| ID | 117650 |
| Title Proper | Hollow words |
| Other Title Information | foreign aid and peacebuilding in peripheral conflicts |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Burke, Adam |
| Publication | 2012. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Many foreign aid agencies promote peacebuilding as a global policy objective. This paper considers how they have fared in practice in subnational, "peripheral" conflicts in Asia that have relatively low international profiles, using case material from Aceh in Indonesia, the Far South of Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Foreign aid has supported long-term economic growth in these countries but typically failed to address peacebuilding concerns or associated inequalities between ethnic groups. Many barriers limit the scope to promote peacebuilding, stemming from recipient governments' reluctance to accept external involvement and from aid agencies' own limitations. Those agencies that do address conflict concerns tend not to use technical peacebuilding tools or methodologies. Instead, they prioritize the root causes of conflicts, recognizing human rights protection and equality of opportunity as policy aims. They also devise responses locally, build good relationships with governments, and work incrementally from a strong knowledge base. Wider adoption of similar policy objectives and practice would enable further small-scale peacebuilding initiatives. |
| `In' analytical Note | Asian Affairs: An American Review Vol. 39, No.4; Oct-Dec 2012: p.181-201 |
| Journal Source | Asian Affairs: An American Review Vol. 39, No.4; Oct-Dec 2012: p.181-201 |
| Key Words | Aceh ; Conflict ; Development ; Foreign Aid ; Indonesia ; Peacebuilding ; Southeast Asia ; Sri Lanka ; Thailand |