Roles of civil society in peacebuilding in Southeast Asia: the case studies of Mindanao, Aceh, and Southernmost Thailand

Abstract

ABSRACT The purposes of this study are to give an overview of what CSOs can contribute to peacebuilding in Southeast Asian context: Mindanao (the Philippines), Aceh (Indonesia), and the southernmost provinces of Thailand; and to study the advantages and challenges of CSOs in peacebuilding. This study referred to the Paffenholz’s framework of civil society role in peacebuilding, including protection, monitoring, advocacy, socialization, social cohesion, facilitation, and service delivery. A qualitative method was used, which found that socialization and social cohesion were the most important in building lasting peace. The important factors supporting these roles are law frameworks and CSO networking. The main obstacles that hinder their fulfillment in the peacebuilding process are the complexity of the conflicts, political situation, and funding.