Around the world, the majority of armed conflicts are mostly internal or “intra-national” wars, in which groups in conflict live very close to each other. The enemy is real or perceived to be located in the same region, city, village, neighbourhood or even household. In situations like these, persons live as neighbours while being locked in long-standing cycles of negative interaction. The conflicts are usually characterised by an animosity and deeply-rooted fear and stereotypes. It is important to find new approaches to conflict management; especially where the conflicts have affected the identity and shaped the lives of the population through several generations. The approaches should allow people to process their experiences, challenge their stereotypes and prejudices, and to take leadership in the search for solutions accessible in the community towards achieving peaceful coexistence and recovery of which the Community Social Peace and Recovery Model offers. It is rooted in dialogue between the divided parties to facilitate healing, truth, reconciliation, reparation and forgiveness to learn to understand each other and agree on modalities for peaceful coexistence and non-violent alternatives to conflict. As it is often not feasible or desirable for people to permanently relocate to avoid conflict, it is necessary to find ways for communities to live together peacefully for present and future generations.
