Political Economy of NGO Peacemaking: The 'Norwegian Model'.

Norway, a leading aid donor and peacemaker is held in great esteem by the international community as a pioneer in conflict resolution and global development. Yet, radical critics argue that Norway is an agent of the west 'recolonising' the global south to advance economic liberalization and the dismemberment of states. There is a relative lack of objective research to fully evaluate these competing perspectives. This paper seeks to understand the operation of what is known as the 'Norwegian Model' focusing on its core feature, the extensive use of NGOs in peace processes and conflict resolution. The paper considers the close partnership between the Norwegian state and NGOs, generous state funding and the creation of knowledge networks. These processes are illustrated with empirical materials drawn from Norwegian peacemaking in Guatemala, the Middle East, Sudan and Sri Lanka. Providing a political economy approach, the paper places the Norwegian Model and NGO led peacemaking in the broader contexts of economic liberalization, economic inequality and militarism. The paper seeks to contribute to the global discourse on NGOs, conflict resolution and global governance and to greater effectiveness and accountability of NGO peacemaking and the 'Norwegian Model'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]