ABSTRACT

This article focuses on the current conflict in Anglophone Cameroon and examines the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in conflict resolution. In doing so, it explores a paradox in the peacebuilding literature. On the one hand, the ‘local turn’ in peacebuilding has emphasised a bottom-up approach that highlights the role of CSOs. On the other hand, the literature on ‘shrinking civic space’ has demonstrated how space for CSOs’ activities has become increasingly restricted, especially in authoritarian contexts like Cameroon. The article investigates the contributions of CSOs to conflict resolution, the constraints faced, and their responses in turn to mitigate such constraints. CSOs’ contribution to conflict resolution is at least three-fold: to engage with most-affected communities and build an evidence base of the conflict’s adverse consequences for civilians; to draw national and international attention to the conflict; and to maintain pressure for a negotiated settlement through public protests and interactions with both government and non-state armed groups. Despite facing intimidation and violence at times, CSOs have responded in innovative ways that demonstrate examples of adaptation and resistance to shrinking civic space.

摘要

本文重点关注讲英语的喀麦隆当前的冲突，并考察民间社会组织 (CSO) 在解决冲突中的作用。在此过程中，它探索了建设和平文献中的一个悖论。一方面，建设和平的“地方转向”强调了自下而上的方法，突出了公民社会组织的作用。另一方面，关于“缩小公民空间”的文献表明，公民社会组织的活动空间是如何变得越来越受限的，尤其是在喀麦隆这样的专制背景下。本文调查了公民社会组织对解决冲突的贡献、面临的限制，以及他们为减轻这些限制而做出的反应。公民社会组织对解决冲突的贡献至少有三方面：与受影响最严重的社区接触，并建立冲突对平民造成不利后果的证据基础；引起国内和国际对该冲突的关注；并通过公开抗议以及与政府和非国家武装团体的互动来维持通过谈判解决问题的压力。尽管有时面临恐吓和暴力，公民社会组织仍以创新方式作出回应，展示了适应和抵制缩小的公民空间的例子。