Projekt

This project focuses on how to deal with Zimbabwe's violent political past. Based on the principle of cross-cultural exchange, and challenging exceptionalism, it compares Zimbabwe and Northern Ireland with regard to the role of civil society, especially faith-based organizations (FBOs), in dealing with the past. It is grounded in cross-cultural scholarship on civil society, transitional justice, reconciliation and approaches towards dealing with the past. It is unique and original in that it: 1. moves out of the African context for comparison, to look at a global environment and 2. undertakes an unprecedented in-depth cross-regional qualitative study. It also investigates FBOs' attempts to influence political policies and societal interactions in post-violence contexts and the impact their practices/strategies have had.The current research will be a focused study on the Irish Churches Peace Project, and the Church and Civil Society Forum in Zimbabwe. Both platforms engage with other secular groups in civil society, adding a further dimension for investigation: how FBOs cooperate with secular groups in the pursuit of common goals, and how faith impacts (or not) during that process. The project will provide new insights and lessons for Zimbabwe (and Northern Ireland) in dealing with a violent political past; increase understanding of how civil society actors, including FBOs, contribute (or not)to reconciliation; contribute to the scholarly cross-cultural and cross-regional study of FBOs in conflict, violence and reconciliation and assist other scholars investigating the role of religion in post-violence contexts.

• Prof. Dr. Mamadou Diawara

  Universität Frankfurt am Main
  Zentrum für interdisziplinäre
  Afrikaforschung (ZIAF)
  Campus Westend
  Frankfurt am Main