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The Frontlines of Peace: An Insider's Guide to Changing the World
At turns surprising, funny, and gut-wrenching, this is the hopeful story of the ordinary yet extraordinary people who have figured out how to build lasting peace in their communities
The word "peacebuilding" evokes a story we've all heard over and over: violence breaks out, foreign nations are scandalized, peacekeepers and million-dollar donors come rushing in, warring parties sign a peace agreement and, sadly, within months the situation is back to where it started--sometimes worse. But what strategies have worked to build lasting peace in conflict zones, particularly for ordinary citizens on the ground? And why should other ordinary citizens, thousands of miles away, care?
In The Frontlines of Peace, Severine Autesserre, award-winning researcher and peacebuilder, examines the well-intentioned but inherently flawed peace industry. With examples drawn from across the globe, she reveals that peace can grow in the most unlikely circumstances. Contrary to what most politicians preach, building peace doesn't require billions in aid or massive international interventions. Real, lasting peace requires giving power to local citizens.
The Frontlines of Peace tells the stories of the ordinary yet extraordinary individuals and organizations that are confronting violence in their communities effectively. One thing is clear: successful examples of peacebuilding around the world, in countries at war or at peace, have involved innovative grassroots initiatives led by local people, at times supported by foreigners, often employing methods shunned by the international elite. By narrating success stories of this kind, Autesserre shows the radical changes we must take in our approach if we hope to build lasting peace around us--whether we live in Congo, the United States, or elsewhere.
The word "peacebuilding" evokes a story we've all heard over and over: violence breaks out, foreign nations are scandalized, peacekeepers and million-dollar donors come rushing in, warring parties sign a peace agreement and, sadly, within months the situation is back to where it started--sometimes worse. But what strategies have worked to build lasting peace in conflict zones, particularly for ordinary citizens on the ground? And why should other ordinary citizens, thousands of miles away, care?
In The Frontlines of Peace, Severine Autesserre, award-winning researcher and peacebuilder, examines the well-intentioned but inherently flawed peace industry. With examples drawn from across the globe, she reveals that peace can grow in the most unlikely circumstances. Contrary to what most politicians preach, building peace doesn't require billions in aid or massive international interventions. Real, lasting peace requires giving power to local citizens.
The Frontlines of Peace tells the stories of the ordinary yet extraordinary individuals and organizations that are confronting violence in their communities effectively. One thing is clear: successful examples of peacebuilding around the world, in countries at war or at peace, have involved innovative grassroots initiatives led by local people, at times supported by foreigners, often employing methods shunned by the international elite. By narrating success stories of this kind, Autesserre shows the radical changes we must take in our approach if we hope to build lasting peace around us--whether we live in Congo, the United States, or elsewhere.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2021
47 people are currently reading
2774 people want to read
About the author
Severine Autesserre
6 books68 followersSéverine Autesserre is an award-winning author, peacebuilder, and researcher, as well as a Professor of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University. She is the author of the books
The Trouble with the Congo
,
Peaceland
, and
The Frontlines of Peace
, in addition to articles for publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Policy.
Autesserre has been involved intimately in the world of international aid for more than twenty years. She has conducted research in twelve different conflict zones, from Colombia to Somalia to Israel and the Palestinian territories. She has worked for Doctors Without Borders in places like Afghanistan and Congo, and at the United Nations headquarters in the United States. Her research has helped shape the intervention strategies of several United Nations departments, foreign affairs ministries, and non-governmental organizations, as well as numerous philanthropists and activists. She has also been a featured speaker at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Autesserre has been involved intimately in the world of international aid for more than twenty years. She has conducted research in twelve different conflict zones, from Colombia to Somalia to Israel and the Palestinian territories. She has worked for Doctors Without Borders in places like Afghanistan and Congo, and at the United Nations headquarters in the United States. Her research has helped shape the intervention strategies of several United Nations departments, foreign affairs ministries, and non-governmental organizations, as well as numerous philanthropists and activists. She has also been a featured speaker at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and the U.S. House of Representatives.
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May 17, 2022
How unfortunately fitting that I'm writing this review today.
This year was the first time I really learned about the role of internationals in peacemaking and peacebuilding. It is stunning to me that random people stand in such critical crossroads. I was intrigued by this book and it didn’t disappoint. I have a lot to say about it though so here we go.
Autesserre comes with decades of peacebuilding work. She heavily criticizes the peacebuilding world for their interactions with the locals as well as overly relying on states and official power. She advocates for a combination of bottom up and top down conflict resolution technique. In particular, placing locals at the center and no longer presuming foreigners always know better.
Autesserre describes the way that humanitarian workers often look at the locals with contempt. It was a relief to hear this being expressed as I have experienced it. There is something simply awful about a European look of pity. Oh, you poor Middle Easterner, war torn, militarized, what have we done to the Jews, your violence is our fault. It is especially infuriating when these people hint that their country could have never done these things so Israel’s failings validate their contempt towards Israelis, that they are so moral as to agonize over Israeli crimes since their own country has no such crimes. These comments that make me spend too much time on Wikipedia just to weaponize their history of violence, to point out that no matter what Israel is doing, their country has likely done it too, they are no more moral than Israelis. It’s whataboutism, of course, but I feel their ignorance and arrogance invites it.
Autesserre also points out that the quick turnover rate of humanitarian experts means that they don’t have the time to truly delve into the society they claim to help. They don’t know the language, they don’t know the culture. They rarely speak to actual locals as they end up spending all their time in a tight knit circle of other foreigners. This makes it hard for them to truly recommend useful and relevant ideas.
This also shows a lack of commitment. When someone spends two years here, I do not believe they are justified to suggest big ideas that will shape the lives of people. They won’t be around to experience the results of their ideas. It often makes me feel like a line on these people’s resumes, a “I build peace in Israel and Palestine, look at what a kind and global person I am, now hire me to building peace somewhere else”. If I do end up dedicating myself to conflict resolution, there’s only one conflict I care about. I totally won’t cheat on my conflict.
What about young local people as the key to peace?
Now, the idea that the local youth is able to sort it all out is a lovely one. It is very romantic to think that the evil governments are the problem and if only we empower the locals enough, we will be able to create small islands of peace which will grow into large ones. However, in my conflict, it is clear that the conflict isn’t just coming from the government. In fact, I believe that both the PA and Israel often do their best to avoid conflict. Funny to say but I really do think the warmongering comes from civil society. It’s the locals who encourage the conflict, it’s the civilians who advocate for it.
People don’t like hearing this. We want to believe that if the education systems was different, if only Israeli and Palestinian kids played soccer together, if only the media was different, peace will be right around the corner. None of these arguments face the reality which is that there are very real reasons for Israelis and Palestinians to hate each other. These reasons must be addressed in order to proceed. Resolving such issues is not easy but this is where the true work must be done. How can I not be angry when Palestinian vastly deny my history in this land? How can Palestinians not be furious when their land is littered with checkpoints? Let's fix that and then we can start focusing on playing soccer together.
I also feel that foreign peacemakers fetishize the idea of local grassroots. We sparkle some grassroots and boom, peace. Not all grassroots are the same. Grassroots are political entities with their own goals. For example, Breaking the Silence can have the adoration of every foreigner and it won’t change a single thing in Israel because they've lost the trust of the people. When people are simply tired and hateful, grassroots are not able to always reach those most in need of their influence. Governments are still a bigger part- we need to fix the challenges of the government in order to truly scale up.
So what can be done to change? I, of course, strongly agree with Autesserre’s criticism regarding elections. Elections are often seen as a catch all solution. This is, unfortunately, false. Without a democratic culture, elections are meaningless. A democracy is much more than elections- it is a culture that values freedom of speech, rights of protest, self-criticism, and so on. This cannot be solved by elections and at times, elections can serve as a destructive tool (such as the elections in Palestine that kicked off the Palestinian civil war). We need to realize that a democratic culture brings effective elections and not the other way around. Building a democratic culture is indeed, much harder to do.
I believe it is necessary is to give tools to find certain local people and help them become leaders within their community. I know so many brilliant Palestinians and Israelis, people with the motivation, skills and capabilities to create real change. If we empower the right people, we fix the government by presuming that some of these people will reach the right places, both in civil society and in government. This doesn’t mean blindly believing they can solve everything but rather, putting effort in people with the potential to reshape institutions and advocate for change in their communities.
Autesserre recognizes that international organizations can provide funding for local led projects yet in my opinion, funding is not the most important thing. Instead, what we need is training for self-sufficiency. A reliance on foreign aid is problematic in politically sensitive issues. Why don't more of these humanitarian bodies put serious effort in figuring out how to make local-led projects capable of financial independence? Let’s think business, let’s figure out what can be a sustainable and financially feasible localized peace initiative.
So do we need foreigners in conflict resolution?
After much debating, Autesserre says yes for several reasons. Firstly, she suggests that foreigners sometimes are a comforting presence. I suspect this is very dependent on the conflict itself. Secondly, she says that they bring perspective. This is odd- where do they get that perspective from? Can’t a local get that perspective, too, through education? What can a foreign professional bring that a local professional doesn’t have? Finally, she claims foreigners can create safe spaces but in my experience, foreigners often don’t understand what constitutes a dangerous place. For example, cheerfully telling Israelis to visit Area C in the midst of a war is not a safe idea.
