Peacebuilding Networks - A Case Study of COVA in Hyderabad

In civil society a major actor of peacebuilding processes networking israpidly increasing its importance. Therefore this book analyses a nongovernmentalorganization based in India which follows a networkingapproach to confront and mitigate communal conflict. The theoretical partshows findings from general networking theory the networking of nongovernmentalorganizations including their links to state actors andnetworks related to peacebuilding as well as an overview of the conflictpatterns in India. The conclusion from the analysis is that networks which tryto root themselves in the communal level of society should adopt adevelopmental approach to gain access and create a broad basis forparticipation. If these networks then include individuals from both sides ofthe conflict divide they have a high potential to encourage the building ofbridging social capital between the communities. Once the participatory basisis established a number of peacebuilding activities like monitoring reconciliationor advocacy can be implemented through these networks.