Civil Society and Peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Anthropocene

This book examines civil society’s peacebuilding role in sub-Saharan Africa in the contextof climate change and the pursuit of environmental peace and justice in the Anthropocene. Five main research themes emerge from its 20 chapters;

The roles of environmental peacemaking, environmental justice, ecologicaleducation and eco-ethics in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change;

Peacebuilding by CSOs after violent conflicts, with particular reference toaccountability, reconciliation and healing; CSO involvement in democratic processes and political transition after violentconflicts;

Relationships between local CSOs and their foreign funders and the interactionsbetween CSOs and the African Union’s peace and security architecture.

The particular role of faith-based CSOsThe book underlines the centrality of dialogue to African peacebuilding and the indigenouswisdom and philosophies on which it is based. Such wisdom will be a key resource inconfronting the existential challenges of the Anthropocene. The book will be a significant resource for researchers, academics and policymakers; concerned with the challenge of climate change, its interactions with armed conflict and thepeacebuilding role of CSOs.

This pathbreaking book shows why peacebuilding analysis and efforts need to beurgently re-oriented towards the existential challenges of environmental peace andjustice. It explains the emerging conceptual frameworks which are needed for this new role. It explains the critical role that CSOs – local and international – will play inimplementing this new peacebuilding approach; with particular reference to sub-Saharan Africa.