The way I see it, every foreigner involved with conflict resolution should ask themselves whether they can be replaced by a local. Is there really any skills that a foreigner has that a local does not? If so, what can we do to give locals these skills? What’s the true benefit of bringing someone from abroad into the land?
During this year, I have realized that there are certain experiences that tie together people from conflict-areas. Why not build on these connections? If we are seeking an exchange of knowledge and experience, what can a foreigner genuinely offer that two educated people from different conflicts can't? I suppose there is also a matter of willingness involved- Autesserre never quite delves into discussing whether the locals want the foreigners there and what should be done if the answer is no.
What is peace?
One of the issues with Peace Inc (as Autesserre coins it) is that many of those speaking of peace never bother define it. I mean, sure, peace is when people aren't dying of war but when we dig into the nitty gritty, we soon discover that we simply don't understand what peace means. Is it peace if a militia exists? Is it peace if people of a certain ethnic background are still below others in every scale imaginable? Is it peace if groups still feel their ethno-nationalist identity is being trampled on? Is it peace if the people have simply been oppressed into accepting what they are given by the state? A case can be made that the great peace stories of the 90s (shoutout to South Africa and Ireland) are not really peace. In fact, with a vague enough definition, very few places are truly peaceful. So what are we actually trying to achieve?
The lack of definition for peace is precisely what makes foreigners to the conflict so naïve. For example, when pressed, an organization we once spoke to defined peace as “peace with oneself, peace with one’s community and peace with the environment”. This is meaningless to me. I am concerned about being stabbed when I walk in the streets of my hometown and they’re talking about peace with the environment?
Peace cannot be seen as a black and white issue. I might even go as far as to say that peace is not a relevant term now. I don’t want peace- I want freedom of movement. I want strong communities that know how to communicate and cooperate with each other. I want good infrastructure for the weakest in the society. I want good governance that allows for self determination and equality. I want justice for everyone, a process in which victims get compensated for what they have lost. I want Israeli and Palestinian leadership to put serious effort into ending the conflict and to push their population to agree with it. This is not necessarily wrapped up under the term peace.
Moreover, all of this requires actual knowledge in the particulars of a conflict as well as prioritization that can’t be done if you are simply parroting the same ideas. Once we are able to minimize issues, we can solve them better. These aren’t local conflicts- they’re just particular issues that can be focused on. Peace sounds good but doesn't offer any true path.
Neve Shalom
Throughout the book, there was something that bothered me in Autesserre's writing. I couldn’t put my finger on it until she started talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She describes Neve Shalom, the shared Jewish-Arab town.
First, the description was sorely inaccurate because Neve Shalom is not quite an Israeli-Palestinian initiative. Everyone involved has an Israeli citizenship. They identify as Palestinians and that’s great but the dynamic simply isn’t the same. Relations in Israel between Palestinians and Jews are not earth shattering. Jews and Arabs/ Palestinians in Israel work together, live together, know each other, even sometimes enlist in the army together. It is not perfect, far far from it but it’s also not the core of the conflict so such a cooperation isn’t really as impressive (that said, there are other initiatives like Ecopeace or Arava Institute which are actually Israeli-Palestinian so I will let that slide).
The broader issue is the way that Autesserre speaks of us. Autesserre describes with awe how Jews and Palestinians can work out their problems without using violence (!!). They use debates and conversations instead!!!!! This struck me as a classic misunderstanding of the dynamic here. The average Israeli or Palestinian is not violent. We are not less eloquent, civil or prone to aggression than the French. What should be applauded isn’t the lack of violence but rather, the ability to preserve one’s sense of peoplehood in this context. The ability to create a shared narrative is remarkable, to be able to bridge the gaps without giving up on who you are. That’s what matters, not Autesserre’s infuriating awe at how Israelis and Palestinian are capable of not being violent. This surprise is insulting, as if violence is all we know. I promise, I've never physically hurt a Palestinian, even when they annoyed me.
Moreover, places like Neve Shalom are bubbles. Great bubbles, lovely bubbles but they can’t actually upscale themselves. The way I see it, there’s a minority of radical people, a majority of neutral people and a minority of peacemaker people. The “neutral” opinion is challenging towards the other side. Which is to say, most Israelis do not believe in destroying Al Aqsa and building a third temple. However, most Israelis, upon hearing that someone was shot in the West Bank, will assume that it was justified due to terrorism or violent protests. This is an opinion most Palestinians find unacceptable. So it’s the neutral people on both sides that need to improve their communication and mutual understanding, not the radicals or the peacemakers. The peacemakers are not the problem- they’re already there and they have not managed to scale themselves. It’s been decades. They’re not going to scale themselves.
(At this point, I must admit that I am not quite sure where I am in this cause my god, this year radicalized me. Sometimes, by trying to learn about the other side, you learn that they really are as bad as Israeli propaganda claims and damn, I was more hopeful before I saw how Palestinians speak about us)
Autesserre mentions this but inaccurately. She suggests such people are criticized for prioritizing village peace over broader justice. This isn’t quite it- the criticism is that their bubble isn’t really changing anything for peace either. It’s not that they picked peace over justice, it’s that they decided to stay with likeminded people rather than engage with those who disagree with them and thus create genuine change. I’m glad that they’re happy but in practice, there are outliers in their community. They prove nothing for the broader society because again, I do not believe Israelis and Palestinians are genetically programmed to beat each other up.
To conclude, I do think this book provides a sneak peak into the lives of diplomates and humanitarian organizations. However, there are quite a few things that I disagreed with. There’s still a lot of interesting anecdotes and thoughts here. I do think Autesserre is right in suggesting that foreigners are able to generalize and notice patterns internationally. Those of us who remain in one conflict might be used to understanding things in a specific way. Yet, we cannot overly generalize, too.
What I’m taking with me:
-I think I didn't get accepted for a peace related scholarship because during the interview, I told them that the word peace still makes me uncomfortable. But dude, come on, it's true and I refuse to be a leftist who is blind to the reality
- Sometimes I think about studying a Peace Studies Masters in some random small European university, just for the laughs. Like, I really do get the impression that peace studies does not prepare you to engage with conflicts and that there’s a lot of missing input by people who actually experienced wars
- I was also told by a friend who studied peace studies that Israelis are missing in these conversations as they are dominated by pro-Palestinians. This is not surprising- Israelis are usually not comfortable talking about the conflict and we really should change that. I really am
confused by how Israelis just don’t want to talk about this when it’s like, this is the most interesting thing??
- tbh, me talking so much about ip here likely proves the point that people from conflict areas are always only looking at their own conflict which makes me intrigued to see what it would be like for me to seriously engage with another conflict.
- Important to note that my comments here are mostly focused on political conflicts- I don't doubt that international organizations can do a lot when it comes to providing basic needs such as health and food security.
===============
It's only 11am and I've already checked whether the grades are up at least a dozen times. Ugh.
How can I possibly do anything productive when I know that sometime today I will either be overcome with relief or very angry with life?
Anyways, this book is more like 3.5 stars but it was so interesting to read this perspective so I'll round up. I have a lot to say about it but that will have to wait, review to come!
This year was the first time I really learned about the role of internationals in peacemaking and peacebuilding. It is stunning to me that random people stand in such critical crossroads. I was intrigued by this book and it didn’t disappoint. I have a lot to say about it though so here we go.
Autesserre comes with decades of peacebuilding work. She heavily criticizes the peacebuilding world for their interactions with the locals as well as overly relying on states and official power. She advocates for a combination of bottom up and top down conflict resolution technique. In particular, placing locals at the center and no longer presuming foreigners always know better.
Autesserre describes the way that humanitarian workers often look at the locals with contempt. It was a relief to hear this being expressed as I have experienced it. There is something simply awful about a European look of pity. Oh, you poor Middle Easterner, war torn, militarized, what have we done to the Jews, your violence is our fault. It is especially infuriating when these people hint that their country could have never done these things so Israel’s failings validate their contempt towards Israelis, that they are so moral as to agonize over Israeli crimes since their own country has no such crimes. These comments that make me spend too much time on Wikipedia just to weaponize their history of violence, to point out that no matter what Israel is doing, their country has likely done it too, they are no more moral than Israelis. It’s whataboutism, of course, but I feel their ignorance and arrogance invites it.
Autesserre also points out that the quick turnover rate of humanitarian experts means that they don’t have the time to truly delve into the society they claim to help. They don’t know the language, they don’t know the culture. They rarely speak to actual locals as they end up spending all their time in a tight knit circle of other foreigners. This makes it hard for them to truly recommend useful and relevant ideas.
This also shows a lack of commitment. When someone spends two years here, I do not believe they are justified to suggest big ideas that will shape the lives of people. They won’t be around to experience the results of their ideas. It often makes me feel like a line on these people’s resumes, a “I build peace in Israel and Palestine, look at what a kind and global person I am, now hire me to building peace somewhere else”. If I do end up dedicating myself to conflict resolution, there’s only one conflict I care about. I totally won’t cheat on my conflict.
What about young local people as the key to peace?
Now, the idea that the local youth is able to sort it all out is a lovely one. It is very romantic to think that the evil governments are the problem and if only we empower the locals enough, we will be able to create small islands of peace which will grow into large ones. However, in my conflict, it is clear that the conflict isn’t just coming from the government. In fact, I believe that both the PA and Israel often do their best to avoid conflict. Funny to say but I really do think the warmongering comes from civil society. It’s the locals who encourage the conflict, it’s the civilians who advocate for it.
