The many conceptions of post-conflict reconciliation: learning from practitioners

Abstract

ABSTRACT Reconciliation is a ubiquitous concept in peacebuilding, marred by a disconnect between philosophical perspectives and practical realities. The concept's broad range of meanings produce differing and potentially contradicting policy recommendations. Moreover, although reconciliation is embedded in intimate community relationships, grassroots reconciliation initiatives are often treated as dependent on national and international programmes loosing their conceptual agency. The paper explores the impact of different views of reconciliation, defined by two main characteristics: whether they are relational or reflexive and whether they set well-defined goals or take an open-ended approach. Consequently, five reconciliation types emerge: instrumental, dialogical, restorative, transformative, and experiential. Each reflects unique views of conflict and peace and different visions of what it takes to transform society. The typology contributes to a comparative study of peacebuilding processes and encourages paying greater attention to local politics and communitarian agency in peacebuilding and reconciliation processes.