Religious Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Religious Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo analyzes the contributions of three churches at both the leadership and the grassroots levels to conflict transformation in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Auteur

Roger B. Alfani, Ph.D. (University of Montreal), is an adjunct professor in the University Core at Seton Hall University and a Resarch Fellow at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations of the same university. His research focuses on the role of religious actors in peacebuilding and the nexus between religion and foreign policy.

Texte du rabat

Religious Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo analyzes the contributions of three churches at both the leadership and the grassroots levels to conflict transformation in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. While states have long been considered main actors in addressing domestic conflicts, this book demonstrates that religious actors can play a significant role in peacebuilding efforts. In addition, rather than focusing exclusively on top-down approaches to conflict resolution, Religious Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of Congo incorporates viewpoints from both leaders of the Catholic, 3ème Communauté Baptiste au Centre de l Afrique and Arche de l Alliance in Goma and grassroots members of these three churches.

Résumé
"In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Alfani gives a voice to religious peace activists who are usually voiceless in both the media and academic circles. His many interviewees are part of the silent majority of grassroots religious people and local religious leaders who demonstrate how religious faith and community is central to resilience in the midst of latent war conditions. This remarka-ble book is the result of courageous ethnographic research that not only sheds new light on the notions of peace and peacebuilding from the perspectives of persons living in a precarious context at many levels: political, economic, and social, but not spiritual! Dr. Alfani's book also provides new contributions in matters of ethnographic theory and methodology when it comes to doing fieldwork in dangerous contexts, sharing his insights with great sensitivity to his informants' need for security." Patrice Brodeur, Professeur agrégé, Institut d'études religieuses, Université de Montréal

Contenu

Abbreviations Acknowledgments Foreword General Introduction Religious Peacebuilding in Goma: A Conceptual Framework From Missionary Works to Local Churches in Goma What Kinds of Peace? A Comparative Analysis of the Catholic, 3 ème CBCA, and Arche Churches in Goma General Conclusions Index.