People don’t like hearing this. We want to believe that if the education systems was different, if only Israeli and Palestinian kids played soccer together, if only the media was different, peace will be right around the corner. None of these arguments face the reality which is that there are very real reasons for Israelis and Palestinians to hate each other. These reasons must be addressed in order to proceed. Resolving such issues is not easy but this is where the true work must be done. How can I not be angry when Palestinian vastly deny my history in this land? How can Palestinians not be furious when their land is littered with checkpoints? Let's fix that and then we can start focusing on playing soccer together.
I also feel that foreign peacemakers fetishize the idea of local grassroots. We sparkle some grassroots and boom, peace. Not all grassroots are the same. Grassroots are political entities with their own goals. For example, Breaking the Silence can have the adoration of every foreigner and it won’t change a single thing in Israel because they've lost the trust of the people. When people are simply tired and hateful, grassroots are not able to always reach those most in need of their influence. Governments are still a bigger part- we need to fix the challenges of the government in order to truly scale up.
So what can be done to change? I, of course, strongly agree with Autesserre’s criticism regarding elections. Elections are often seen as a catch all solution. This is, unfortunately, false. Without a democratic culture, elections are meaningless. A democracy is much more than elections- it is a culture that values freedom of speech, rights of protest, self-criticism, and so on. This cannot be solved by elections and at times, elections can serve as a destructive tool (such as the elections in Palestine that kicked off the Palestinian civil war). We need to realize that a democratic culture brings effective elections and not the other way around. Building a democratic culture is indeed, much harder to do.
I believe it is necessary is to give tools to find certain local people and help them become leaders within their community. I know so many brilliant Palestinians and Israelis, people with the motivation, skills and capabilities to create real change. If we empower the right people, we fix the government by presuming that some of these people will reach the right places, both in civil society and in government. This doesn’t mean blindly believing they can solve everything but rather, putting effort in people with the potential to reshape institutions and advocate for change in their communities.
Autesserre recognizes that international organizations can provide funding for local led projects yet in my opinion, funding is not the most important thing. Instead, what we need is training for self-sufficiency. A reliance on foreign aid is problematic in politically sensitive issues. Why don't more of these humanitarian bodies put serious effort in figuring out how to make local-led projects capable of financial independence? Let’s think business, let’s figure out what can be a sustainable and financially feasible localized peace initiative.
So do we need foreigners in conflict resolution?
After much debating, Autesserre says yes for several reasons. Firstly, she suggests that foreigners sometimes are a comforting presence. I suspect this is very dependent on the conflict itself. Secondly, she says that they bring perspective. This is odd- where do they get that perspective from? Can’t a local get that perspective, too, through education? What can a foreign professional bring that a local professional doesn’t have? Finally, she claims foreigners can create safe spaces but in my experience, foreigners often don’t understand what constitutes a dangerous place. For example, cheerfully telling Israelis to visit Area C in the midst of a war is not a safe idea.
The way I see it, every foreigner involved with conflict resolution should ask themselves whether they can be replaced by a local. Is there really any skills that a foreigner has that a local does not? If so, what can we do to give locals these skills? What’s the true benefit of bringing someone from abroad into the land?
During this year, I have realized that there are certain experiences that tie together people from conflict-areas. Why not build on these connections? If we are seeking an exchange of knowledge and experience, what can a foreigner genuinely offer that two educated people from different conflicts can't? I suppose there is also a matter of willingness involved- Autesserre never quite delves into discussing whether the locals want the foreigners there and what should be done if the answer is no.
What is peace?
One of the issues with Peace Inc (as Autesserre coins it) is that many of those speaking of peace never bother define it. I mean, sure, peace is when people aren't dying of war but when we dig into the nitty gritty, we soon discover that we simply don't understand what peace means. Is it peace if a militia exists? Is it peace if people of a certain ethnic background are still below others in every scale imaginable? Is it peace if groups still feel their ethno-nationalist identity is being trampled on? Is it peace if the people have simply been oppressed into accepting what they are given by the state? A case can be made that the great peace stories of the 90s (shoutout to South Africa and Ireland) are not really peace. In fact, with a vague enough definition, very few places are truly peaceful. So what are we actually trying to achieve?
The lack of definition for peace is precisely what makes foreigners to the conflict so naïve. For example, when pressed, an organization we once spoke to defined peace as “peace with oneself, peace with one’s community and peace with the environment”. This is meaningless to me. I am concerned about being stabbed when I walk in the streets of my hometown and they’re talking about peace with the environment?
Peace cannot be seen as a black and white issue. I might even go as far as to say that peace is not a relevant term now. I don’t want peace- I want freedom of movement. I want strong communities that know how to communicate and cooperate with each other. I want good infrastructure for the weakest in the society. I want good governance that allows for self determination and equality. I want justice for everyone, a process in which victims get compensated for what they have lost. I want Israeli and Palestinian leadership to put serious effort into ending the conflict and to push their population to agree with it. This is not necessarily wrapped up under the term peace.
Moreover, all of this requires actual knowledge in the particulars of a conflict as well as prioritization that can’t be done if you are simply parroting the same ideas. Once we are able to minimize issues, we can solve them better. These aren’t local conflicts- they’re just particular issues that can be focused on. Peace sounds good but doesn't offer any true path.
Neve Shalom
Throughout the book, there was something that bothered me in Autesserre's writing. I couldn’t put my finger on it until she started talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She describes Neve Shalom, the shared Jewish-Arab town.
First, the description was sorely inaccurate because Neve Shalom is not quite an Israeli-Palestinian initiative. Everyone involved has an Israeli citizenship. They identify as Palestinians and that’s great but the dynamic simply isn’t the same. Relations in Israel between Palestinians and Jews are not earth shattering. Jews and Arabs/ Palestinians in Israel work together, live together, know each other, even sometimes enlist in the army together. It is not perfect, far far from it but it’s also not the core of the conflict so such a cooperation isn’t really as impressive (that said, there are other initiatives like Ecopeace or Arava Institute which are actually Israeli-Palestinian so I will let that slide).
The broader issue is the way that Autesserre speaks of us. Autesserre describes with awe how Jews and Palestinians can work out their problems without using violence (!!). They use debates and conversations instead!!!!! This struck me as a classic misunderstanding of the dynamic here. The average Israeli or Palestinian is not violent. We are not less eloquent, civil or prone to aggression than the French. What should be applauded isn’t the lack of violence but rather, the ability to preserve one’s sense of peoplehood in this context. The ability to create a shared narrative is remarkable, to be able to bridge the gaps without giving up on who you are. That’s what matters, not Autesserre’s infuriating awe at how Israelis and Palestinian are capable of not being violent. This surprise is insulting, as if violence is all we know. I promise, I've never physically hurt a Palestinian, even when they annoyed me.
Moreover, places like Neve Shalom are bubbles. Great bubbles, lovely bubbles but they can’t actually upscale themselves. The way I see it, there’s a minority of radical people, a majority of neutral people and a minority of peacemaker people. The “neutral” opinion is challenging towards the other side. Which is to say, most Israelis do not believe in destroying Al Aqsa and building a third temple. However, most Israelis, upon hearing that someone was shot in the West Bank, will assume that it was justified due to terrorism or violent protests. This is an opinion most Palestinians find unacceptable. So it’s the neutral people on both sides that need to improve their communication and mutual understanding, not the radicals or the peacemakers. The peacemakers are not the problem- they’re already there and they have not managed to scale themselves. It’s been decades. They’re not going to scale themselves.
(At this point, I must admit that I am not quite sure where I am in this cause my god, this year radicalized me. Sometimes, by trying to learn about the other side, you learn that they really are as bad as Israeli propaganda claims and damn, I was more hopeful before I saw how Palestinians speak about us)
Autesserre mentions this but inaccurately. She suggests such people are criticized for prioritizing village peace over broader justice. This isn’t quite it- the criticism is that their bubble isn’t really changing anything for peace either. It’s not that they picked peace over justice, it’s that they decided to stay with likeminded people rather than engage with those who disagree with them and thus create genuine change. I’m glad that they’re happy but in practice, there are outliers in their community. They prove nothing for the broader society because again, I do not believe Israelis and Palestinians are genetically programmed to beat each other up.
To conclude, I do think this book provides a sneak peak into the lives of diplomates and humanitarian organizations. However, there are quite a few things that I disagreed with. There’s still a lot of interesting anecdotes and thoughts here. I do think Autesserre is right in suggesting that foreigners are able to generalize and notice patterns internationally. Those of us who remain in one conflict might be used to understanding things in a specific way. Yet, we cannot overly generalize, too.
What I’m taking with me:
-I think I didn't get accepted for a peace related scholarship because during the interview, I told them that the word peace still makes me uncomfortable. But dude, come on, it's true and I refuse to be a leftist who is blind to the reality
- Sometimes I think about studying a Peace Studies Masters in some random small European university, just for the laughs. Like, I really do get the impression that peace studies does not prepare you to engage with conflicts and that there’s a lot of missing input by people who actually experienced wars
- I was also told by a friend who studied peace studies that Israelis are missing in these conversations as they are dominated by pro-Palestinians. This is not surprising- Israelis are usually not comfortable talking about the conflict and we really should change that. I really am
confused by how Israelis just don’t want to talk about this when it’s like, this is the most interesting thing??
