Chair: Dr Tomi Järvinen (tomi.jarvinen[at]worldvision.fi)
Coordinator: Mr David Korpela (david.korpela[at]jyu.fi)
Civil society is a both a victim and a central actor in crises and conflicts. Crises can take the form of armed conflict, crises relating to a shortage of food or other natural resources, tribal clashes, political unrest, epidemics, or other threatening situations with widespread implications. The role of social movements and grassroots civil society (women’s groups, religious bodies, labour movements, youth movements, etc.) as actors in the crisis, post-crisis, reconstruction and reconciliation needs to be understood as the basis for a lasting peace or future perpetuation of the crisis. Social movements also play a key role in advocacy for prolonged, largely “forgotten” crises no longer in the media spotlight. Local and international NGOs, peacekeeping bodies, aid organizations, government and other central actors seek to play a role in the empowerment or disenfranchisement of civil society.
This working group invites papers that relate to social movements, civil society actors or other actors (eg. local or international aid organizations) that seek to mobilize civil society in preventing crises, disaster preparedness, response and shaping the outcomes of a crisis to work towards future stability.
Eija Ranta-Owusu (University of Helsinki): “Governing Pluralities, Disciplining Masses: Social Movements and the Question of Governance in Bolivia’s State Transformation”
Kuel Jok (University of Helsinki): “Economic and Political Exclusion and Inclusion in Sudan”
Amara Thiha (Uppsala university / Orebro University, Sweden): “Internet and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Gate way for Democracy? A case study on Myanmar, Burma”
Joss G. Vargas-Hernández (Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico): “Historical social approach to social movements in Mexivo during the democratic transition”
Natali Rojas (University of Jyväskylä): “Arts and Peace Building”
Paola Minoia (University of Helsinki): “EU Cooperation to support governability and civil society organisations in developing countries: a critical overview”
Tomi Järvinen (World Vision Finland): “Empowerment of Civil Society and Humanitarian Practice –Opportunities, Challenges, and Practical Perspectives”