Divergent Perceptions of Peace in Post-Conflict Societies

Insights from Sri Lanka

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6283571
AutoresSonia C Carey (0000-0003-3286-0040, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany, autor correspondente), Belén González (0000-0002-4403-9359, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany), Christian Gläßel (0000-0002-0041-3855, Hertie School, Berlin, Germany)
Ano2022
Volume66
Fascículo9
Páginas1589-1618
Data de publicação2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/00220027221104719
OpenAlexW4281839625
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas47

Research on postwar peace focuses primarily on how elites and institutions can prevent relapse into civil war. In line with this special issue’s focus on citizens’ experiences, we take a micro-level approach to explore peace beyond the absence of war. We investigate how members of opposing sides experience peace a decade after a decisive victory of the majority. Using original survey data from a representative sample of 2000 respondents in 2018 Sri Lanka, we find that even one decade after the conflict members of the Sinhalese winning majority are consistently more likely to report improvements in peace than Tamils, who were represented by the defeated minority. But the benefit of a “victor’s peace” does not seem to translate into an optimistic outlook of the victorious group, nor does it increase people’s endorsement for repressive state measures. Despite the drastically improved physical security for the defeated ethnic minority since the war, they experience a deterioration in other dimensions of peace. Our findings have important implications for a deeper understanding of variations in peace and reconciliation processes

Development economics · Ethnic conflict · Ethnic group · Ethnology · Peace and conflict studies · Peace economics · Peacebuilding · Perception · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · South asia · Spanish Civil War · Sri lanka · State (computer science · Victory · Law · Peace and Human Rights Education · Political Conflict and Governance · Psychology · South Asian Studies and Conflicts