- tbh, me talking so much about ip here likely proves the point that people from conflict areas are always only looking at their own conflict which makes me intrigued to see what it would be like for me to seriously engage with another conflict.
- Important to note that my comments here are mostly focused on political conflicts- I don't doubt that international organizations can do a lot when it comes to providing basic needs such as health and food security.
===============
It's only 11am and I've already checked whether the grades are up at least a dozen times. Ugh.
How can I possibly do anything productive when I know that sometime today I will either be overcome with relief or very angry with life?
Anyways, this book is more like 3.5 stars but it was so interesting to read this perspective so I'll round up. I have a lot to say about it but that will have to wait, review to come!
March 22, 2021
While I am not nearly as experienced or successful as the author, I have worked and studied development for a greater portion of my career, and this includes field studies of UN peacekeeping missions. My experiences and knowledge support the author’s assertion that participatory peacekeeping (and participatory development more generally) needs to be adopted as a primary strategy, especially over top-down policy setting. I also empathize with the author’s portrayal of some (or most?) development workers/peacekeepers. Their intentional isolation from the country in which they are working smacks of colonialism and racism (in my experience, the US State Department might be the worst). All too often, western individuals disparage their non-western colleagues to horrid degrees, in all settings. Indeed, greater grassroots local insight would improve peacekeeping/development efforts. This all becomes all-too clear in cases like the assassination of the American Lawyer, Fern Holland, in Iraq. More is covered in the book under the general moniker “Peace Inc.” Truly, I think the author’s presentation of participatory development can help resolve problems ranging from troubled supply chains (fair wages and child labor) to climate change. I also appreciate the author’s recognition of those whose work would otherwise largely go unnoticed.
However, my experiences also compel me to proclaim that I find the author’s argument regrettably weak and misleading. In short, this book is not rigorous, provides cherry-picked examples (the weaknesses of which are dismissed with a slight of hand towards the end), takes up only the most “scarecrow” counterpoints, discusses old debates and old examples as nothing has changed since, and generally covers the topic worse than “White Man’s Burden,” “The Tyranny of Experts,” “Poor Economics,” and “Dead Aid,” which were written up to a decade ago. In fact, I feel “Peace Inc.” is derivative of William Easterly’s “Planners.”
If you have read anything on development prior, you will not find the sentiment of the book new. In fact, you will be scratching your head as to why certain things were not addressed (and why an entire preface was devoted to the author bragging about herself needlessly—only to later explain that she is the humblest of her colleagues). If you have not read anything on development or peacekeeping, I would suggest you start with the mentioned books.
I will now address specific points in the argument in no specific order nor comprehensively (spoilers):
First, it presents “results-based management” as a current debate. This misleading. This was a debate from over a decade ago. It’s already wildly used throughout the development/peacekeeping world and has actually evolved to “learning and evaluation.” The World Bank is even piloting a citizen’s grievance system where they operate and has established major divisions to social and environmental impacts.
Second, the book takes no mention of peacekeeping strategy evolutions in the pat 20 years. For example, in 2009 (or earlier), the UN mission to Haiti took on a new strategy of “CVR” which entirely attempted grassroots and civilian-led peacekeeping. Further, they contracted with and engaged local and foreign NGOs that specialized in grassroots peacebuilding. One might admit that Haiti is not currently peaceful, but why is this not addressed? Haiti was one of the UN’s longest peacekeeping missions.
Third, the book takes no mention of the Arab Spring. I could have a misunderstanding of the conflict (which is why it should definitely be covered) but I have been led to believe the Arab Spring was *primarily* a grassroots initiative (the individual who started it lit himself on fire in protest before a government building—the Nobel prize winner who wrote the forward stripped naked with others in front of a government building). Not addressing this seems to dodge a huge gap in the argument.
Forth, the author states, “there is a tremendous amount of literature on democratization and peace” and then proceeds to summarize it with only a few papers that (I presume) provide regressions with peace and measures of democracy. The oversimplification to better her argument is unfortunate, especially given the profundity of the debate on the matter.
Fifth, the author mentions that diaspora helped in the stabilization of Somaliland. Sure. Yet, diaspora may (even more frequently) cause conflict in their home countries. I understand that the point was to provide a grassroots example of peacemaking, but the nuance of the example is entirely lost.
Sixth, many of the Peace Inc examples seem obvious in hindsight, and they are all “N=1.” Meaning, it’s very easy to say, looking back, that the country was not made stable by Peace Inc efforts. Yet, there is no way to know that things wouldn’t have been worse without the strategy of peacekeeping that was employed. I have been told by Peace Inc members that, in fact, their mission was a success even though fighting continued after their interventions (it’s all very confusing).
Seventh, I find the author’s presentation of examples that, as she herself proclaims, don’t hold external validity yet are relevant because “many more of them exist” to be slight of hand. I *believe* there to be importance in these examples but find this presentation disappointing.
Eighth, the author claims that she is going to write a “positive” book that focuses on the successes of peacebuilding. She then proceeds to spend something like 70% of the time providing extremely negative arguments concerning Peace Inc.
Finally, the author picks the most obviously uninformed criticisms to address as her counterpoints: Constantly repeating the scenario “while I was giving a presentation one time, this member of the audience said,” and then following with bizarre audience comments like “you’re just colonial!” Besides being a weird analogy (anyone whose ever been to a conference will notice the quality of fielded questions tends to be quite low), it would be much more interesting to address criticism by someone of her own stature. You’re really not “changing the way [one] sees the world,” unless you’re actually causing a paradigm shift, are you?
However, my experiences also compel me to proclaim that I find the author’s argument regrettably weak and misleading. In short, this book is not rigorous, provides cherry-picked examples (the weaknesses of which are dismissed with a slight of hand towards the end), takes up only the most “scarecrow” counterpoints, discusses old debates and old examples as nothing has changed since, and generally covers the topic worse than “White Man’s Burden,” “The Tyranny of Experts,” “Poor Economics,” and “Dead Aid,” which were written up to a decade ago. In fact, I feel “Peace Inc.” is derivative of William Easterly’s “Planners.”
If you have read anything on development prior, you will not find the sentiment of the book new. In fact, you will be scratching your head as to why certain things were not addressed (and why an entire preface was devoted to the author bragging about herself needlessly—only to later explain that she is the humblest of her colleagues). If you have not read anything on development or peacekeeping, I would suggest you start with the mentioned books.
I will now address specific points in the argument in no specific order nor comprehensively (spoilers):
First, it presents “results-based management” as a current debate. This misleading. This was a debate from over a decade ago. It’s already wildly used throughout the development/peacekeeping world and has actually evolved to “learning and evaluation.” The World Bank is even piloting a citizen’s grievance system where they operate and has established major divisions to social and environmental impacts.
Second, the book takes no mention of peacekeeping strategy evolutions in the pat 20 years. For example, in 2009 (or earlier), the UN mission to Haiti took on a new strategy of “CVR” which entirely attempted grassroots and civilian-led peacekeeping. Further, they contracted with and engaged local and foreign NGOs that specialized in grassroots peacebuilding. One might admit that Haiti is not currently peaceful, but why is this not addressed? Haiti was one of the UN’s longest peacekeeping missions.
Third, the book takes no mention of the Arab Spring. I could have a misunderstanding of the conflict (which is why it should definitely be covered) but I have been led to believe the Arab Spring was *primarily* a grassroots initiative (the individual who started it lit himself on fire in protest before a government building—the Nobel prize winner who wrote the forward stripped naked with others in front of a government building). Not addressing this seems to dodge a huge gap in the argument.
Forth, the author states, “there is a tremendous amount of literature on democratization and peace” and then proceeds to summarize it with only a few papers that (I presume) provide regressions with peace and measures of democracy. The oversimplification to better her argument is unfortunate, especially given the profundity of the debate on the matter.
Fifth, the author mentions that diaspora helped in the stabilization of Somaliland. Sure. Yet, diaspora may (even more frequently) cause conflict in their home countries. I understand that the point was to provide a grassroots example of peacemaking, but the nuance of the example is entirely lost.
Sixth, many of the Peace Inc examples seem obvious in hindsight, and they are all “N=1.” Meaning, it’s very easy to say, looking back, that the country was not made stable by Peace Inc efforts. Yet, there is no way to know that things wouldn’t have been worse without the strategy of peacekeeping that was employed. I have been told by Peace Inc members that, in fact, their mission was a success even though fighting continued after their interventions (it’s all very confusing).
Seventh, I find the author’s presentation of examples that, as she herself proclaims, don’t hold external validity yet are relevant because “many more of them exist” to be slight of hand. I *believe* there to be importance in these examples but find this presentation disappointing.
Eighth, the author claims that she is going to write a “positive” book that focuses on the successes of peacebuilding. She then proceeds to spend something like 70% of the time providing extremely negative arguments concerning Peace Inc.
Finally, the author picks the most obviously uninformed criticisms to address as her counterpoints: Constantly repeating the scenario “while I was giving a presentation one time, this member of the audience said,” and then following with bizarre audience comments like “you’re just colonial!” Besides being a weird analogy (anyone whose ever been to a conference will notice the quality of fielded questions tends to be quite low), it would be much more interesting to address criticism by someone of her own stature. You’re really not “changing the way [one] sees the world,” unless you’re actually causing a paradigm shift, are you?
