Peacebuilding which peace?

This paper examines the validity of the Christian religion as an important variable in peacebuilding and how this religion can contribute to this field from the concept of just peace. Just Peace emphasizes peace and justice as central to both preventing war and building peace after it ends. This approach critically confronts the older just war tradition as one that does not address post-war issues or sustainable peacebuilding and rescues Christianity''s original peaceful position. Given that just peace emphasizes peace and justice as central elements firstly what peace is and how this concept is treated in the international arena will be discussed. Secondly the new literature that brings religion as an important variable for International Relations and the insertion of this topic in peacebuilding discussions will be explored. And finally the idea of just peace and the elements of Christian religion that underpin this approach will be discussed. In addition some cases in which Christians have contributed to post-war peacebuilding and the peaceful transformation of conflicts will be explored.