Culture and Ideology
Ideology refers to certain beliefs or narratives. These tend to concern the cause, nature and purpose of life or the universe, and are often regarded as holy, sacred, spiritual or divine. Ideology encompasses religion which includes narratives, symbols and traditions that are intended to give meaning to life, from which morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle can be derived. Religion also has a public aspect reflected in organised behaviours which is important to understand in stabilisation and conflict contexts. Culture is a term with multiple meanings and definitions. At its most simple, it can refer to human behaviour and to the way things are done in a country or part of a country. Culture often encompasses belief systems, values, attitudes, relationships and practices. Cultural analysis can contribute to an understanding of politics and conflict. This, in turn, can help to align stabilisation activities to the locally appropriate context.
Categories
Documents
Understanding and Addressing Context in Rural Afghanistan, How Villages Differ and Why?
| Date added: | 15/08/2011 |
Author: Pain and Kantor
Institution: Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
Publication Date: 2010
Keywords: Culture, Afghanistan
Read Full Text Here: http://areu.org.af/Uploads/EditionPdfs/1046E-Understanding%20and%20Addressing%20Context%20in%20Rural%20Afghanistan%20IP%202010%20web-1.pdf
Relevance:
This paper highlights the lesson that international organisations need to better understand the role of village leaders and their relationship with communities and external groups before designing responses. The document is therefore relevant for military or civilian personnel working with communities or those seeking to deliver national programmes at the local level. The socia... Read More
Transforming Cultural Conflict in an Age of Complexity
| Date added: | 04/03/2011 |
Author: Michelle LeBaron
Institution: Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management
Publication Date: 2001
Keywords: Conflict, Peacebuilding
Read Full Text Here: http://www.berghof-handbook.net/documents/publications/lebaron_hb.pdf
Relevance:
This paper challenges the view that we can transport US or Western European models of conflict transformation to other parts of the world and advocates that we must adapt our approach to the cultural context. It highlights the importance of; cultural assessments, recruiting mixed teams that combine ‘external expertise’ and ‘internal (local) knowledge’, and language skills. It stresses that practitioners need the ‘cultural competence&rsqu... Read More
The Rise and Fall of Mogadishu’s Islamic Courts
| Date added: | 09/03/2011 |
Author: Cedric Barnes and Harun Hassan
Institution: Chatham House and the Horn of Africa Group
Publication Date: 2007
Keywords: Religion, Somalia
Read Full Text Here: http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Africa/bpsomalia0407.pdf
Relevance:
The paper examines the evolution of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) in Somalia and how religion, alongside other political drivers, appears to have had unifying power across a range of disparate groups as well as the ability to mobilise substantial popular support. The paper finds that while the courts arose out of a need to improve law and order, ideological divisions became more pronounced over time and ultimately contributing to their down fall. The case stud... Read More
Religion in World Affairs - Its role in Conflict and Peace
| Date added: | 09/03/2011 |
Author: David Smock
Institution: United States Institute of Peace
Publication Date: 2008
Keywords: Religion, Political Process, Conflict
Read Full Text Here: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/sr201.pdf
Relevance:
This paper examines the contribution of religion to international peace making and provides the context for how religion is understood as a peacemaking mechanism by international institutions. The authors draw on evidence from a range of conflicts where religion has contributed positively to peacemaking and cementing peace agreements but highlights that opportunities are frequently missed by international actors because religion’s role is oversimplified or misunderstood. The paper will interest those exploring how religion can provide a resource... Read More
How Tribal are the Taleban?
| Date added: | 15/08/2011 |
Author: Ruttig, Thomas
Institution: Afghanistan Analysts Network
Publication Date: 2010
Keywords: Culture, Afghanistan
Read Full Text Here: http://aan-afghanistan.com/uploads/20100624TR-HowTribalAretheTaleban-FINAL.pdf
Relevance:
Ruttig challenges the limited knowledge international organisations have of the Taleban, their ideology and ancestry. He asserts that without this understanding, attempting a purely technical approach to reintegration, and assuming economic and social incentives will entice fighters to give up arms, will fail. Instead, he claims international organisations should be seeking to understand the historical formation of the Taleban and what options exist for a political accommodation. Political accommodation can only ... Read More
Ethnicity from Perception to Cause of Violent Conflicts
| Date added: | 04/03/2011 |
Author: Suliman, Mohamed
Institution: Sudan Open Archive
Publication Date: 1997
Keywords:Culture, Sudan
Read Full Text Here: http://sudanarchive.net/cgi-bin/pagessoa?e=01off---vand-TX-ethnicity+perception--100125-%5bethnicity+%5d%3aTX+%5bperception%5d%3aTX+-1-0-SectionLevel-0-0-1ethnicity+perception-1&a=d&d=Dslpd166.1.1
Relevance:
The paper aserts that e... Read More
Dealing with the Past in the Context of Ethno-nationalism: The Case of Bosnia-Herzegovina
| Date added: | 14/02/2012 |
Author: Ivana Franovic
Institution: Berghof Research Centre
Publication Date: 2008
Related Categories: Culture, Peace-building, Human Rights
Read Full Text Here: http://www.berghof-conflictresearch.org/documents/publications/boc29e.pdf
Relevance:
This paper is a detailed study of the legacy of the wars that followed the break up of Yugoslavia. It addresses the opportunities and obstacles to peace-building the inhabitants of these countries continue to face. The most relevant sections are chapters three and four which explore concepts of reconciliation and the mechanisms by which these concepts can be realised respectively. The benefits of the author’s first hand experience and in-depth knowledge are clearly demonstrated throughout, but i... Read More
Averting Hell on Earth - Religion and the Prevention of Genocide
| Date added: | 09/03/2011 |
Author: Susan Hayward
Institution: United States Institute of Peace
Publication Date: 2010
Keywords: Religion
Read Full Text Here: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/sr248.pdf
Relevance:
This paper highlights the importance of involving religious actors in diplomacy to prevent or resolve conflict or mass atrocity. It also emphasises that religious leaders in communities are often aware of local social, political and economic dynamics inaccessible to diplomatic actors. The paper assesses the role of religion both as a destructive force, promoting genocide and mass atrocity, as well as in its potential for preventing violence and providing protection. This paper is useful to those wishing to understand how religion, as one dimension within a wider cultural and social cont... Read More
Abrahamic Alternatives to War - Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Just Peacemaking
| Date added: | 09/03/2011 |
Author: Susan Thistlethwaite and Glen Stassen
Institution: United States Institute of Peace
Publication Date: 2008
Keywords: Religion, Peacebuilding
Read Full Text Here: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/sr214.pdf
Relevance:
This paper examines the passages in the religious texts of all three Abrahamic faiths that incite or justify violent behaviour in addition to the passages that promote peace, justice and tolerance. In finding much overlap in the later passages it advocates for a peacemaking framework that could be used to resolve global conflict and promote justice.
The paper challenges the limited understanding of religious texts of other religions and encourages the exploration of the synergies between scripture as a means of strengthening relations ac... Read More