September 28, 2020
In times that feel increasingly divided, Séverine Autesserre’s The Frontlines of Peace is full of hope. Her work will both motivate and provide you with the tools to build peace in your own community and beyond, built upon insight from years of firsthand experience and careful research.
Autesserre shares breathtaking stories of triumph and heartbreak with love and empathy for every person and place you meet in this book. She is deeply honest with the reader, letting you into her world, so that you are right with her on the ground in conflict zones and in the gatherings of elite peacebuilders.
What makes this story unique is that Autesserre doesn’t focus on the wrong. Instead, she focuses on where peacebuilding has been successful and explains how these processes can be repeated. Her lessons are for everyone, not only those in the peacebuilding industry, but any reader looking to build peace in their own neighborhood. I believe the subtitle is perfectly apt; Autesserre’s ideas really have the power to change the world.
Autesserre shares breathtaking stories of triumph and heartbreak with love and empathy for every person and place you meet in this book. She is deeply honest with the reader, letting you into her world, so that you are right with her on the ground in conflict zones and in the gatherings of elite peacebuilders.
What makes this story unique is that Autesserre doesn’t focus on the wrong. Instead, she focuses on where peacebuilding has been successful and explains how these processes can be repeated. Her lessons are for everyone, not only those in the peacebuilding industry, but any reader looking to build peace in their own neighborhood. I believe the subtitle is perfectly apt; Autesserre’s ideas really have the power to change the world.
March 23, 2021
When she was young, Séverine Autesserre thrilled to the stories told by her globe-trotting war-correspondent father—tales of participating in the Algerian revolution, dodging death in Yugoslavia, escaping kidnappers in Iran, and jetting about on the French equivalent of Air Force One. But she and her mother also bore the brunt of the violence that her father brought home with him from those conflict zones; and as she grew, she realized that many of his stories were overblown or even fictional.
Her subsequent career in international peacemaking followed a curiously similar trajectory: By dint of hard work and talent, she made it into the upper echelons of what she calls “Peace, Inc.”—the coterie of international experts who parachute (nonliterally) into conflict zones armed with generic “templates” for ending war; who host negotiations between top-level government and rebel figures; who learn little of the local languages, cultures, or history; who make few if any close local friends; and who then depart after filing reports exaggerating their often meager accomplishments. Captivated at first by the exciting expatriate lifestyle and sense of purpose, Autesserre again experienced disillusionment, concluding that peacebuilding efforts by foreign intervenors were mostly a waste of time and money. Her portrayal of the intellectual arrogance and casual bigotry of some international peace functionaries is devastating.
Fortunately for us all, though, disillusionment is not where she ended up. In her gripping, heartfelt, and sometimes even humorous new book, The Frontlines of Peace, Dr. Autesserre explains in lively and non-academic prose that foreign peacebuilding can succeed if it emanates from both the “treetops”—that is, from the top-down, elite-level negotiations favored by Peace, Inc.—and from “grassroots” efforts to end local conflicts. Autesserre then describes what grassroots peacebuilding looks like and how foreigners can participate in it usefully without usurping the role of the local people who ultimately must take the lead in ending their own conflicts.
It turns out that many atrocious conflicts arise from local tensions—battles over the ownership or use of land, succession conflicts among local leaders, complex ethnic rivalries, and plain old feuds—so that even if internationally brokered peace agreements are signed up in the treetops, local tensions on the ground may erupt in spasms of deadly violence that undermine the entire peace process. Using concrete examples from places as diverse as Congo, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Chicago, Autesserre explains that successful grassroots peacebuilders must learn local languages, embed themselves in local communities for years at a time, forge deep local friendships, learn humility, and let local people lead the way in identifying both the sources of conflicts and the best means of ending them. Although local people must lead, foreign peacebuilders can provide vital assistance by providing small amounts of targeted funding, by introducing ideas that worked in other conflict zones, by providing local people with connections to the “treetops” (government officials and international organizations), and even by extending to locals the umbrella of physical protection that often shields privileged foreign professionals from the surrounding violence. And Autesserre brings all these lessons home by showing how they have been applied successfully to conflict zones right here in the United States, making this a book not just for foreign-policy mavens but for anyone who wants to play a role in reducing violence anywhere.
Her subsequent career in international peacemaking followed a curiously similar trajectory: By dint of hard work and talent, she made it into the upper echelons of what she calls “Peace, Inc.”—the coterie of international experts who parachute (nonliterally) into conflict zones armed with generic “templates” for ending war; who host negotiations between top-level government and rebel figures; who learn little of the local languages, cultures, or history; who make few if any close local friends; and who then depart after filing reports exaggerating their often meager accomplishments. Captivated at first by the exciting expatriate lifestyle and sense of purpose, Autesserre again experienced disillusionment, concluding that peacebuilding efforts by foreign intervenors were mostly a waste of time and money. Her portrayal of the intellectual arrogance and casual bigotry of some international peace functionaries is devastating.
Fortunately for us all, though, disillusionment is not where she ended up. In her gripping, heartfelt, and sometimes even humorous new book, The Frontlines of Peace, Dr. Autesserre explains in lively and non-academic prose that foreign peacebuilding can succeed if it emanates from both the “treetops”—that is, from the top-down, elite-level negotiations favored by Peace, Inc.—and from “grassroots” efforts to end local conflicts. Autesserre then describes what grassroots peacebuilding looks like and how foreigners can participate in it usefully without usurping the role of the local people who ultimately must take the lead in ending their own conflicts.
It turns out that many atrocious conflicts arise from local tensions—battles over the ownership or use of land, succession conflicts among local leaders, complex ethnic rivalries, and plain old feuds—so that even if internationally brokered peace agreements are signed up in the treetops, local tensions on the ground may erupt in spasms of deadly violence that undermine the entire peace process. Using concrete examples from places as diverse as Congo, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Chicago, Autesserre explains that successful grassroots peacebuilders must learn local languages, embed themselves in local communities for years at a time, forge deep local friendships, learn humility, and let local people lead the way in identifying both the sources of conflicts and the best means of ending them. Although local people must lead, foreign peacebuilders can provide vital assistance by providing small amounts of targeted funding, by introducing ideas that worked in other conflict zones, by providing local people with connections to the “treetops” (government officials and international organizations), and even by extending to locals the umbrella of physical protection that often shields privileged foreign professionals from the surrounding violence. And Autesserre brings all these lessons home by showing how they have been applied successfully to conflict zones right here in the United States, making this a book not just for foreign-policy mavens but for anyone who wants to play a role in reducing violence anywhere.
May 4, 2021
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a more nuanced understanding of international intervention and how it can succeed. I have so much respect for the way that Autesserre approaches peacebuilding—a thorny and often painful topic in the past half-century—in this book. She criticizes the conventional top-down peacebuilding approaches where foreign peacebuilders run the show and socialize in insular peacebuilder circles, focusing on arranging handshakes between leaders and scheduling elections instead of the quotidian causes of violence that affect the communities that peacebuilders are supposed to protect. These criticisms of what she calls “Peace, Inc.” are grounded in Autesserre’s brutally honest reflections on her own experience as a foreign peacebuilder following guidelines that perpetuate neo-colonialist/neo-imperialist dynamics between peacebuilders and locals.
However, Autesserre does not just focus on the myriad ways that peacebuilding has failed over the past decades, but instead she has valuably outlined what strategies *have* worked. Drawing from organizations and initiatives in the Congo, Colombia, Somaliland, and Palestine/Israel, Autesserre emphasizes the importance of bottom-up strategies in successful peacebuilding—of listening to locals explain where the source of violence is, of respecting the expertise of insiders instead of assuming they are not as capable as foreigners at analyzing the problems, and of committing to local, grassroots initiatives for peace, projects that require long-term investment, and are certainly less glamourous than negotiating a handshake between leaders.
Ultimately, this book helped me feel hopeful that there are tools that dedicated individuals can implement to foster peace in their communities. Her vivid anecdotes helped me see the leaders and activists hard at work in foreign lands, using strategies that I feel empowered to replicate in my own communities.
However, Autesserre does not just focus on the myriad ways that peacebuilding has failed over the past decades, but instead she has valuably outlined what strategies *have* worked. Drawing from organizations and initiatives in the Congo, Colombia, Somaliland, and Palestine/Israel, Autesserre emphasizes the importance of bottom-up strategies in successful peacebuilding—of listening to locals explain where the source of violence is, of respecting the expertise of insiders instead of assuming they are not as capable as foreigners at analyzing the problems, and of committing to local, grassroots initiatives for peace, projects that require long-term investment, and are certainly less glamourous than negotiating a handshake between leaders.
Ultimately, this book helped me feel hopeful that there are tools that dedicated individuals can implement to foster peace in their communities. Her vivid anecdotes helped me see the leaders and activists hard at work in foreign lands, using strategies that I feel empowered to replicate in my own communities.
April 29, 2021
A must-read for every "Peacelander" - anyone working as part of a top-down, outsider led peacebuilding setting. It is an eye-opener, as it not only shows what is wrong with the whole externally-led peacebuilding industry but also uniquely focuses on how we can get it right. It took me in and out of my existential crisis! It reads itself easily, and the storytelling is very compelling, and Séverine knows how to draw the reader in. Overall, 5/5!
