Abstract

The ‘local’ has become central to peacebuilding, both in theory and in practice. While there is extensive conceptual literature analysing the ‘local’, there is much less that looks at how what is often considered local in peacebuilding programmes actually works in practice. The empirical peacebuilding literature that does exist has largely focussed on the international–local interface and those studies that have focussed solely on the ‘local’ largely rely on discussions with more elite civil society leaders. In contrast, this article empirically analyses ‘local–local’ dynamics. Using a Sierra Leonean peacebuilding project called Fambul Tok, this article both provides in-depth analysis on how the organisation externally projects itself as ‘local’ and contrasts this with how the organisation actually works in practice. Externally, Fambul Tok’s media materials equate ‘local’ with Sierra Leonean place and people, as well as notions of culture and tradition. However, by examining the dynamics between different Sierra Leoneans, including staff members and programme participants, a complex picture of the ‘local–local’ emerges. I argue that by engaging with comprehensive empirical research, we can understand how local peacebuilding is actually experienced and enacted and how the theoretical discussions of the ‘local’ and ‘local–local’ in peacebuilding converge with how peacebuilding works in practice.

摘要

无论在理论上还是在实践中，“地方”都已成为建设和平的中心。尽管有大量分析“地方”的概念文献，但很少有关于建设和平方案中通常认为地方如何在实践中实际起作用的东西。确实存在的经验丰富的建设和平文献主要集中在国际与地方之间的联系上，而那些只着眼于“地方”的研究则主要依靠与更多精英民间社会领导人的讨论。相反，本文从经验上分析了“局部-局部”动力学。本文使用塞拉利昂的建设和平项目Fambul Tok，对组织如何在外部将自己投射为“本地”进行了深入分析，并将其与组织在实践中的实际运作方式进行了对比。在外部，Fambul Tok的媒体材料将“本地”等同于塞拉利昂人的位置和人物，以及文化和传统的观念。但是，通过检查包括职员和计划参与者在内的不同塞拉利昂人之间的动态，就出现了“本地-本地”的复杂图景。我认为，通过进行全面的实证研究，我们可以了解如何实际体验和实施地方建设和平，以及关于建设和平中“地方”和“地方-地方”的理论讨论如何与建设和平在实践中的融合。