The role of civil society actors in conflict resolutions: a comparative study of Northern Ireland and Kurdish cases

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1852951 (Table of Contents)

This study focuses on the negotiation processes of Northern Ireland and Kurdish cases by taking the role of the civil society actors into consideration. It, first, gives literature on the theoretical framework of civil society notion and second, a brief historical background of each cases. Then, the study concentrates on the role of civil society actors in the Northern Ireland case and Kurdish peace process which took place between 2013-2015. This study emphasizes that the civil society actors have positive impacts in conflict resolutions if they are functionalized in peace-keeping, peace-making, peace-building, reconciliation, inter-group dialogue, mediation, facilitation, and creating social trust mechanisms, and to be an independent figure during the processes. Based on these, this study argues that the civil society actors played relatively successful roles in the Northern Ireland negotiations while their impact has been limited in the Kurdish peace process. The Northern Ireland case is entitled as a successful case since the violence between parties is officially ended. Northern Ireland case is, therefore, coded as the instructive case of this study. On the other hand, the Kurdish peace process is considered as a failed case because of ongoing violence between parties.