Rewriting peace and conflict
The Virtual Encyclopaedia represents a compilation of theory and empirical research in peace and conflict studies from de- and postcolonial approaches, emphasising the contributions from the research network ‘Postcolonial hierarchies in Peace and Conflict Studies.’
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Podcast: Confronting Hierarchies
In the six episodes of the podcast, we question dominant narratives in dialogue with a diversity of voices within and beyond academia and critically engage with theories and research practices. Join us in our journey of confronting hierarchies.
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Decolonial
"Decoloniality and decolonisation [...] scrutinise the contemporary forms of coloniality that exist in more visible settler colonial structures as well as the hidden and less visible forms of coloniality." (Durdiyeva 2023)
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Pluriversality
Myriad other worlds already exist... the pluriverse is not something that needs to be created, but... recognized (Querejazu, 2016, pg. 4, cited in Fitzgerald, 2023).
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Hierarchies
"The colonial matrix of power hierarchically reorganises the world under the historically constructed domination of European, capitalist, military, Christian, patriarchal, white, heterosexual males." (Grosfoguel, 2011, as cited in Sunca, 2024).
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Rewriting peace and conflict

While peace and conflict studies (PACS) is a burgeoning and diverse field, it still grapples with its colonial roots and trajectory. Postcolonial and decolonial approaches have pointed out that research and practice in PACS are based on West-driven epistemological and ontological grounds resulting from colonial structures of power that hinder and often misconstrue our understanding of peace, conflict, and violence and contribute to the reproduction of the structures sustaining different forms of violence. Dominant dynamics of knowledge production in the field have marginalized non-Western and indigenous epistemologies and worldviews. For a critical engagement that contests the effects of colonialism and coloniality of knowledge, scholars have emphasised the need to interrogate and problematise foundational concepts in the different disciplines of Social Sciences. Such endeavour also entails unsettling the patterns of (in)visibility by bringing the voices and different forms of knowledge of traditionally marginalised groups to the centre.

Against this background, the Virtual Encyclopaedia offers an interdisciplinary compilation of crucial theoretical and conceptual debates, empirical analyses, and thorough reflection on methods and knowledge production in the field from de- and postcolonial approaches, with an emphasis on the contributions from the collaborative network Postcolonial Hierarchies in Peace and Conflict. Rather than unambiguous and all-encompassing definitions, the Virtual Encyclopaedia aims to provide readers with the tools to critically approach peace and conflict studies through the lenses of postcolonial theory and decolonial thought.

 

Taking seriously the critique of the coloniality of knowledge and its effects on the field, the Virtual Encyclopedia aims to address epistemic hierarchies and inequalities by promoting the inclusion of multiple and diverse voices (in terms of fields, regions, and career stages) and plural perspectives, as well as fostering cooperative networks.

Entries

Classified into the two clusters ‘Theoretical and conceptual debates’ and ‘Methods, Knowledge production and dissemination’, the entries aim to provide an insight and orientation on key concepts and theories as well as empirical analyses which are important for a post-/decolonial perspective on peace and conflict. Each entry has a number of tags through which it is linked with other entries sharing those tags. The entries are  furthermore interconnected and draw from a diverse body of knowledges in dialogue including different formats such as audio, images or storytelling.

Interventions

Becoming an Author in Times of Asymmetric Ignorance

For a decade, transformative justice has become a lens to critique traditional transitional justice approaches, one than emphasises bottom-up approaches, socio-economic rights and social mobilisation instead of purely legalistic approaches. In this entry we discuss some of the limitations the transformative justice agenda still faces, and we discuss some entry points to start addressing these challenges: developments on the issue of reparations, the Colombian experience, and reinvigorating the role of social mobilisation in aiming at transformative goals.

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Manuela Boatcă
Interventions

Illustrated Report: Movilización, Resistencias y Memoria Popular

En marzo de 2024, movimientos sociales y activistas de las ciudades de Santiago de Chile y Santiago de Cali (Colombia) e investigadores del Arnold Bergstraesser Institut (ABI) de Friburgo se reunieron virtualmente para un intercambio de saberes y experiencias tomando como referencia las protestas masivas que tuvieron lugar en cada ciudad. Esta iniciativa tuvo como premisa central el reconocimiento que las comunidades y los movimientos sociales son parte activa de las dinámicas de producción de espacio y gobernanza de la ciudad, así como productores y portadores de diferentes formas de conocimiento. La reunión de movimientos sociales e iniciativas populares de Colombia y Chile estuvo motivada por el objetivo de crear conexiones reflexivas como lazos personales

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Viviana García Pinzón & Fabricio Rodríguez
Interventions

Policy Paper: Mobilisation, Resistance and Popular Memory

In March 2024, social movements and activists from the cities of Santiago de Chile and Santiago de Cali (Colombia) and researchers from the Arnold Bergstraesser Institute (ABI) in Freiburg met virtually for an exchange of knowledge and experiences on the mass protests that took place in each city. The central premise of this initiative is the recognition that communities and social movements are an active part of the dynamics of spatial production and city governance, as well as producers and bearers of different, legitimate forms of knowledge. The meeting of social movements and popular initiatives from Colombia and Chile was motivated by the creation of reflexive connections, as well as personal and collective links between

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Viviana García Pinzón & Fabricio Rodríguez
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PLURIVERSAL
PEACEBUILDING

COLONIALITY
OF PEACE

TRANSITIONAL
JUSTICE AND
DECOLONISATION

FUTURES-THINKING

DECOLONIAL PEACE &
RESISTANCE THEORY

EPISTEMIC
VIOLENCE

POSTCOLONIAL
AND DECOLONIAL
DIFFERENCES

COLLABORATIVE
RESEARCH

INTERSECTIONALITY

SECURITY.
SPEAKING WITH FANON?

INTER-SUBALTERN
HIERARCHIES

SYSTEMS OF
CONFLICTIVITY

TERRORISM -
THE IRREDEEMABILITY OF A CONCEPT

Participating
institutions

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