Developing agency through peacebuilding in the midst of intractable conflict: The case of Israel and Palestine |
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| Authors: | Sharri Plonski |
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| Institution: | University of Toronto , Canada |
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| Abstract: | This paper discusses the presence of ‘peacebuilding islands’ within civil society as potential agents of transformation in the midst of intractable conflict. Focusing on the particular case of the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict, the argument stems from a deconstruction of the legacy of national myopia perpetuated through social and political institutions and the capacity of individuals to impact them. Inspired by feminist organisations and the personal experience of feminist peace activists in Israel and Palestine, the author discusses the intersection of a variety of peacebuilding and educational initiatives as paramount to the building of a culture of peace in the region. The study embraces strategies that challenge the structural, socio‐cultural and inter‐personal status quo as part of a multi‐layered effort at transforming conflict in the Middle East. |
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| Keywords: | Peacebuilding Agency Israeli‐Palestinian conflict Feminism Peace education Contact programmes Social change |
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