May 17, 2021
A long overdue call to action
Reading Autessere is not just reading a book: it is making a decision. Will you continue to be part of the problem or do you recognise how you can take responsibility for better action, for more sustainable impact, for actual conflict resolution? For me Autessere describes what is logical for me: what she professes has been my way of working since I started my career in 2005. This makes it a difficult read for me, as I often think: "yes, of course. This not news." But then I remember: this is news to most people and practitioners. Autesserre has the talent to take you on a personal journey that allows you to discover your preconceptions, much like she did in 'Peaceland'. She isn't trying to prove you wrong, she isn't trying to blame you: she is inviting you to engage, to have a conversation. For me reading this book felt like a conversation with a friend or colleague who has seen what I have seen,who has had the difficult conversations and negotiations that I have, who understands the frustration I feel. I think this is where Autesserre is at her most convincing: she is a human being telling the story of humanity; she is an expert telling the experiences of true peacemakers. Would I change things in the book if it was mine? Yes, I would. I think and know there are many, many excellent peacemakers that are doing a tremendous job, it's not as negative as I sometimes feel Autesserre explains it. But...then I think again and realise that the majority of colleagues, peacekeepers and officials are Indeed as clueless and arrogant as she describes. Every budding and experienced peacemaker or peacekeeper should have a copy of this book ( and 'Peaceland') and the books by Linda Polman. Systemic change is needed and Autesserre is one of its most eloquent advocates. I say: read!
Reading Autessere is not just reading a book: it is making a decision. Will you continue to be part of the problem or do you recognise how you can take responsibility for better action, for more sustainable impact, for actual conflict resolution? For me Autessere describes what is logical for me: what she professes has been my way of working since I started my career in 2005. This makes it a difficult read for me, as I often think: "yes, of course. This not news." But then I remember: this is news to most people and practitioners. Autesserre has the talent to take you on a personal journey that allows you to discover your preconceptions, much like she did in 'Peaceland'. She isn't trying to prove you wrong, she isn't trying to blame you: she is inviting you to engage, to have a conversation. For me reading this book felt like a conversation with a friend or colleague who has seen what I have seen,who has had the difficult conversations and negotiations that I have, who understands the frustration I feel. I think this is where Autesserre is at her most convincing: she is a human being telling the story of humanity; she is an expert telling the experiences of true peacemakers. Would I change things in the book if it was mine? Yes, I would. I think and know there are many, many excellent peacemakers that are doing a tremendous job, it's not as negative as I sometimes feel Autesserre explains it. But...then I think again and realise that the majority of colleagues, peacekeepers and officials are Indeed as clueless and arrogant as she describes. Every budding and experienced peacemaker or peacekeeper should have a copy of this book ( and 'Peaceland') and the books by Linda Polman. Systemic change is needed and Autesserre is one of its most eloquent advocates. I say: read!
April 22, 2021
I read this book for my peacekeeping class at Georgetown. While the author's argument about the need for embracing a bottom-up approach to building peace is not necessarily new, she has been arguing for this shift in thinking for more than a decade. She has been working in conflict zones for her entire career, and, as such, has more than ample opportunity to observe the field and identify what needs improvement. Dr. Autesserre also visited our class and talked about how she presented this book to the UN Security Council a few weeks ago.
This is a very enjoyable read - packed full with personal anecdotes from her work (indeed on the frontlines) and interviews with other peacebulders, UN personnel, government elites, local activists, and her own students.
The main idea is that locals should be leading the way to transform conflict and bring peace. They possess the understanding and the tools needed to address the root clauses of violence wherever it is found. It is essential that we move away from the "foreigners know best" mindset. I highly recommend this book.
This is a very enjoyable read - packed full with personal anecdotes from her work (indeed on the frontlines) and interviews with other peacebulders, UN personnel, government elites, local activists, and her own students.
The main idea is that locals should be leading the way to transform conflict and bring peace. They possess the understanding and the tools needed to address the root clauses of violence wherever it is found. It is essential that we move away from the "foreigners know best" mindset. I highly recommend this book.
December 4, 2020
Anyone who has taken a good, hard look at peacebuilding eventually scratches their head and asks: Does this actually work? In this book, Séverine Autesserre draws on her firsthand experience in peacebuilding and field research to explore instances where lasting peace has been achieved. Whether in Colombia, Somaliland, or Congo, she shows how peace usually results from local grassroots initiatives supported by committed individuals. Autesserre is candid but optimistic, a refreshing change in tone for readers familiar with peacebuilding and international aid. However, the book is also accessible for those just starting to explore these fields. If you want to discover one practitioner's challenge to the status quo in peacebuilding- look no further.
May 24, 2021
This book recounts the stories of the “ordinary yet extraordinary” people who have figured out how to build lasting peace in their communities. It explores the business of peacebuilding, as well as the benefits – as well as the price – of humanitarian aid. A powerful and historically-relevant book, Autesserre gives a well-researched and readable education. It will make you think…and it may just make you go out and try to build peace in your own community.
January 11, 2022
A great guide to the world of international peacebuilding efforts! The author uses several interesting case studies (Congo, Somalia/Somaliland, Colombia, Israel/Palestine) to illustrate why international interventions often fail and how they can (or even should) change to succeed in the future.
July 23, 2022
Some interesting stories of peace. Be prepared for an argumentative piece with a clear agenda. Sometimes that agenda is clear and well-argued. But other times it feels forced and disingenuous. This book is clearly trying to challenge some of the ways of working adopted by the ‘peace sector’.
November 17, 2020
Renowned peacebuilding scholar Severine Autesserre's latest book will offer you a delectable array of stories and anecdotes curated from her experiences in the DR Congo, Colombia, the Palestinian Territories and Israel, and Somaliland. Far and away the strength of the book, many of these tales are infused with a sense of humour, but the underlying tragedy that they embody is hard to ignore. Depending on the story and circumstance, the tragic element can reach shocking proportions. Regardless of whether we have worked in the sector, we can see our own experiences mirrored through stories like these, and it forces us to introspect on our own prejudices and shortcomings.
*Spoilers related to personal opinions of the content*
The author acknowledges that peacebuilders already operate under personal and professional duress. The argument of the book is that anyone truly committed to this work has to do more: “Maintaining social peace is a never ending task”, not “instant coffee.” I would have liked more detail on how to go about advocating this to donors, the UN and the like. Clearly, ‘evidence’ is not enough. There is enough research to document that large organisations tend to replicate past patterns of functioning even when they have analysed a situation correctly. We need to think seriously about what it really takes to make systems-level change within an organisation, and worry more about the optimal ways in which we can speak the language of the master in order to 'get our own way'.
The book does well to recognise the complementary nature of insider/outsider, tree-top and ground-up work. For instance, one of the claims is that international backing or presence can make locals feel valued and important. While this may be true, it does not dissect inequitable systems of globalised capital that cause this differentiation in human value and skills in the first place. The insider/outsider division is also not a static marker of identity or identification.
In conclusion, the best aspects of the book lie in the author’s ability to tell effective, pleasantly surprising, sometimes horrifying stories from places like Idjwi, Somaliland and San Jose de Apertado. It is well-paced, accessible and unputdownable.
*Spoilers related to personal opinions of the content*
The author acknowledges that peacebuilders already operate under personal and professional duress. The argument of the book is that anyone truly committed to this work has to do more: “Maintaining social peace is a never ending task”, not “instant coffee.” I would have liked more detail on how to go about advocating this to donors, the UN and the like. Clearly, ‘evidence’ is not enough. There is enough research to document that large organisations tend to replicate past patterns of functioning even when they have analysed a situation correctly. We need to think seriously about what it really takes to make systems-level change within an organisation, and worry more about the optimal ways in which we can speak the language of the master in order to 'get our own way'.
The book does well to recognise the complementary nature of insider/outsider, tree-top and ground-up work. For instance, one of the claims is that international backing or presence can make locals feel valued and important. While this may be true, it does not dissect inequitable systems of globalised capital that cause this differentiation in human value and skills in the first place. The insider/outsider division is also not a static marker of identity or identification.
In conclusion, the best aspects of the book lie in the author’s ability to tell effective, pleasantly surprising, sometimes horrifying stories from places like Idjwi, Somaliland and San Jose de Apertado. It is well-paced, accessible and unputdownable.
April 15, 2021
A must-read for anyone interested in peacebuilding, conflict prevention or intervention both at home and abroad. Autesserre points out the critical flaws in the “Peace Inc.” model and presents a new model for peacebuilding that is based on what has been proven to work. Can’t wait to hear more from Autesserre during her live conversation for STAND’s book club! (Shameless plug)
October 13, 2020
If you have ever wondered why forever wars are still raging after decades of negotiations and billions of peacebuilding dollars, this is the book for you. Severine, who has spent over twenty years researching from twelve different conflict zones, will give you the answers that the United Nations and world governments are afraid to tell you.
The book revolves around the straightforward yet revolutionizing premise that the people best equipped to solve a conflict are those experiencing it. Instead of flying in expensive experts to apply cookie cutter peacebuilding strategies and engage in high level negotiations that crumble weeks later, Severine makes the case for building peace from the bottom up. In a time when all traditional power dynamics are being questioned—racial, gender, cultural—it is time to question the power of peacemakers.
