Dialogue in Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion: Understanding Different Perspectives

The constriction of the space for robust, uninhibited and constructive dialogue by entrenched positions, vitriolic accusations and a rejection of data or facts has emerged as an additional challenge amid the urgency to promote local, national and international efforts to address the world’s increasingly complex problems.
On peacebuilding and strengthening social cohesion, it has become ever important to place dialogue in the context of the evolving dynamics of conflict and shifts in international efforts to build and sustain peace.
‘Dialogue in Peacebuilding: Understanding Different Perspectives’ provides a glimpse of the multiplicity of ways in which dialogue is and can be applied to address conflict and to strengthen peacebuilding efforts, from contexts ravaged by ongoing armed violence like Afghanistan or Somalia to situations of seemingly intractable conflict like Israel and Palestine, as well as in countries and communities typically described as peaceful like Sweden.
Although they range widely, common themes do emerge in the volume, published by the Dag Hammarskjold Foundation as part of its Development Dialogue series. These themes included the reasons for and results of applying dialogue and some critical considerations for designing and facilitating dialogue processes.
Several contributors identify the use of dialogue as a key instrument for promoting inclusivity, engaging women, youth, marginalized groups and other actors who are typically not at the center of policymaking or negotiations. The potential to constructively engage youth and to counter perceptions of marginalization by young people through dialogue is underscored in many pieces.
Another common theme raised in the different papers is the potential of dialogue to transform strained vertical relationships between the state and society, or to cultivate civic trust in governance and official institutions.
The contributions raise many considerations that are critical in order for dialogue processes to be successful. Several authors emphasize the importance of careful and thorough preparation that involves building trust and for ensuring that basic conditions are present, such as that participants are prepared to genuinely listen and respect other perspectives and to share without fear of retribution.
They also underscore the need for follow up and sustained engagement. The role and identity of the facilitator is key to success and most recognize that this calls for acceptance by all participants and for multi-partiality.
Several contributions identify the media and, in particular, social media as a significant force and consideration, with the potential to support or advance dialogue gains as well as to undermine the process by deepening polarization and disseminating misinformation.
“Given the urgency of working together at all levels and across political, ideological and other divides to address current global challenges and to build more inclusive, peaceful and just societies,” the introduction to the publication notes, “this volume can perhaps provide inspiration on how to avoid ‘dialogues of the deaf ’ in favor of dialogue that genuinely promotes mutual understanding.”