Democratic Theory, Conflict Resolution, and Civil Society.

This paper is the second half of the common analytical framework for Panel I (Civil Society and Peacebuilding). It seeks to provide a theory-building bridge between civil society?s role in conflict resolution and its role in building democracy in war-torn states, drawing on the authors? previous research in Africa and the Middle East. Specifically, the paper argues that specific elements of the conflict resolution approach ? particularly transformative methods ? are based on the same norms as democratic political culture, such that when such methods are used, democratic political culture is spread. Consequently, how civil society groups approach conflicts can have important implications for the development of democracy in the failed or failing state in question. The development and implications of this framework for theory and practice will be discussed. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]