This book is essential reading for any politician, peacebuilder, or ordinary citizen looking for strategies to resolve conflict at home or abroad. Using enthralling anecdotes, heartbreaking stories, and compelling cases of little known peacebuilding successes, Severine lays bare the problems inherent in our peacebuilding industry—an industry that was created at the end of WWII and whose basic premises have barely evolved in the following 75 years.
Though the book revolves around war and destruction, it is above all a story of hope. It will allow you to look directly at a conflict and, instead of tearing out your hair with frustration, see the potential places for building a sustainable peace.
As a student studying international relations at Columbia, I was desperate for a professor willing to unabashedly discuss America’s disastrous interventions in conflict zones, instead of feeding me regurgitated narratives about the miraculous work of multilateral organizations. In Severine Autesserre I found that professor. She has forever changed the way I see the world, and will do the same for you—if you pick up this book.
The book revolves around the straightforward yet revolutionizing premise that the people best equipped to solve a conflict are those experiencing it. Instead of flying in expensive experts to apply cookie cutter peacebuilding strategies and engage in high level negotiations that crumble weeks later, Severine makes the case for building peace from the bottom up. In a time when all traditional power dynamics are being questioned—racial, gender, cultural—it is time to question the power of peacemakers.
This book is essential reading for any politician, peacebuilder, or ordinary citizen looking for strategies to resolve conflict at home or abroad. Using enthralling anecdotes, heartbreaking stories, and compelling cases of little known peacebuilding successes, Severine lays bare the problems inherent in our peacebuilding industry—an industry that was created at the end of WWII and whose basic premises have barely evolved in the following 75 years.
Though the book revolves around war and destruction, it is above all a story of hope. It will allow you to look directly at a conflict and, instead of tearing out your hair with frustration, see the potential places for building a sustainable peace.
As a student studying international relations at Columbia, I was desperate for a professor willing to unabashedly discuss America’s disastrous interventions in conflict zones, instead of feeding me regurgitated narratives about the miraculous work of multilateral organizations. In Severine Autesserre I found that professor. She has forever changed the way I see the world, and will do the same for you—if you pick up this book.
October 19, 2020
The Frontlines of Peace by Professor Severine Autesserre is a bold and refreshing work about the actions of foreign peaceworkers in their efforts to build peace abroad. Autesserre writes with astounding clarity that is grounded in her many years of on the ground experience building peace, as well as a plethora of research she has conducted throughout her lifetime. In this book, Autesserre is unafraid to question all of the peacekeepers’ widely held notions and assumptions. She offers compelling critiques of the current top-down approach to peacebuilding, in which peacekeepers solely interact with the elites of a given country, and passionately argues in favor of a bottom-up technique that focuses on and empowers local voices. Autesserre vividly recounts stories of people that she’s met in conflict zones and places where she has worked. These stories powerfully contribute to her central argument that the best way to successfully create peace is to allow local actors to take the lead and implement ideas and policies that are in line with the needs of their community. The Frontlines of Peace does not simply paint a bleak picture of the failures in the area of peacebuilding, rather Autesserre weaves a story of hope that resonates in the reader. Autesserre outlines success stories and suggests the best way to replicate them in other parts of the world. Moreover, this book does not only pertain to those abroad working in foreign countries, but we also learn how these strategies of peacebuilding can and do directly help issues at home, such as addressing gun violence in the United States. Autesserre writes with a clear and accessible voice. Her audience is not exclusively academics; the message of this book will resonate with anyone who picks it up, regardless of their background knowledge of this issue.
October 20, 2020
Highly recommend this read to anyone in the peacebuilding field or anyone interested in international intervention and conflict resolution. As a white American guy who speaks English and French but has “done peacebuilding” with international orgs in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Croatia (word of advice-don’t spend 5 years learning French if you’re going to work in those countries), I could uncomfortably relate to Autesserre’s nuanced description of “Peace, Inc” culture. Her descriptions of Peace Inc. as a place where you hear demeaning comments about locals in passing, see an obsession with huge scale and topical expertise over local knowledge and relationships, overanalyze national conflict trends instead of local ones, and use ‘number of missions worked on’ as a type of professional currency struck an eerily accurate cord with me and required some uncomfortable soul searching. In addition, Autesserre’s examination of some orgs that did all the right things at the start but then ran into trouble when scaling up are particularly insightful and worth the read alone.
That said, at times the dichotomy between the Peace Inc. approach versus the grassroots approach comes off as too black and white. Many of my former colleagues worked incredibly hard to give ownership to locally-led initiatives and advance the kind of peacebuilding Autesserre advocates for, but were hamstrung by donor requirements (esp. plastering logos on everything and reporting requirements that sucked up far too much time and led to burnout among local staff) and other constraints outside their control. I think examining this org–donor relationship in more depth would add to the analysis, but overall I loved this book and highly recommend for its stories, commentary, and insights on peacebuilding.
That said, at times the dichotomy between the Peace Inc. approach versus the grassroots approach comes off as too black and white. Many of my former colleagues worked incredibly hard to give ownership to locally-led initiatives and advance the kind of peacebuilding Autesserre advocates for, but were hamstrung by donor requirements (esp. plastering logos on everything and reporting requirements that sucked up far too much time and led to burnout among local staff) and other constraints outside their control. I think examining this org–donor relationship in more depth would add to the analysis, but overall I loved this book and highly recommend for its stories, commentary, and insights on peacebuilding.
February 1, 2021
The Frontlines of Peace is a sincere and informative ray of light in the all-too-often bleak genre of peace literature. Autesserre focuses her piercing gaze on her own peace community, termed “Peaceland,” as well as the dominant top-down and often corporate-esque methods of peacebuilding, which she has aptly labeled “Peace, Inc.” She astutely critiques the culture, politics, and methodology espoused by both, sprinkling in witticisms and tender anecdotes. Cushioning these criticisms are stories of what grassroots leaders have done right, and the ways that they have been supported (or not) by the peace community. This book pulls from peacebuilding and keeping theory to investigate the nuance of on the ground peacebuilding, illuminating unintended consequences for better and for worse.
It is my opinion that any reader can enjoy this book, whether she has an intimate knowledge of the peace world or is simply interested in the humanity undergirding it all. I found myself smiling at the successes Autesserre describes and wincing when Peacelanders missed the bottom-up boat time and time again. Importantly, she takes ownership for her own role in all of the above, peering inward to apply her observations to her own actions and preconceptions. The Frontlines of Peace serves as the reader’s ticket into those behind-closed-doors meetings and intimate town halls that are the foundations of peacebuilding. In reading it, I felt as though I had come across my ticket earnestly, and that Autesserre was a scholarly and attentive guide to help me make sense of it all.
It is my opinion that any reader can enjoy this book, whether she has an intimate knowledge of the peace world or is simply interested in the humanity undergirding it all. I found myself smiling at the successes Autesserre describes and wincing when Peacelanders missed the bottom-up boat time and time again. Importantly, she takes ownership for her own role in all of the above, peering inward to apply her observations to her own actions and preconceptions. The Frontlines of Peace serves as the reader’s ticket into those behind-closed-doors meetings and intimate town halls that are the foundations of peacebuilding. In reading it, I felt as though I had come across my ticket earnestly, and that Autesserre was a scholarly and attentive guide to help me make sense of it all.
September 17, 2020
Séverine Autesserre's book The Frontlines of Peace arrived on my desk in August 2020. In the thick of COVID chaos (not to mention...), she and I worked together to make an index for her book. It was just in time to inform my own peacebuilding efforts in North Idaho. I had been struggling since 2016 to become a community organizer, and had taken part in Idaho's successful bid for Medicaid Expansion. Caught in the cross-fire of private militias attending BLM rallies to protect? the protesters, I was at a loss.
Frontlines of Peace is a clarification and an inspiration. Auteserre examines the world-wide attempt to quell violence through her own experiences, the efforts of local people caught in the cross-fire, as well as those of other interveners and intervening organizations all over the world. From this rich, lived experience she draws comparisons of Western, top-down peacekeeping, or Peace, Inc., with local, grassroots organizing, not only in foreign lands, but in our own backyards, too. Her careful analysis, firmly grounded in the lived experience of professionals and everyday people, results in the conclusion that both strategies are required for successful peacebuilding.
I recommend this book to people at all levels who are seeking to understand our chaotic world—and change it. Not an easy row, but if hoed consistently the rewards are rich. By the way, it has a splendid index.
Nancy Gerth
Sagle ID
Frontlines of Peace is a clarification and an inspiration. Auteserre examines the world-wide attempt to quell violence through her own experiences, the efforts of local people caught in the cross-fire, as well as those of other interveners and intervening organizations all over the world. From this rich, lived experience she draws comparisons of Western, top-down peacekeeping, or Peace, Inc., with local, grassroots organizing, not only in foreign lands, but in our own backyards, too. Her careful analysis, firmly grounded in the lived experience of professionals and everyday people, results in the conclusion that both strategies are required for successful peacebuilding.
I recommend this book to people at all levels who are seeking to understand our chaotic world—and change it. Not an easy row, but if hoed consistently the rewards are rich. By the way, it has a splendid index.
Nancy Gerth
Sagle ID
January 15, 2021
Severine Autesserre is my personal hero. If you read this book, she will become yours too.
