Sawsan Al-Assaf I Ali Dhahir I Kai Frithjof Brand-Jacobsen
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Change in
Description
Logic
3
Rhetoric & Language Used
Some projects aimed at working with political leaders, religious leaders, journalists and other —from local to national levels— to understand how their language and rhetoric can inflame sectarian divisions and violence and to change discourse and narratives in the media, politics, etc. to promote mutual respect and inclusion. Interviewees recognized that in many cases, language used by religious, tribal, political leaders and others, and by the media, often contributes to escalating tensions and polarisation and fuelling violence. Programmes in schools and communitydispute resolution programmes have also focused on making people aware of how their language and rhetoric can be perceived by the other and to improve nonviolent / non-aggressive communication.
Violent language, promoting fears, demonization, and hatred by tribal, community, religious, and political leaders, media, and others fuels violence and negative group relations. Changing this to rhetoric and language which rejects violence and fosters trust, respect, and inclusion can support improving relations and addressing conflict issues.
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Skills & Knowledge
This includes a wide-range of possible ‘changes’ relating to developing skills, knowledge and capabilities on different issues. Improving skills and knowledge can empower individuals, organisations, sectors and communities to be able to address key issues and resolve / transform conflicts. The ‘change’ would be from ‘not having’ such skills and knowledge or having them at a certain level, to ‘having them’ or having them at a better level. In terms of peacebuilding and conflict transformation, interviewees primarily identified trying to achieve changes in skills and knowledge for: conflict analysis; community-based needs and conflict assessments; training; mediation and negotiation; rights; nonviolence. Programmes have also focused on improving knowledge of options and methods for resolving constitutional disputes, disputed territories, land management, etc.
Improving the skills and knowledge of key individuals or actors and organisations at different levels can help to empower and enable them to find effective ways of transforming conflicts.
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Resources
This can include changing access to or availability of resources. An example could be the development of training materials or guides on peacebuilding, negotiations, mediation, peace journalism, etc. in Arabic, Kurdish and other languages, and making these available to organisations and agencies. Resource change can also include making funding available for peacebuilding programmes or assisting organisations to buy / rent computers, materials, cars and offices to enable them to do their work.
Certain resources are key to implementing / doing peacebuilding. Provision of these resources or helping individuals / communities see how to acquire / develop them can help them do effective peacebuilding.
6
Motivation
Interviewees spoke of trying to achieve changes in people’s levels of motivation and to strengthen a sense of ownership and dedication to working to end / reduce violence and improve the situation in their community / country. This can include trying to motivate political leaders or local authorities to be willing to negotiation and work with others, to motivating youth to engage in non-violent programmes across communities, to motivating government officials / authorities to cooperate with and engage in peacebuilding programmes.
If parties are motivated and feel they can make a change —and see why it is important too— it will increase the likelihood of their authentic engagement to address conflict issues.