Third-party Nonviolent Intervention and Peace-building : The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel

Abstract: This thesis explores the role of third-party nonviolent interventions as a supportive mechanism in relation to local peace-building initiatives. A framework on violence, conflict, peace, nonviolence and intervention is outlined in the theoretical chapters, to provide a basis for discussing the empirical findings of the research. Through the strategy of a case study and with a mixed-method approach of participant observations and interviews, perspectives from the context of the situation in Palestine and Israel were gathered. Five key informant interviews with former participants of third-party nonviolent interventions programmes were conducted, and during ethnographic fieldwork in Palestine and Israel, four local peace-building initiatives were studied. The findings are discussed in relation to the theoretical framework and the conclusions drawn from the discussion is that while third-party nonviolent interventions can contribute to local peace-building, it is mainly through decreasing the risk of escalation of violence in certain situations, sharing information and by supporting local peace-building initiatives. In order to be effective in this area, it is crucial that the third-party nonviolent interventions are perceptive of the local context, and reflect on the role that they play.