRHC).
About the Paper & Relationship to the Conference Theme
The paper critically looks at the factors that create barriers to peace and ways to address it in the context of the Afghan Society. The study will help to explore intercultural relations and its influence in a peace process. The study also examines the central argument that to establish the culture of peace is as important as to address the question of peace and which involves a comprehensive approach to social justice in a human rights framework. This paper will contribute immensely to knowledge and dialogue on the varied aspects of peace building and processes in society devastated by prolong conflict and loss.