Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/20475

KEYWORDS : peacebuilding;non-state actors;salutogenesis;practice-resource-model;relational peace

Who builds peace? In previous studies, it has been supposed that the main actors of peacebuilding are states, UN organizations or international NGOs. By comparison, local residents or private citizens are mere recipients of outside intervention. Nevertheless "ordinary persons" are recently gaining attention as significant actors in peacebuilding, but the traditional negative models of peace continue to restrict how we can explain their involvement in the peace process. The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework and methodology to investigate the "hidden peacebuilding" by such non-state actors. The relatively new model of health, "salutogenesis" can broaden peace concepts by pointing to conceptual parallels between "peace" and "health". Peacebuilding by non-state actors is named here "peacebuilding from below" and its characteristics are clarified using socio-cultural anthropological models. An overview of anthropological study on peace is given. In conclusion, reforms in ethnographic methodology are suggested to better promote anthropological research on peacebuilding from below.