Inclusive Peace Processes Are Key To Ending Violent Conflict

The number of armed conflicts reached a post-Cold War peak in 2015, exacting a terrible death toll and forcing millions to flee. One key to reaching a sustainable peace is inclusivity, which can knit together a frayed social fabric and give all groups a stake in transforming their country. Conflicts have many levels, and peacebuilders need to create paths between them, creating opportunities for involvement and linking issues and groups. Various peacebuilding strands of issues or activities--such as building trust and consulting with affected groups--can be woven together to strengthen a peace process. Enabling marginalized groups to influence the content of a peace process increases the chances of a sustainable peace. Peacebuilders are sharpening their understanding of how to achieve inclusivity but knowledge gaps remain. Multidisciplinary efforts are required.