Reconciliation in Conflict-affected Communities ― Practices and Insights from the Asia-pacific

This book focuses on the formal and informal reconciliation processes during conflict and post-conflict periods in various locations in the Asia-Pacific, and includes cases studies based on primary research conducted in countries such as Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, South Thailand, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. It offers insights to further our understanding of the social and political processes of reconciliation in a region that has witnessed numerous armed conflicts, many of them perpetuating over generations. The book also draws lessons from the richness arising from diversity in terms of religious and cultural practices, social life, and forms of government and governance, and through the exploration of theories and practices of reconciliation in conflict and post-conflict contexts in the region. It provides useful reference material for researchers, academics, policy makers and students working in the areas of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, reconciliation, social cohesion, development, transitional justice and human rights in the Asia and Pacific region.

Dr Bert Jenkins (editor) is Senior Lecturer in Peace Studies at UNE, in the School of Humanities, where he served as ‘Discipline Convenor’ for over seven years and ‘Higher Degree Research Coordinator’ for two. He has a background in environmental studies, ecological restoration and peace education. His research interests include environmental peace, spiritual ecology and subtropical forest gardening. His research for over a decade has focused on environmental, development and peace issues on the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. His current research interest is human-wildlife conflict in Asia.

DB Subedi (editor) has a PhD in Peace Studies from the University of New England, Australia, where he currently lectures in the School of Humanities. His research interests include peacebuilding and conflict transformation; post-conflict recovery; disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR), reconciliation; radicalisation, countering violent extremism and violence prevention. He has conducted fieldwork in South and South East Asia, especially Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. He has published several journal articles, monographs and edited books and policy briefing papers in the field of peace, conflict and security studies.

Kathy Jenkins (editor) is a lecturer in and Team leader of the Learning and Teaching Team, School of Education, University of New England. She was a practicing teacher prior to this in both Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, and spends her time teaching and researching in order to link theory to effective practice in education. Kathy has also researched in the area of Environmental Education and Peace Education, which among other adjectival educations (Human Rights Education), are closely linked to each other. During this time, Kathy has published about how cooperative learning provides a sound theoretical and effective practical basis for the facilitation of Peace Education, as well as having worked on the development of the ‘Peace Education Curriculum for Bougainville’, the direct result of a lengthy dialogic process that took place in the post conflict society of Bougainville.