Community-Based NGOs and the Prevention of Mass Atrocity

• In Event: Community Prevention and Response to Crises

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growth in the study of strategies used by state and non-state actors to prevent genocide, mass atrocities, and inter-group violence. Most research has considered the role of governments and transnational organizations (Straus, 2016; Waller, 2016), there has been less attention to the role community-based non-governmental organizations play in this effort (Appe, Rubaii, & Whigham, 2023). At the same time, research has emphasized the importance of localization in international development (Kantowitz, 2020); this movement is also related to work involving atrocity prevention. With respect to the latter, advocates for localization argue that while there may be similarities across contexts at risk for atrocity or dealing with its consequences, prevention requires deep knowledge of local conditions and the ability to generate trust among groups in conflict within them. As such, community-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are often well-positioned to engage in atrocity prevention activities. They are likely to have deep roots in or emerge from communities at risk for violence, as well as have the knowledge and experience essential to be able to engage with groups in conflict within communities over their perceived intractable differences (Moix, 2016; Whigham, 2019).

This paper considers the following questions: To what extent and how does the design of genocide, mass atrocity, and identity-based violence prevention programs by community-based NGOs vary by context? What are the specific modes and activities used by these organizations in their prevention work? To respond to these questions, the authors conduct a comparative case study of community-based NGOs operating in settings which have suffered from or face the threat of genocide, mass atrocity, and identity-based violence, using data collected from interviews with representatives of the community-based NGOs, their websites and other supportive documents. The community-based NGOs studied include organizations from Europe (including Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Turkey), and South Africa.

The findings suggest that the prevention work by these NGOs primarily address issues of social fragmentation at the local level, often by pursuing activities that encourage interactions between or among groups that are in conflict. However, these NGOs do this work qualitatively differently. Based on the findings, the paper presents a typology of modes of prevention by community-based NGOs that will contribute to civil society and third sector research an expanded understanding about the role of community-based NGOs in local communities, in particular drawing attention to their work in the prevention of genocide, mass atrocities, and inter-group violence.

References

Appe, S., Rubaii, N., & Whigham, K. (2021). Expanding the reach of representativeness, discretion and collaboration: The unrealized potential of public administration research in atrocity prevention. Public Administration Review, 81(1), 81-90.

Kantowitz, R. (2020). Radical Flexibility: Strategic Funding for the Age of Local Activism. Washington, DC: Peace Direct.

Moix, Bridget (2016) "Turning Atrocity Prevention Inside-Out: Community-Based Approaches to Preventing, Protecting, and Recovering from Mass Violence," Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal: Vol. 9: Iss. 3: 59-69.

Straus, S. (2016). Fundamentals of Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Waller, J. (2016). Confronting Evil: Engaging Our Responsibility to Prevent Genocide. Oxford University Press.

Authors

• David A Campbell, Binghamton University

• Susan Appe, University at Albany, SUNY