Liberal and Digital Peace-building: A Comparative Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37540/njips.v9i1.213Keywords:
digital peacebuilding, liberal peacebuilding, conflict transformation, conflict resolutionAbstract
Patterns and trends keep changing with the commencement of each global political era, and peacebuilding is an evolving and continuous phenomenon. In the post-Cold War era, liberal peacebuilding entered the discourse of peace studies and conflict resolution as a bandwagon. Critical accounts of the limitations of liberal peacebuilding frequently reveal striking parallels between the inadequacy of peace processes and peace agreements. The threat is no longer confined within the designated territorial borders. Data theft, cyber-crimes and attacks, various biological and chemical agents through pandemics, etc., are posing a substantial challenge to liberal peacebuilding approaches and traditional methods. As each conflict has unique and divergent characteristics and dynamics, implementing liberal peace is not always pragmatic. The paper illustrates instances in which the liberal peace was not as fruitful as it ought to have been through five case studies. Liberal peacebuilding may be considered insufficient to address the emerging trends of conflict. In light of globalization and digitalization, the need to digitalize the peacebuilding process has become increasingly important. Subsequently, peacebuilders and conflict transformation practitioners are using digital technology to impact processes that can minimize violent conflict and improve sustainable human development. In terms of digitalizing peace processes, there is a dire need to include technology and innovative digital initiatives within peacebuilding. This qualitative study attempts to present a futuristic perspective by investigating the causes behind the insufficiency of the traditional approach and how digital peacebuilding methods might be used effectively to resolve conflicts in the future.
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