A Study of Communities that Opted Out

1. Conflict Prevention Strategies from the Ground Up: Learning from the Experiences of Local Communities

2. A Study of Communities that Opted Out • Thirteen cases studies of quite disparate communities. • All made a collective decision to avoid participation in war making that surrounded them. • Strategies were brave, innovative, creative, clever and inspiring. • These were not anti-war or pacifist communities—or motivated by ideology. Most were quite pragmatic. • Most succeeded with little or no outside assistance. • Each situation was a special context—but there were also general lessons to be drawn.

3. A Study of Communities that Opted Out • Afghanistan: Jaghori District, GhazniProvice • Bosnia: City of Tuzla • Colombia: Peace villages • Mozambique: Chidenguele, Gaza Province • Rwanda: Muslim community resisting genocide • Burkina Faso: National strategies for social cohesion

4. A Study of Communities that Opted Out • Fiji: Avoidance of all-out civil war • India: Manipur, Naga-Kukiconflict • Philippines: peace villages • Nigeria: Ukwa area of Niger Delta • Sierra Leone: Lawana, Moyamba District • Sri Lanka: Madhu shrine/sactuary • Kosovo: villages that opted out of ethnic divisions

5. A Study of Communities that Opted Out • Myth busting: shattering assumption and hypotheses about how these communities succeeded in opting out. • Success was NOT about: • Being marginal to the conflict • Visionary/charismatic leadership • Staying “below the radar” to avoid attention • Being somehow special, different or extraordinary in relation to their neighbors

6. Six Factors in Opting Out of War • Make an affirmative decision to opt out of war • Adopt a “normal”/familiar non-war identity • Continue delivery of public services • Maintain internal order and discipline • Engage with armed groups and maintain security • Celebrate community

7. Six Factors in Opting Out of War • These six factors appeared in all thirteen communities studied • If any one of the factors was missing or deteriorated, the ability of the community to resist being drawn in was reduced

8. Decide to Opt Out • Recognize that war is coming • Pragmatic calculation of risks, costs and benefits • Imagining the option of non-participation • Draw on capacities: • Ability to actually make a decision • Receptive and accountable leadership

9. Choose a Common Non-war Identity • Assert an identity that supersedes divisive war identities • The non-war identity is “normal”—not a departure from the familiar • The identity—and associated values—could be: • Historical (we have always…) • Religious (our community represents…) • Locational (this is sacred space…)

10. ContinuePublic Services • Extend the sense of normalcy • Maintain schools, health care, roads, economic activities, etc. • Draw on capacities : • Experience • Knowledge • Expertise • Organization • Physical Assets

11. Maintain Internal Order • Trusted and respected mediators from within the community to settle disputes • Codes of conduct: explicit, agreed to, enforced • Rules for interactions within the community and with armed groups

12. Maintain Security • Connections to armed commanders • Internal trust • Communication systems • Escape plans

13. Celebrate & Enjoy Each Other • Holidays • Feasts • Ceremonies • Culture • Sports • Shared values

14. Implications of the Findings  The six factors areimportant elements ofresilience!

15. Six Factors in Opting Out of War • Make an affirmative decision to opt out of war • Adopt a “normal”/familiar non-war identity • Continue delivery of public services • Maintain internal order and discipline • Engage with armed groups and maintain security • Celebrate community