Integrated community development/conflict resolution strategies as 'peace building potential' in South Africa and Northern Ireland

This paper argues that integrated community development andconflict resolution strategies could help to sustain peace in‘post-settlement’ contexts. The conceptual backgroundto this argument is unfolded through the tracking of key conceptssuch as convergence, post-settlement contexts, civil society,community development, conflict resolution, peace building,and multi-track approaches to peace building. Empirical evidencefor convergences at the practice level is presented throughexcerpts from two case studies, one from Northern Ireland andthe other from South Africa. Some of the key issues around whichcommunity development/conflict resolution strategies coalescerelate to addressing human needs, encouraging people participation,and building democracy. These are critical peace building tasks.Despite the positive potential of such integrated strategies,both South Africa and Northern Ireland face crucial challenges.