Understanding Illiberal Peace-building: an Analysis of Conflict, Peace and Reconciliation in North Maluku Province, Indonesia

Abstract: The main research problem in this thesis is the lack of a holistic understanding of how neo-patrimonialism, colonial legacies, decentralisation, illiberal peace-building and the revitalisation of traditional reconciliation practices have affected conflict, peace and development in North Maluku Province (NMP). This is important to study, given the negative impacts inherent in the conflict-development nexus. In order to help bridge that research gap, the above stated processes have been conceptualised in a framework, which is incorporated in a qualitative case study design. In-depth interviews and the Reality Check Approach (RCA) are the main data-collection methods used to explore the research problem. The most significant findings are that the illiberal peace-building approach, coupled with a revitalisation of traditional adat practices, have been keys for the successful realisation of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in NMP, which suffered from a devastating communal war in 1999-2000.