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This study is a contribution to the growing literature on the subject of the role of education in national reconstruction and reconciliation in countries that have experienced conflict and severe dislocation. It takes as its focus the case of Zimbabwe during the period 1980-2010 but related to experiences of conflict in countries such as Angola, Liberia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Somalia, the Sudan and Rwanda in Africa and, elsewhere, in Bosnia, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Northern Ireland.

The study has been conducted in order to gain an understanding on t he causes of the complexities of sustainable peace in the D.R.C. What is the ro le of the main actors in the DRC peace process? Secondly factors leading to the elusive search for peace in DRC. Finally we will look at the DRC history from 1960 to 2002 from the socio-economic and political aspect to the government by thieves and dictatorial leadership. Series of violent conflict started with the rise into power from Laurent Kabila till the succession of his son Joseph Kabila. They are various causes that led to the conflicts in the DRC, which were caused by unlawful succession of its leaders, lack of political will of its leaders to serve the people of Congo, ethnicity and another big problem it is the size of the country causing a problem to central government in exercising its autonomy fully. Fina lly t he DRC mineral riches have been attracting external forces that came and exploited illegally the resources of the country. This further fueled the conflict. The persistence of the war brought about threat to political, economical and social stability to the Congolese government. This study focuses on factors leading to the elusive search for peace in DRC. The study further found that solid minerals have been linked to recent African conflicts. The center of our argument here will be, to analyze the impact of natural resources on the DRC conflict and to analyze the role of MNC's in the DRC conflict: peace broken or encouraging or sustaining the conflict. / Thesis (M.A.(Politics and International Relations) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2012

Among positions hitherto held is the idea that religion when it comes to the matter of conflict, has been destructive contributor. However, in recent times, attention has been granted to the role of religion and religious peoples in conflict resolution and the process of making peace. As such, this research argues that, the Qur'ānic concept of 'adl ('justice') is a significant resource to the Qur'ānic concepts of salām ('peace') and ṣulḥ ('reconciliation'). Analysing Qur'ānic resources on 'adl, salām and ṣulḥ such as Q.2:30; 49:13; 16:89, 90 reveals a Qur'ānic conceptual interconnectedness between the Qur'ānic concepts of tawḥīd ('submission to the will of Allah'), hidāyah ('guidance'), salām, 'adl and ṣulḥ. This revelation is significant towards the commitment of Muslims to 'adl as the command to be just articulated in Q.16:90 is interpreted to mean lā ilāha illā 'llāh ('there is no god but Allah'), which also stands for tawḥīd, and tawḥīd, in turn, is said to lead to peace and reconciliation as expressed by salām and ṣulḥ. The above Qur'ānic conceptual interrelationships are revealed as a result of the Qur'ānic comparative methodology involving five Arabic exegetical works that the researcher has employed, to promote a better Qur'ānic understanding. The choice of this methodology was in response to the call for a better way of elucidating the text of the Qur'ān. The application of the above methodology is however limited to this research alone. The research reveals that even though Muslims may be committed to Qur'ānic commandments due to their divine origin, it remains to be seen how these doctrinal issues are put into practice. The research has contributed to the body of knowledge by discussing the significant role of religion, and religious text in organising a just society in general and, in particular, in promoting 'adl, salām and ṣulḥ in society.

From 1816 onwards, British peace campaigners used a variety of art, artefacts and spectacle to advertise their aims and indicate their presence. This historical review examines issues surrounding the production and display of visual peace propaganda by national and local organizations, and by individual members including artists. The focus is on the period 1900 to1940, although earlier and later material is included. Many of the themes and issues are still current today. The aims of this research were diverse and therefore this thesis adopts a variety of approaches, drawn from peace history, art history and ephemera studies. The perspective wherever possible is that of the campaigners themselves, including perceived successes and failures. Aesthetic qualities and iconography are also addressed however, particularly when examining the work of professional artists. Chapter 1 uncovers the history of Quaker peace posters produced for national and local use, including the images and messages on them, how they were displayed, and by whom_ Chapters 2 and 3 analyse issues surrounding the indoor and outdoor campaigning of the lively peace movement of the 1930s, which from the middle of the decade was centred on the Peace Pledge Union. Examples of governmental, public and private censorship appear, arising from such diverse activities as wearing a white poppy or displaying a peace poster. Included are descriptions of peace shops, amateur and professional peace exhibitions, poster parades and the work of selected cartoonists. Chapters 4 and 5 examine the peace images and organizational involvement of two artists of national importance whose lives spanned the period covered. Joseph E.Southall, a Quaker tempera artist, was involved with socialism. Eric Gill, sculptor, engraver and typographer, helped to found Pax, the first organization for Catholic pacifists, and was on Peace Pledge Union national committees. The Conclusion states that the majority of campaigning activities took place at local rather than national level. Designs and images were produced by both amateur and trained artists and were therefore of varying quality. There was a preferred avoidance of war images — yet difficulty in establishing an iconography of peace, at a time when the use of allegorical personifications was declining. Volume 2 contains approximately five hundred illustrations.

