Civil Society and Peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Anthropocene

This book examines civil society's peacebuilding role in sub-Saharan Africa in the context of climate change and the pursuit of environmental peace and justice in the Anthropocene. Five main research themes emerge from its 20 chapters: The roles of environmental peacemaking, environmental justice, ecological education and eco-ethics in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change Peacebuilding by CSOs after violent conflicts, with particular reference to accountability, reconciliation and healing CSO involvement in democratic processes and political transition after violent conflicts Relationships between local CSOs and their foreign funders and the interactions between CSOs and the African Union's peace and security architecture. The particular role of faith-based CSOs The book underlines the centrality of dialogue to African peacebuilding and the indigenous wisdom and philosophies on which itis based. Such wisdom will be a key resource in confronting the existential challenges of the Anthropocene. The book will be a significant resource for researchers, academics and policymakers concerned with the challenge of climate change, its interactions with armed conflict and the peacebuilding role of CSOs. This pathbreaking book shows why peacebuilding analysis and efforts need to be urgently re-oriented towards the existential challenges of environmental peace and justice. It explains the emerging conceptual frameworks which are needed for this new role. It explains the critical role that CSOs - local and international - will play in implementing this new peacebuilding approach, with particular reference to sub- Saharan Africa.