Rebuilding Community Trust and Interethnic Dialogue in Post-War Bosnia: A Participatory Peace Education Initiative
Keywords:
peace education, interethnic dialogue, community trust, post-conflict reconstructionAbstract
This study examines the implementation of participatory peace education initiatives in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina as a mechanism for rebuilding community trust and fostering interethnic dialogue. Through a mixed-methods approach involving 240 participants across four municipalities, the research investigates how community-based peace education programs can address lingering ethnic divisions and promote reconciliation. The study employed participatory action research methodology, incorporating focus group discussions, structured interviews, and community workshops over an 18-month period. Results demonstrate significant improvements in interethnic trust levels, with participants showing increased willingness to engage in cross-ethnic dialogue and collaborative community projects. The findings suggest that participatory peace education, when culturally adapted and community-driven, can effectively contribute to sustainable peacebuilding in post-conflict societies. This research contributes to understanding the role of grassroots educational interventions in post-war reconciliation processes and provides practical frameworks for implementing similar initiatives in other post-conflict contexts.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Nicholas Reed, Milena Novak, Thomas Becker, Samantha Klein, Eleni Papadopoulos (Author)
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