Description
In recent years, researchers and policymakers have increasingly spoken of the need to include civil society and local communities in peacebuilding efforts. Their contextual insights are invaluable to resolving problems, whilst their involvement can enhance the legitimacy of peacebuilding strategies. Yet, an often-overlooked reality is that 'civil society' is an inherently hierarchical space dominated by a select group of NGOs that are only loosely connected to the needs and interests of 'ordinary people'. By focusing on the Cypriot conflict, I demonstrate how these 'artificial NGOs' masquerade as civil society representatives despite reflecting the interests of external actors, notably the international donors who fund them. Their dominance prevents grassroots-based organisations from influencing peacebuilding discussion and decision-making. I thereby argue that if we are to initiate a more inclusive peacebuilding process, we need to develop strategies to ensure that all sectors of civil society, especially those truly representing indigenous interests, can have a meaningful impact on key decisions. This may include developing a more diverse funding mechanism that also benefits voluntary organisations and doesn’t solely favour the same set of NGOs. Without such interventions, peacebuilding missions will continue to be structured around a small set of actors and interests, with diverse and dissenting opinions kept to the margins.