I first discovered Severine's writing when I read her first two books as a young teenager. Instantly, I was hooked. Her stories are so mind-blowing yet from-the-heart. Her characters can sometimes be infuriating yet so very endearing. Her way of writing is both accessible and sophisticated. Can you blame me when I tell you I sent her 'fan mail' after reading her first book at age 15?
It was because of Severine that I ultimately decided to go to Barnard College (where she works as a professor). I have taken classes with her, been her advisee, and served as her research assistant. She is one of the most brilliant, kind, and thoughtful people I have ever met. It's truly an honor to know this author.
But that's not why you should read this book. No, why you should read this book is because it's a brilliant, heart-warming, hopeful portrait of the ways in which we can build peace in an otherwise divided world. It's a candle burning in the dark, a sliver of hope for a more peaceful, more just way to live. It's a refreshing take on conflict that could potentially change the way we look at peace.
This book is a must-read. And that's not just because the author is awesome, which she is. But it's because this book is truly revolutionary.
I first discovered Severine's writing when I read her first two books as a young teenager. Instantly, I was hooked. Her stories are so mind-blowing yet from-the-heart. Her characters can sometimes be infuriating yet so very endearing. Her way of writing is both accessible and sophisticated. Can you blame me when I tell you I sent her 'fan mail' after reading her first book at age 15?
It was because of Severine that I ultimately decided to go to Barnard College (where she works as a professor). I have taken classes with her, been her advisee, and served as her research assistant. She is one of the most brilliant, kind, and thoughtful people I have ever met. It's truly an honor to know this author.
But that's not why you should read this book. No, why you should read this book is because it's a brilliant, heart-warming, hopeful portrait of the ways in which we can build peace in an otherwise divided world. It's a candle burning in the dark, a sliver of hope for a more peaceful, more just way to live. It's a refreshing take on conflict that could potentially change the way we look at peace.
This book is a must-read. And that's not just because the author is awesome, which she is. But it's because this book is truly revolutionary.
October 20, 2020
Too many of us think of war and peace as big, far away concepts, whether because we are fortunate enough to be geographically removed from mass violence, or because we feel helpless to address its challenges. War and peace are problems for governments, armies, and the United Nations to deal with. If they can't even end wars and build peace, then what can we do about it?
As it turns out, there's a lot we can do about it.
At once informative, hopeful, heartbreaking, and deeply personal, The Frontlines of Peace provides an inside look into peacebuilding processes and successes. In a challenge to traditional, top-down approaches, Severine illustrates the importance of individual and community actions in building and maintaining peace by sharing the stories of people who have succeeded despite sometimes extreme difficulties. These stories are written in an extremely accessible way; as you read, you may be surprised to find yourself relating to someone on the other side of the world, whose life experiences are entirely different from your own.
She then charts the way forward, not just for the international community, but for all of us who want to make the world a better place. If you've ever felt helpless in the face of the world's conflicts and wondered what you can do about it, The Frontlines of Peace will give you hope that individuals can make a real difference.
As it turns out, there's a lot we can do about it.
At once informative, hopeful, heartbreaking, and deeply personal, The Frontlines of Peace provides an inside look into peacebuilding processes and successes. In a challenge to traditional, top-down approaches, Severine illustrates the importance of individual and community actions in building and maintaining peace by sharing the stories of people who have succeeded despite sometimes extreme difficulties. These stories are written in an extremely accessible way; as you read, you may be surprised to find yourself relating to someone on the other side of the world, whose life experiences are entirely different from your own.
She then charts the way forward, not just for the international community, but for all of us who want to make the world a better place. If you've ever felt helpless in the face of the world's conflicts and wondered what you can do about it, The Frontlines of Peace will give you hope that individuals can make a real difference.
October 26, 2020
This book really resonated with me, and Autesserre's writing is so engaging that I didn’t want to put it down (I think I read it in maybe one or two sittings!) The book draws on cases from a number of regions, examining the myriad of factors underlying ‘positive peace’, an approach that is sorely needed, as most cases tend to focus on where things go wrong. In particular, it focuses on the importance and resilience of grassroots initiatives and locally driven solutions for peace. This book and her other works treat peacekeeping with the complexity necessary for critically assessing existing frameworks, potential negative outcomes of interventions, and the roles and functions of interveners in the peacebuilding system, all of which are essential for reflective and responsible peacebuilding interventions (her work has already been hugely influential in the push for more locally-driven solutions). For these reasons, this book (in addition to all Autesserre's other works) is a must read, not only for anyone planning to go into the field of conflict resolution and peacebuilding, but for anyone working in an international intervention.
October 19, 2020
This book was impossible to put down. From Idwji to Somaliland, San José de Apartadó to Chicago, Severine shares such incredible - and humbling - stories of how local people working together have created and preserved peace in the most unlikely of circumstances. These places are incredibly diverse in terms of geography, political history, territorial size, demographic composition, and so much more. And of course, each community has taken different steps towards peace as well. Nevertheless, it’s clear that what has enabled “success” in all these circumstances is that peace was driven and developed by local people themselves. This is even more astounding given that they’ve achieved what millions of dollars of peacekeeping, elite conferences, and the endless entourage of cosmopolitan ivy-league educated interveners often have failed to do. To those who are new and to those who are familiar with peace building, this book will make you reconsider what it means to work towards peace.
October 20, 2020
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in peacebuilding and conflict resolution! It is an extremely interesting and uplifting read. Autesserre has a refreshing take on peacebuilding that highlights the power of local communities and initiatives in addressing conflicts. I liked that she drew upon one main success story (the island of Idjwi) to establish her main argument and then brought in other experiences from around the world—this method was thorough and comprehensive, and I appreciate that Autesserre studied more than just one country or region to come to her conclusions. I think readers will like this book because, aside from the fascinating and well-informed main argument, it is ultimately a compelling story: this book combines Autesserre’s personal experiences, accounts from locals, and interviews from peacebuilders to share a hopeful message that can benefit any country.
December 12, 2020
Severine is definitely one of the best scholars, who presents a new perspective to the field of peace studies. The Frontlines of Peace shows the power of the bottom-up approach and explains how the local people-led peace initiatives could bring a positive impact on peace-building. If you are interested in understanding how this bottom-up approach could resolve a conflict not only at the local level but also at the national level, I highly recommend you read this and take a closer look at the example of Idjwi Island in the DRC, which is described in the book. Plus, for those who only thought the UN is the best institution to resolve problems concerning political violence and conflicts, I also highly encourage you to read this because she explains why the top-down-led conflict resolution system would not function well in the field. This book will broaden your horizon on knowing more about the power and role of the normal citizens in international peace.
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October 20, 2020I truly enjoyed reading this book and thought the way in which Autesserre related her story and experience was powerful and compelling. I honestly could not stop reading it -- and I did not expect this because I thought it was going to be a more theoretical and exhaustive explanation of peace-building. But I was pleasantly surprised to read that it was actually personal and interactive. Autessere, through her storytelling, looks at what makes the peacebuilding process successful and effective from her experiences. Her storytelling lends credence to the points she makes because it is one of the most powerful ways in which we can move others to act and to be more involved. I found the book to be accessible, enjoyable and I have gained so much knowledge about the process of peace-building.
October 25, 2020
In this book, Autesserre takes her readers on a global journey towards a reimagining of effective peace building. She makes the case for grassroots leadership and ownership of peace building and urges interveners to get more comfortable in the “back seat.” The book avoids the preachy tone some academic texts strike by grounding her guiding principals in her own experiences in conflict zones around the world and by stressing the importance of humility and flexibility. As a political science student, I really appreciated the narrative approach as the political science material I am used to reading is often rather dry. "Frontlines of Peace" provides an insider's look into and analysis of Peaceland.
October 26, 2020
The Frontlines of Peace gives a fascinating on-the-ground and behind-the-scenes look at the work of building peace in conflict zones. The author reflects honestly and critically on her time in these countries, sharing entertaining stories of working with local populations, lessons from successful interventions, and insights into a new approach to building peace. The book is simultaneously funny, challenging, and inspiring. You will walk away with a better sense of what the field of "peacebuilding" and the work of peacebuilders entails, as well as a positive outlook on how these strategies can be overhauled in favor of truly sustainable peace.
March 20, 2021
This book will be read in 50 years because of its compelling story-telling and its insights into peacebuilding from the 1990s to 2010s. During these decades huge efforts were made to control violence with, in many cases, remarkably little to show for the money spent ... at the same time, in and around the behemoth called 'Peace Inc.' the green shoots of local initiatives persisted stubbornly and creatively, and in some cases grew to produce magnificent fruits. Part handbook, part memoir, it is an antidote to cynicism, boredom and a tuning-out from the world's problems; it illuminates a path all of us can walk to a more peaceful world.
May 5, 2021
Award-winning researcher Severine Autesserre examines the well-intentioned but inherently-flawed peace industry. This never-before-seen perspective on what drives conflicts and who stands to benefit from them is an essential read for anyone interested in the world as a global community. This book has the singular result of making the reader think, “Maybe I can do something myself to help create peace.” But it's also a wicked, dirty read about what the process of building peace on the ground actually looks like right now--where's the money coming from, where are the "white saviors" going, and how does it screw up peace for everyone when well-meaning, flawed individuals take the lead.
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