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Sulhu as local peacebuilding

Akintayo, Joshua (2025) Sulhu as local peacebuilding. Peacebuilding, . ISSN 2164-7267. (doi:10.1080/21647259.2025.2450574) (KAR id:108578)

Abstract

Local peacebuilding surfaced to contest the fundamental premise of the liberal peace paradigm, specifically its hierarchical top-down approach and inadequacy in guaranteeing sustainable peace. However, scholarly works have yet to adequately address the question of who, what, and where ‘the local’ is in local peacebuilding. Drawing on interviews, this study explores Sulhu, a religious norm of mediation and reconciliation rooted in the socio-cultural precepts of Northern Nigeria, to advance the concept of local peacebuilding. In doing so, it examines Sulhu as local peace deployed in the community reintegration of former terrorists in Nigeria. Sulhu broadens theoretical discussions around the ‘ontological’ imprecision in the local peacebuilding discourse by advancing that ‘the local’ in local peacebuilding be understood as contextual beliefs, norms, and practices. This study advances the field of peacebuilding research by answering the question of ‘what is the local’ in local peacebuilding. The article concludes that drawing from cultural precepts such as Sulhu can aid communal rehabilitation and reconciliation in contexts affected by terrorism, conflict, and violence more broadly.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/21647259.2025.2450574
Uncontrolled keywords: Local peacebuilding; deradicalisation; community reintegration; Sulhu; Borno Model; Nigeria
Subjects: J Political Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 21 Feb 2025 15:08 UTC
Last Modified: 26 Feb 2025 03:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/108578 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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