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In the last several decades there has been immense international emphasis and promotion of gender equality and female participation in the social, economic, and political spheres of society. There has also been an increase in civil conflict recurrence in countries as well as countries transitioning to democracy. This study explores the effect of female participation on peace and democracy. In the first part, I focus on the effect female participation has on decreasing the risk of peace failing in post-civil conflict countries. In many countries, women are marginalized and conflict further marginalizes them. However, I argue that the post-conflict environment allows women to escape this cycle of marginalization and their inclusion and participation is very crucial to sustaining peace. I find that female political and social female decreases the risk of peace failing in post-civil war countries. In the second part, I focus on the effect female participation has on decreasing the risk of authoritarian reversals in countries that have transitioned to and toward democracy. Previous empirical research has focused on women’s role in transitions to democracy, factors that contribute to the survival of democracy, as well as how women’s participation affects the stability country. I argue that women’s social, economic, and political participation decreases the risk of authoritarian reversals in countries that have newly transitioned to and toward democracy. I find that female social participation sustains democracy in countries that have transitioned to democracy and that female economic participation sustains democracy in countries that have transitioned toward democracy. Overall I find support that female participation matters for both peace and democracy.

This work highlights civic events and celebration as functional components of Belfast, Northern Ireland's ongoing post-conflict regeneration. Exploring the broad networks that fund and organize such events through a material semiotic approach, this dissertation sketches an outline of the process that produces parades, and examines the motivations and intentions behind them. It finds that parades function within a negotiated process of "place-making" to convey idealized visions of a peaceful "New Belfast". In particular the tropes of multiculturalism and European identity are repeated as aspirational ideals for Belfast's regeneration. The parades display, and in doing so reify these ideals as a temporary reality. Longer-term effects of the parades are difficult to determine, but they may potentially change public opinion regarding the social space of the city center, leading to more integrated and liberal use of the city center. In these events, issues central to Belfast's political life--from tourism, physical redevelopment, to European integration--are addressed through carnivalesque play and performance, as the events' producers and participants imagine Belfast's future urban identity.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University. / STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The central aims of this study are to analyze the sociological significance of Methodism as an initiator of social thought and action in the area of world peace, and to find what effect the position held by Methodism has had on the changing attitude toward war in the twentieth century. PROCEDURE The method of the dissertation is empirical, with an appeal to rational coherence as the means of interrelating the data. The criteria of social thought and action developed in Chapter One serve as the tool for making a qualitative analysis of the social programs of the churches. Chapter Two briefly traces the historical setting. In Chapter Three attention is given to the role taken by The Methodist Church, while Chapter Four deals with the part that Methodism has played in relation to national and international ecclesiastical organizations involved in the struggle for world peace. Summary The criteria cover six areas: (1) Range of Emotional Tone; (2) Range of Content; (3) Range of Responsibility; (4) Range of Community; (5) Range of Relevance; and (6) Range of Involvement. Each area is developed along a continuum in order to determine the degree of accuracy. In the early 1900's there was a great interest in isolationism and peace sentiment. Both these movements went into hibernation during World War I, only to return in the 1920's. The peace sentiment of the 1920's brought with it a concern with international affairs, which enabled the churches to maintain a universal theme in World War II and to preserve the harmony of the pacifist/non-pacifist camps. Following World War II the American people displayed a new concern for world affairs. The churches served as one of the causes for this change. This interest in world affairs was the by-product of the sect type tendencies found within some of the agencies of the major denominations and of the denominations' attempt to support a universalist religion. The uncompromising appeal to ethical ideals is apparent in such agencies of The Methodist Church as the Commission on World Peace, the Woman's Society of Christian Service and the Methodist Federation for Social Action. The attempt to educate Methodists concerning international affairs is evident in the work of the two Methodist Crusades for World Order and of the Board of Education. This desire to be informed and involved in the decision-making policies is seen in the work of the Department of International Goodwill and Justice of the Federal Council of Churches in America. The World Council of Churches has also sought peace through its attempt to mold world opinion and to express the consensus of its constituents. Conclusions 1. Methodism has been an initiator of social thought and action in world peace: by creating the first Board among the major denominations with the specific purpose of the achievement of world peace; by being the only major denomination to serve on the National Board of Civilian Service; by leading the Crusade for a New World Order to win acceptance for the United Nations; by educating for international understanding in the programs of the Church; and by providing leadership and at times direction to national and international organizations working for peace. 2. There has been a decided shift on the part of the churches in their degree of involvement in war. 3. The emphasis of a universalist religion was maintained throughout World War II and the post-war years. 4. The churches have become deeply involved in the responsibility to move from guiding principles to political propositions and to bring a Christian influence to bear on international events.